In 1993, years before anyone told ya’ to “get up off them goddamn diamonds”, South Jamaica, Queens, craziest Bal-Hed sons, ONYX, were already busy takin’ some of the Golden Era’s loot and running with it to new heights, stamping the term “hardcore” in its darkest terms upside hip hop’s head with their seminal, trailblazing platinum debut, Bacdafucup.

 

The iconic cover image of four bald, angry-lookin’ niggas, their legendary “MadFace” logo, a shoulder-strapped automatic and a menacing boot-tread took rap to a world that could “Slam” in an era where even looking at someone wrong at a rap show could get you gone. Fredro Starr, Sticky Fingaz, SonSee and the late brother Big DS didn’t break the rules: they scared them the fuck away.

 

Twenty years and several full-length underground classics later, there is still nothing so raw in live rap as getting tossed into the barrier by the smiling, sweating, maniacal fans swarming the pit, to find yourself face-to-face with the ever-Mad Faced, ever Bal-Heded ‘Dro and Sticky (and this summer, on the Rock the Bells tour, Sonsee).

 

Face to face with loud, abrasive greatness, you might just find yourself lucky enough to embrace a boot to the temple when Sticky stage-dives, or swimming with the sharks to make waves for the crowd surfers while you “Throw Ya Gunz”.

 

ONYX made boom bap gangsta, gave metal street cred, and exposed the kinship of hip hop and punk rock cultures to a wider global audience on the strength of their delivery and the look in their eye that said this was no gimmick, motherfucker – all under the guidance of their mentor and producer, the departed architect Jam Master Jay.

 

With the Snowgoons-produced Cuzo LP hot on the way and the custom-built hybrid project Black Rock in the aisles and their newly-minted international “100Mad” click growing stronger, 2013 sees ONYX bring it back-da-fuck up in your mad face. Watch out, ‘cuz they’re coming for head-blood. 


Bio by Darcy MacDonald

The Factor was formed in late 2002 in Sigulda, Latvia by high school friends who shared obssesion with music and three of them still are core of the band. Despite breaks and name changes band managed to play through Latvias bigest clubs and rock festivals.
Music played by band from early begining is influenced by such bands as Creed, Alter Brdige, Metallica and many more – including also some prog rock and metal acts like Meshuggah and Rage Against The Maschine.
Band hates to sing about just something – lyrics have been covering themes from alchocolism, death and arise to nature saving and politics. Vocal parts are full of agression and hate but include softer parts too to have everything in balance. Music is  not one man show – in every song every band memeber has its part of contribution and songs are each really different because of this. All live gigs are performed with maximal energy and attitude as there is no tomorrow.
Band is proud to announce their debut release – ready Feb 2012 – titled same as hit song from album - „Bottoms Up”.


MEMBERS:
Vocal: Martins Kazradzis (Kazis)
Guitar #1: Edijs Rudzis (Eddie)
Guitar #2: Karlis Lukstaraups 
Bass Guitar: Mikus Visendorfs (Mix)
Drums: Ingus Ziedins (ZiedZ)


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