I've always liked Onyx, but they're not a group that I would freak out for if I heard they were making a new album. Still, I was really excited for this release for a couple of reasons. One, its entirely produced by Snowgoons, a German production team known for their use of orchestra sampling. I shouldn't use the term "known" because they're relatively unheralded outside of the underground/backbacker community, but they're a really solid group that has been producing some yearly gems. Similar to their project with M.O.P., its a great move working with a classic 90s group like Onyx. Not only will it expand their brand to an older audience, but it also helps Onyx sound fresh and up to date. The second reason for my anticipation was that the lead single "Wakedafucup" was actually really damn good.
As a fair warning for those looking for superb lyricism, its time to look else where. Trust me, Onyx isn't dropping knowledge on the mic. That's not to say they're bad rappers, far from it, but their appeal relies on their razor sharp flow and voices. Sticky Fingaz in particular has one of the most recognizable vocal deliveries in all of the genre. You'll love it or hate it, and he gives you approximately five seconds to form your opinion. Lyrically, the dude is fucking vicious. On the surprisingly catchy "We Don't Fucking Care", he raps, "Why should I fucking care? I never had shit/Moms gave birth to me on a pissy mattress" while also claiming to live forever like a shellfish. That's a line I'll never understand because I have it on good record that the average lifespan of a shellfish is 106 years, but I don't really want to get on Sticky Fingaz' bad side so I'll let him roll with it.
Fredro Starr plays his roll nicely as well. He does occasionally drop some impressive bars, but his more toned down vocals make Sticky Fingaz' verses carry much more impact than they normally would. The guest verses as well give Wakedafucup some much needed levity, especially when the Snowgoons production begins to blend together. (Although most of the instrumentals sound great by themselves) Apparently I'm still an A$AP Ferg fan because enjoyed his verse the most out of all the features. Ferg sounded like he put in some extra effort for his contribution, and it showed, so good for him. Others include Sean Price, who gives a standard performance, Papoose and Cormega sound nice on "The Tunnel" while Reks delivers a fitting verse on "One 4 Da Team". The guests never completely outshine our hosts, but they help the album move along smoothly and keep it easy to digest in one listen.
Wakedafucup should ultimately be viewed as a success for Onyx. It's not going to be topping any year end lists, but its a fun listen, (eh, I guess my idea of fun may be a little fucked up) and Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr don't compromise a bit of their style and their personas blend perfectly with the always reliable Snowgoons. Its a record that's always posted up in the darkest alleys of New York, and whether its serving up chest-beating anthems or dispensing tales of corrupt cops and over the top misogyny, N.Y. feels like the rightful capital of hip hop when it's playing. For over two decades, Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr have been making a form of music that has just become popular in recent years, but Wakedafucup shows why its hard to top the original.
Rating: 3.5/5