Background
In March 1994, when Fredro Starr was on the set of Dangerous Minds, Lyor Cohen came to him and offered him a million dollars for recording a new album, ''All We Got Iz Us''. Big DS left the group at the same time to start a solo career. Onyx recorded 25 songs for this album, but only 15 of them were included on the album by Jam Master Jay's decision. In the same year members of Onyx have formed a label, Armee Records, and have signed production and distribution deals withAliases
On the album two group members came up with new aliases: * Fredro Starr: Never. *Conception of album title
The title ''All We Got Iz Us'' came up because it was a state of mind for Onyx at that time."...We made that title one day at the studio. At that time niggas was on the knees, crying, praying almost like 'I love you my nigga' and that's how All We Got Iz Us album came about. That album was pain. Now you got to run around with a Mac-12 in your trunk, bulletproof vest, mad money niggas, you think that niggas going to kill you, so this was our frame of mind."
Lyrics
''All We Got Iz Us'' this name was chosen because it is much more grimy than ''Bacdafucup''. It is widely considered to be a great follow up to their debut '' Bacdafucup'' with many fans actually citing it as Onyx's best album. Turning away from the more humorous approach of their debut, ''All We Got Iz Us'' had an overall darker and more serious tone, dealing with subjects such as suicide, heavy substance abuse and racism. For example, the intro/opening track features a split-personality monologue: Sticky Fingaz threatening himself at gunpoint, eventually committing suicide.Album cover
For the cover of the album ''All We Got Iz Us'', Sticky and Fredro just wanted to paint a cracked mad face. Probably, it was a bad idea, because it was the beginning, when the sales of Onyx albums started to "crack". The cover for ''All We Got Iz Us'' was a 6-inch metal plate, and the photographer just took a picture of this plate, and the mad face that you see on the back cover of the album '' Shut 'Em Down'' was a real lump of metal.Singles
Two singles were released from this album: "Live Niguz" and "Last Dayz". The first single, " Live Niguz", also known by its censored title "Live!!!", was released on July 18, 1995 as a single from Def Jam's '' The Show: The Soundtrack'' and as the first single from Onyx's second album, ''All We Got Iz Us''. Produced by 8-Off Assassin and all three members of Onyx, "Live!!!" only found minor success on the R&B and rap charts, becoming the group's first single not to reach the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The second single, "Appearance in movies and on television
* In 1995, "Betta Off Dead" was used in the movie The Addiction. * In 1995, the song "Shout" appeared on the promo soundtrack for the movie Bad Boys. * In 1995, the song " Live Niguz" appeared in the soundtrack to the documentary ''Critical response
''All We Got Iz Us'' was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Raymond Cunningham of The Source gave the album three and a half stars out of five, saying "...Although the LP is packed with sure shots, there are a few sure misses. "Shout", which has no business being on the LP, has a solid beat. But the hook is as corny as the Onyx comic book. Then there's "All We Got", a song that discusses the streets and isn't all bad, again, until the cheesy chorus. It may be a case where the quality of the other songs brings these down. In any event, they definitely stand out as weaker representations of the group's efforts." Q gave the album three stars out of five, saying "...The lyrics are quickfire and the sound is dense..." Bonz Malone of Vibe said "...Now, after a two-year hiatus, they're back with All We Got Iz Us, and the shit is hardcore. "Purse Snatchers" and "Better Off Dead" are probably the wildest. It's made by thugs for thugs...spits the real poison as seen on the streets. It's intended for immature audiences, so they'll wise up and realize that all we do have is one another. People need to hear these interesting characters." NME gave the album seven stars out of ten, saying "although there's nothing to rock the Wu's place at the top of the NY tree, Onyx sound convincingly with it. They still paint pictures of NY that turn it into a warscape, but they've deliberated their moves so as not to re-emerge as the latest rap washouts...". Rowald Pruyn of ''RapReviews'' gave the album nine and a half stars out of ten, saying "...In Onyx' New World Order, everything is upside-down. Black is white, bad is good. Suicide? No ultimate shame, but an honorable way out of a shitty situation. People? Either bitchassniggas or punkmotherfuckas. The first group can get a bullet in the back, the second can get it in their grills. History? Miserable Slavery and rape of great-grandmothers by greedy plantation owners. Music? Selling drugs to your own people is more profitable. Future? Drop the microphone. Drop your principals. Who needs morals when you're living in hell already?" Max of ''Hip Hop Isn't Dead'' said "...Most critics agreed that All We Got Iz Us was a worthy addition to not only Onyx's catalog, but to hip hop as a whole. I'm certain that there are a ton of bloggers who believe that this album should have been more successful than it was. And yes, I'm one of them."Accolades
In 1995, the album is broken down track-by-track by Onyx inTrack listing
.Leftover tracks
Onyx recorded 25 songs for this album, but only 15 of them were included on the album by Jam Master Jay's decision. * "Kidz From Queens" (feat. Still Livin') * "Shoot Stab Kill" (Burn Unit Mix) (feat. Who$ane) * "The Ghetto Way Of Thinking" * "To All Ya'll Crews, Whatever" * "Walk In New York" (Jam Master Jay Remix) * "Purse Snatchaz" (original version) (without Greg Valentine) * "Purse Snatchaz" (8-Off Remix) * "Punkmotherfukaz" (Full Length) * "Live Niguz" (original version with different intro) * "Fight" * "Purse Snatchaz, Pt. 2" (feat. Smoothe Da Hustler, Trigger The Gambler & DV Alias Khrist) * "Evil Streets (Remix)" (feat. Method Man & Panama P.I.) * "Evil Streets (Remix)" (feat. Method Man & Panama P.I.) (original 1994 version) * "Shout" (Remix) * "Theme From Sunset Park" * "Thangz Changed" * "Thangz Changed" (movie "end credits" version)Personnel
* Onyx - performer, vocals, producer * Fredro Starr - performer, vocals, producer * Sticky Fingaz - performer, vocals, producer * Sonee Seeza - performer, vocals, scratches * Panama P.I. - performer, vocals * Greg Valentine - performer, vocals * All City - performer, vocals * Jason Mizell - executive producer * Randy Allen - executive producer * 8-Off The Assassin - co-producer * Don Elliott - mix engineer * Rich Keller - mix engineer * Flamboyant - scratches ("2 Wrongs" and "Walk In New York") * Tony Dawsey - mastering * Jaye Battle - project coordinatorCharts
Weekly charts
References
External links