As a Millennial myself (1994), I’m programmed to be excited over any new Onyx drop. They have been a staple in Hip Hop since their 1993 debut album, and they’ve continued to influence and evolve the game in more ways than any other can say. Now they are back once again to prove why they are legends in this shit!
So, in this new project, it features production from Lord Nez, who helps bring life to these 13 tracks. Right off the bat, you can hear that strong hardcore East Coast influence with those thudding bass, crisp, and gritty instrumentation that will stay in your mind for days on end!
I love the way Nez brings a level of depth and ‘larger than life’ atmosphere to this project, which helps transform this record from a showcase of hardcore hip hop to an ‘elegant and vibrant’ execution of the form.
Working along this group, you always need to make sure as a producer you complement their unique style and cadence, and I feel Lord Rez found the perfect blend and middle group for each song and each specific bar and verse to make sure each word pops and is appreciated by the listener!
At its core, Lord Nez’s production feels like a lifetime fan created it, someone who would rather die than do injustice to an Onyx album and makes sure to use his blood, sweat, and tears into creating the ultimate sound for the legends, and he’s done just that!
Onyx. Over the decades, what hasn’t been said about them already? The pioneers of the hardcore sound and the blueprints that everyone thinks of and looks to in re creating said sound. But over the years, it’s not like they’ve lost any of their aggressive or ruthless approach to music. I mean, the opening song to this album is ‘Blk Sknhds,’ which speaks for itself. From there, the album only gets heavier and more intense.
Across this album, both Fredro (who I’ve associated lately with his phenomenal production credits) and Sticky Fingaz both absolutely nail their respective verses and flows. We get the trademark smart and powerful vocals and wordplay by Starr and the usual in-your-face and maniac performance by Sticky, and as a duo, they’ve been showcasing how chemistry should sound and how it should be pulled off.
Across this production, it feels like they both have stepped up their games. Both giving some of the best verses I’ve heard from both of them in a while, and with their psychopathic and raw energies across these tracks, it makes them even more memorable and worth the replay value!
Overall, this one is for all the die-hard Onyx fans out there who grew up on their music. This one brings back their original cadence, and with the murderous and masterfully crafted production, this one will definitely have everyone bopping trust!
https://open.spotify.com/album/7gqgYjGkl5HKQgGkPXSeXS?si=761vnShUTGCann531–dnA
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