Cold Case Files: Vol. 1

Last updated
Cold Case Files: Vol. 1
Cold Case Files.jpg
Compilation album by
Onyx
ReleasedAugust 19, 2008
Recorded1992–2003
Genre
Length54:45
Label Iceman
Producer
Onyx chronology
Triggernometry
(2003)		Cold Case Files: Vol. 1
(2008)		 Cold Case Files: Vol. 2
(2012)

Cold Case Files: Vol. 1 is a compilation album by American hardcore rap group Onyx released on August 19, 2008, by Iceman Music Group. This compilation contains singles and lost studio recordings from the group's albums.

Contents

The album was produced by Jam Master Jay, Fredro Starr, Kronic Tones, Dominche, Self and Keith Horne. The album features guest appearances from Method Man, X1 , Panama P.I., Smoothe Da Hustler, Trigger Tha Gambler, D.V. Alias Khrist, All City, Still Livin', Gang Green, Whosane and Chocolate.

Background

After conquering Hollywood, Onyx return to the scene, emerging from their musical vaults with a new album, Cold Case Files, a 16-track collection of previously unreleased songs executive produced by the members of Onyx and Omar "Iceman" Sharif. The collection features underground singles, lost studio recordings from the group's first three albums, and appearances from Method Man, deceased Onyx affiliate X1, and Gang Green. According to the group, revisiting these sessions also served as a tribute to fallen soldiers Jam Master Jay, X1, Big DS, and all Onyx affiliates who have passed away in the last five years; some of which are still unsolved murders. [1]

Fredro's younger brother, Whosane, archived most of the unreleased tracks. Sonny Seeza, who served as album supervisor shares, "Whosane was usually in the studio with us and kept all our classic recordings that never made it onto albums in the Onyx music vault; so when the time came to select tracks for Cold Case Files, he had tracks that we didn't even know existed on everything from cassettes, DATs, CDs to 2-inch reels. [2] According to Fredro Starr, Onyx has at least 60 tracks, and this is just the first volume of unheard material. [3] DJ Infinite, one of Fredro's good friends, came up with the idea to make this album: [4]

"...We wanted to put something out for the fans, especially the true Onyx fans. DJ Infinite, one of my good friends and associates came up with the idea of doing this album and putting out some of these tracks. So my brother Whosane had the cassettes and the DATs saved from back in the days and we just transferred all that into the digital age and now you got the Cold Case album."

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Rate Your Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
UG RapStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
BoomBapReviewsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

RomanCooper of HipHopDX gave the album three stars out of five, saying "...This album is easily worth copping – if you’re an Onyx fan. If you’re not familiar with their music, you’d be much better served scooping up either Bacdafucup or All We Got Iz Us. Cold Case Files doesn’t really manage to distinguish itself from common issues associated with compilation albums. That being said, even cuts that didn’t make Onyx‘s albums manage to bring you back to the gritty early 1990s. With a gem or two nestled among these tracks, fans of that sound may want to check this." [11]

Track listing

#TitleFeatured guest(s)Producer(s)SamplesLengthYear
01.«U.S.G.»Jam Master Jay0:151992
02.«Ghetto Way Of Thinking»Fredro Starr4:401995
03.«O.N.Y.X.»Kronic Tones
Dominche (co-producer)
  • «You’re A Big Girl Now» by The Stylistics
3:212003
04.«See U In Hell Pt. 2 (Freestyle)» X1
  • «I Loves You, Porgy» by Nina Simone
3:221998
05.«Evil Streets (Remix)» Method Man & Panama P.I.Fredro Starr
  • «Georgia Rose» by Esther Phillips
  • «Vamos A Rapiar» by Main Source
4:131994
06.«Rock U»Fredro Starr4:141996
07.«Hydro»Keith Horne3:061996
08.«Purse Snatchaz Pt. 2»Smoothe Da Hustler, Trigger Tha Gambler & D.V. Alias KhristFredro Starr
  • «Love Is My Life» by Jimmy McGriff
3:321994
9.«Wili’n Wili’n»All City, X1 & Still Livin'4:081998
10.«See You In Hell (Freestyle)»
  • «American Fruit, African Roots» by Zulema
3:391997
11.«I’ll Murda U (Remix)»Gang GreenFredro Starr
  • «Candy Man Blues» by Ten Wheel Drive
  • «Handclapping Song» by The Meters
3:431995
12.«Mad World»Whosane & X1Self4:161997
13.«I Don’t Want To Die»ChocolateKeith Horne
  • «I Believe I Can Fly» by R. Kelly
3:471997
14.«Return Of The Madface»Kronic Tones
  • «Donna» by Gerome Ragni
3:222003
15.«Candy Man»X1Fredro Starr
  • «Candy Man Blues» by Ten Wheel Drive
2:121995
16.«Hard To Be A Thug»Sticky Fingaz3:091999

Personnel

Credits for Cold Case Files: Vol. 1 adapted from AllMusic and CD booklet. [12] [13]

Cold Case Files: Vol. 2

Cold Case Files: Vol. 2
Compilation album by
Onyx
ReleasedAugust 10, 2012
Recorded1993–1999
Genre
Length66:51
Label Major Independents
Producer
Onyx chronology
Cold Case Files: Vol. 1
(2008)		Cold Case Files: Vol. 2
(2012)		 #WakeDaFucUp
(2014)

Cold Case Files Vol. 2 is a compilation album by American hip hop group Onyx released on August 10, 2012 by Major Independents. [14] Physical copies became available on January 23, 2014. [15] The album contained unreleased tracks from the group's first three albums, Bacdafucup, All We Got Iz Us and Shut 'Em Down.

The album was produced by Keith Horne, Onyx, 8-Off Assassin, 3rd Eye (a.k.a. Jesse West) and Jam Master Jay. The album features guest appearances from Naughty By Nature, Biggie Smalls, 3rd Eye (a.k.a. Jesse West), Gang Green (X1, Sife, Still Livin'), All City (Greg Valentine), Jared "Choclatt" Crawford и Tracy "Sunshiine" Woodall.

Background

One of the main findings of this collection was the never released before track "Flip Dat Shit". In January 1993, at the recording studio The Hit Factory in NYC, rappers Naughty By Nature, Onyx, Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay, Biggie Smalls, Puff Daddy and producer/rapper Jesse West (also known as 3rd Eye) joined together to record a track "Flip That Shit" special for the soundtrack to the new movie "Who's the Man?". Many years later, fans were still able to hear the track "Flip That Shit" thanks to DJ JS1, who passed this digitized tape to Sticky Fingaz, who added this track to the collection of unreleased songs of Onyx's "Cold Case Files Vol. 2"

The track "To All Ya'll Crews, Whatever", which was not included on the album "All We Got Iz Us", was leaked on Onyx's website in CD quality on March 22, 2016. Earlier, this track was released on Cold Case Files Vol. 2 in poorly digitized cassette quality.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rate Your Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
BoomBapReviewsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]

BOOM BAP REVIEWS gave this release a good response saying "The important thing is that Onyx actually took the bold step and we're here now with yet another Onyx collection that appealed. So, is it any good? The very nature of this project should be a godsend to Onyx fans. Plus, for the assholes out there, they're simply telling you to buy it for free. And besides, 6 crap songs out of 16 is still a bargain, right? Right?!". [19]

Track listing

#trackfeatured guest(s)producer(s)sample(s)lengthyear
01."Set It Str8"X1 & Sife (a.k.a. Certified from Gang Green)
  • "Mystique Blues" by The Crusaders (1971)
3:551997
02."Kidz From Queens"Still Livin'3:411995
03."Bring It" (also known as "Hey!") (The Philadelphia Flyers half time anthem)Keith Horne
  • "Rock 'N Roll, Part 2" by Gary Glitter (1972)
4:021998
04."Hi Hoe"
  • "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" by Cal Tjader (1971)
3:031997
05."Crime Stories"
  • "Throw Ya Gunz" by Onyx (1992)
4:411997
06."Punk Motherfukaz" (Full Length)Onyx; 8-Off Assassin (co-producer)
  • "Long Red" by Mountain (1972)
4:401995
07."To All Ya'll Crews, Whatever"Onyx
  • "The Breakdown (Part II)" by Rufus Thomas (1971)
  • "Here 'N' Now" by Onyx (1993)
3:201995
08."Anything Goes"Onyx
  • "Foxy Lady" by Jimi Hendrix (1967)
  • "Come Together" by The Beatles (1969)
3:201997
9."Give It All You Got"Greg Valentine
  • "Risin' To The Top" by Keni Burke (1982)
3:431999
10."Flip Dat Shit" Naughty By Nature, Biggie Smalls and 3rd Eye (a.k.a. Jesse West)3rd Eye
  • "Nautilus" by Bob James (1974)
  • "16 Bars" (Live at the Lyricist Lounge) by Biggie Smalls (1993)
4:101993
11."Pussy On The Regular"Keith Horne
  • "Coldblooded" by James Brown (1974)
4:031997
12."Take That" (Full Version)Keith Horne
  • piano from "Rhapsody Rabbit" (1946)
4:031996
13."Raze It Up" (Demo version with different lyrics)Keith Horne
  • piano from Yusef Lateef
  • drums from "Uphill Peace of Mind" by Kid Dynamite
  • drums from "Flava In Ya Ear" by Craig Mack
  • bassline from Ohio Players
4:031996
14."Love Of Money '96" (Unreleased rock version with different lyrics)X1 & Chocolate
  • "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harum (1967)
  • "For The Love of Money" by The O'Jays (1973)
4:551996
14b."You Must Be Outta Your Mind"X1 & Sunshine3:441997
15."We Comin' Thru Ya'll" (a similar beat was used later on "Ghetto Starz")Keith Horne
  • "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones (1978)
3:571997
16."Walk In New York" (Jam Master Jay original "working" version with different beat and some different lyrics) Jam Master Jay 3:181995

Notes:

Personnel

Credits for Cold Case Files: Vol. 2 adapted from CD booklet. [21]

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References

  1. ↑ "Onyx To Make A Comeback With New Album "Cold Case Files"". vibesource.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  2. ↑ "Onyx: Cold Case Files Unsolved Murder (by BLAKCITRUS) [July 5, 2008]". kickmag.net. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  3. ↑ "Onyx: Cold Getting Dumb". allhiphop.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  4. ↑ "Onyx Interview: Return Of The Madface". riotsound.com. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  5. ↑ HipHopDX Review
  6. ↑ Rate Your Music review
  7. ↑ AllMusic Review
  8. ↑ Sputnikmusic Review
  9. ↑ UG Rap Review
  10. ↑ BoomBapReviews Review
  11. ↑ "Onyx - Cold Case Files (by RomanCooper) [September 5, 2008]". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  12. ↑ Cold Case Files: Vol. 1 credits adapted from the AllMusic review
  13. ↑ Credits for Cold Case Files: Vol. 1
  14. ↑ "Onyx "Cold Case Files Vol. 2"". thetroyblog.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  15. ↑ "Onyx - Cold Case Files, Vol. 2". amazon.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  16. ↑ Rate Your Music review
  17. ↑ Sputnikmusic Review
  18. ↑ BoomBapReviews Review
  19. ↑ "Onyx - Cold Case Files Volume 2 (August, 2012)". boombapreviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  20. ↑ "Onyx - Cold Case Files: Vol. 2 (2012)". whosampled.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  21. ↑ Cold Case Files: Vol. 2 Credits for Cold Case Files: Vol. 2
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