Onyx

Onyx is a seminal American hardcore hip-hop group from Queens, New York, that fundamentally altered the energy of East Coast rap in the early 1990s. Formed in 1988, the group's trajectory shifted dramatically with the addition of Sticky Fingaz, whose explosive and erratic vocal style became their hallmark.

Managed by Jam Master Jay, they signed to Def Jam and released 'Bacdafucup' in 1993. The album was a commercial juggernaut, driven by the crossover success of 'Slam', which introduced slam dancing to the hip-hop lexicon. Their sound identity is built on high-velocity aggression, raspy shouting, and 'grimy' production that eschews the jazz-inflections of their peers for a more industrial, street-level grit. Culturally, they bridged the gap between rap and metal, famously collaborating with Biohazard. While their commercial peak was in the mid-90s, their influence persists in the DNA of aggressive rap subgenres like horrorcore and trap-metal. Critical consensus views them as the architects of 'thug' energy that was visceral rather than just lyrical, maintaining a cult following through a prolific later career of independent releases.