Description
Onyx – Versus Everybody – Red Vinyl Record
Onyx’s Onyx Versus Everybody (2023) is a hard-hitting album from the legendary New York hip-hop group Onyx, known for their aggressive, hardcore style. Onyx, consisting of Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz, rose to fame in the early 1990s with their debut album Bacdafucup and their breakthrough hit “Slam.” Over the years, they’ve maintained their gritty, streetwise sound, and Onyx Versus Everybody is no exception, delivering raw energy and confrontational lyricism.
Onyx Versus Everybody reflects the group’s enduring commitment to their hardcore hip-hop roots, with a focus on themes like street survival, loyalty, conflict, and resilience. The title suggests a “us-against-the-world” mentality, which has been central to Onyx’s attitude throughout their career. The album is a showcase of unapologetic aggression and street realism, with tracks that channel the gritty essence of New York City’s underground rap scene. Onyx continues to push the boundaries of their signature sound, blending intense beats with raw, in-your-face lyricism.
Musically, the album is packed with hard-hitting beats, dark, aggressive production, and the kind of grimy, boom-bap sound that Onyx is known for. The production feels stripped-down and rugged, which complements the ferocity of the lyrics.
The classic East Coast hardcore style is prominent throughout the album, with tracks that feel like they could easily have been part of the 1990s golden age of hip-hop. There are no glossy or mainstream beats here—Onyx Versus Everybody stays true to the group’s underground ethos. The beats are often minimalistic but powerful, featuring pounding drums, eerie samples, and sparse instrumentation that allows the vocals to take center stage.
3. Key Tracks
“Shoot Wit”: This track opens the album with a bang, setting the tone for the rest of the record. With its aggressive beat and confrontational lyrics, it’s a quintessential Onyx track, emphasizing their war-ready mentality and no-nonsense approach to the rap game.
“Raze the Crime Rate”: Featuring a menacing beat and fierce delivery, this track deals with the group’s deep connection to street culture. The title alone captures the gritty subject matter, and the song serves as a stark reminder of Onyx’s commitment to the realities of the urban environment.
“Street Art”: This track feels like a tribute to the culture and roots of New York City, blending elements of hip-hop’s early days with a modern twist. The lyrics reflect Onyx’s pride in the graffiti, breakdancing, and street art that formed the foundation of hip-hop culture.
“Be Afraid”: With a haunting, atmospheric beat, this track is a dark exploration of paranoia and street survival. Onyx’s rhymes are menacing, as they rap about the ever-present dangers of the streets, warning those who dare to cross them.
The lyrics on Onyx Versus Everybody are classic Onyx—raw, aggressive, and filled with references to street life, loyalty, and personal struggles. Their lyrics carry the same in-your-face attitude that made them famous, with an emphasis on survival, strength, and fighting back against the odds. Conflict and warfare are recurring themes, both in terms of personal battles and larger societal issues. Onyx continues to portray themselves as underdogs in a hostile world, battling against both external enemies and inner demons. There’s also an element of nostalgia for New York’s hip-hop past, with references to the city’s cultural roots and the rough, uncompromising spirit of the 1990s.
The production is raw, stripped-back, and aggressive, with heavy beats that amplify the intensity of Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz’s delivery. The production avoids modern trends, staying loyal to the gritty boom-bap style that defined much of East Coast hip-hop in the ‘90s.
Beat selection plays a crucial role in maintaining the album’s dark, confrontational tone. The instrumentals are often minimal, with eerie samples and pounding drums that match the hostile lyrical content. This old-school, underground feel gives the album a sense of continuity with Onyx’s earlier work, especially their classic releases like Bacdafucup.
Onyx Versus Everybody has been well-received by longtime fans of the group, especially those who appreciate their unchanging dedication to hardcore hip-hop. It’s seen as a continuation of their legacy rather than an attempt to evolve or adapt to modern rap trends.
Critics have praised the album for sticking to its guns and delivering exactly what fans expect from Onyx: high-energy, aggressive rap that doesn’t compromise. While it may not be revolutionary, it solidifies Onyx’s place in the underground hip-hop scene as one of the genre’s most enduring and authentic acts. The album also reflects Onyx’s influence on subsequent generations of hardcore and underground rappers who continue to carry the torch for gritty, street-centric rap music.
The themes of loyalty, brotherhood, and survival that run through Onyx Versus Everybody resonate with the group’s own story. Onyx has weathered the ups and downs of the rap industry, staying true to their original style and message despite changes in the broader hip-hop landscape. Their “us-against-the-world” mentality speaks to both their personal struggles and the broader experience of being outsiders in a commercialized music industry. They remain champions of a raw, uncompromising form of hip-hop that resists mainstream appeal in favor of staying authentic to the streets.
Onyx Versus Everybody is a relentless, aggressive album that stays true to the group’s hardcore roots. With its raw production, hard-hitting lyrics, and dedication to East Coast street culture, the album serves as a reminder of why Onyx remains one of the most respected names in underground hip-hop. It’s not an album that aims to redefine the genre, but rather one that solidifies Onyx’s place as enduring figures in the world of gritty, confrontational rap music. For fans of old-school hardcore hip-hop, Onyx Versus Everybody delivers the uncompromising intensity that has defined the group’s career.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Onyx Verzuz Everybody
Its Goin’ Down
Shoot Wit
Real Evil
Project Gladiators
I Rap Like
Bac Up Off Me
Raze The Crime Rate
Brooklyn Bullshit
Talk In New York
