In 1989, Onyx formed out of Queens, NY; consisting of Fredro Starr, Sonee Seeza (then known only as Suave), and Big DS. They released their first single under Profile records, "Ah, And We Do It Like This" to not much success. Two years later is when fate struck. Onyx was working on demo tracks for Run DMC front man, Jam Master Jay, but there was a small problem. Big DS and Sonee Seeza were stuck in Connecticut at the time. Fredro Starr called up his cousin Sticky Fingaz who then worked at a barbershop but was always rhyming. Sticky Fingaz hooked up Fredro and did a demo to present to Jam Master Jay and he instantly loved the Madface sound. Upon the meeting those demos spawned with Def Jam, the first question was "Where's the guy with the deep, raspy voice?". Of course they were referring to the cross-eyed, slightly insane member, Sticky Fingaz who wasn’t at that meeting.  

Onyx, with the addition of Sticky Fingaz, inked a deal at Def Jam for an EP after "Throw Ya Gunz" was released. The song was such a hit that Onyx was promised an album, and in 1993, they delivered "Bacdafucup" to the hip hop world. Incredible hits such as "Slam", "Throw Ya Gunz", "Shifftee", and of course the "Slam" collaboration with Biohazard, brought Onyx to huge heights of success. "Bacdafucup" quickly climbed the hip hop charts. "Slam" was the #5 single of the entire year and the album went on to quickly sell 2 million copies. Onyx also had higher scaled recognition, winning Soul Train's rap album of the year award.   

2002 brought the unveiling of Onyx’s “Bacdafucup Part II”, an album released by Koch Records.  The single and video for “Slam Harder” were commercial successes, followed by the street singles “Hold Up” and “Big Trucks”.  Hollywood continued to be good to the Onyx baldheads with Fredro starring in films such as “Torque”, “Save The Last Dance” and “Light It Up” while Sticky took on leads in “Flight Of The Phoenix” and highly rated television shows such as Steven Bochco’s “Over There”, “Platinum”, “The Shield” and eventually playing the superhero he always wanted to be, Blade, in Spike TV’s “Blade: The Series”. 

Sticky Fingaz then started a production company called Major Independents while Onyx continued to tour the world.  2008 saw the release of an Onyx DVD compilation called “Onyx: 15 Years of Videos, History & Violence”.  Together with his cousin, Fredro Starr, Sticky produced, wrote, directed AND starred in the first-ever feature film told entirely in rap entitled “A Day In The Life” which Lionsgate released in July of 2009.  Other stars of the film include Michael Rapaport, Omar Epps, Mekhi Phifer, Bokeem Woodbine and Clarence Williams III.   

Onyx is currently in the studio working on a new rock ‘n roll flavored album entitled “The Black Rock” which Tommy Boy Records will release in conjunction with Major Independents in 2010.  The famous “madface” logo is being branded on products such as skateboards, apparel, jewelry, electronics and footwear.  Get ready for the next madface invasion!