Fredro Starr
Fred Lee Scruggs Jr., better known by his stage name Fredro Starr, is an American rapper and actor best known as a member of the hardcore rap group Onyx. Fredro Starr was discovered by the late hip hop star Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC who signed Onyx on his label JMJ Records. Onyx went on to release three top selling albums before Fredro began his solo career. As a part of Onyx, Fredro Starr was nominated as "Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist" on American Music Awards of 1994 and won "Best Rap Album" on 1994 Soul Train Music Awards.
Fredro Starr has starred in more than 55 films and television shows. He made his acting debut in the HBO drama Strapped. His film credits include Spike Lee's Clockers, Sunset Park, Ride, Light It Up, Save the Last Dance and Torque. He also performed the Save the Last Dance's theme song, "Shining Through", with Jill Scott on the multi-platinum soundtrack.
Starr made his television debut in Law & Order and New York Undercover, but he is known for his role of Quentin 'Q' Brooks on UPN's Moesha starring Brandy. He also appeared in HBO's The Wire, NYPD Blue, Blade, and CSI: Miami. Fredro also co-hosted Dance 360, a daily, half-hour urban dance competition show on Paramount Television.
Early life
Fred Lee Scruggs Jr. was born in Kings County Hospital Center on April 18, 1971. He grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. In 1984, at the age of 13, he moved with his brother David Scruggs to South Jamaica, Queens. Between 1984 and 1988, Fredro Starr studied at John Adams High School. Other students at John Adams High School included Marlon Fletcher, Tyrone Taylor, Mr. Cheeks, and Freaky Tah. Fredro first met Suave at the battle in Ajax Park in Jamaica.Music career
1984–1988: Career beginnings
Fred started out doing breakdancing after watching the movie "Beat Street", he was known by the name Magic.In late 1985 Fredro Starr decided to become a street poet after watching the movie "Krush Groove". He was inspired by the style of LL Cool J.
For the first time, Fredro picked up a microphone in 1986 on the basketball court in the Baisley Park in Queens where he rhymed with his friends Cocheeks, Freaky Tah, Dot-a-Rock, Spank G and Panama P.I. over live mixes by GrandMasta Vic and CutMasta JT. In this place were usually held jams, and often there were shoot-outs, but this did not stop anyone. Fredro was then known as Kool Fredro. In an interview with Brian Coleman, Fredro Starr remembers:
In 1986, Fred started working at "Nu Tribe Barbershop" on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. His younger cousin Kirk Jones joined him as a barber three years later after moving from Brooklyn to Queens. At "Nu Tribe Barbershop" Fred had to cut local drug dealers from Supreme Team, as well as celebrities such as Kool G Rap, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and others. In this barbershop Fred and Kirk made money until they heard on the radio their song "Throw Ya Gunz" in November 1992.
At the same time Fredro along with his cousin Kirk Jones, then known as Trop, visited the nightclubs of New York. The guys wore green dreadlocks and dressed in Dr. Martens boots. In an interview with Unkut, hip hop artist B-1 described his friendship with Fredro and Sticky:
Onyx
In 1988, after graduating from school at the age of 17, Fredro Starr created the rap group Onyx along with his schoolmates Big DS and Suavé. Big DS came up with the name for the group, he named it after the black stone Onyx. They began to make the first demos in the basement of B-Wiz with drum machine beats from an SP-12.In 1989, Onyx signed Jeffrey Harris as their manager, who helped them secure a contract with the label Profile Records. In 1990, at York Studio in Brooklyn, they recorded their first single, "Ah, And We Do It Like This", which was released to low sales on April 25, 1990, on Profile.
Fredro Starr, Big DS and Suave met Jam Master Jay in a traffic jam at The Jones Beach GreekFest Festival on July 13, 1991. Jay give them about two months to get a demo, but Suave and Big DS they didn't make it to the studio because they were stranded in Connecticut. So Jeff Harris, the manager of Onyx, asked Fredro to come to the studio with his cousin, Kirk Jones, who at the time was doing a solo career under the name Trop and working in the barbershop making a thousand dollars a week cutting high school. Fredro and Sticky Fingaz made two records, "Stik 'N' Muve" and "Exercise".
Jam Master Jay liked these songs and that's how Sticky joined the group, because Jay said, "If Sticky ain't in the group, it ain't no group!". Jay signed the group to his label, JMJ Records, for a single deal, then for an EP deal followed by an album deal because they did 10 songs on a budget of 6 songs.
In 1991, despite the reproaches from Fredro, the Onyx's music producer, B-Wiz, sold his drum machine SP-12 and went to Baltimore to sell crack, and eventually he was killed in Baltimore. Thus, all Onyx records were lost.
In 1993, Onyx released their debut album entitled "Bacdafucup". It proved to be a commercial success and eventually went multi-platinum, largely due to the well known single "Slam". Then Onyx released on JMJ Records another two albums: All We Got Iz Us and Shut 'Em Down.
Solo career
In 2000, Fredro Starr signed a deal with Koch Records and released a mixtape "Firestarr" in the same year. In the following year he released his debut album "Firestarr". From this moment, another nickname is established behind him: Firestarr. Alongside Jill Scott, he contributed to the soundtrack of Save the Last Dance for the lead single of the movie "Shining Through". Starr's next album, Don't Get Mad Get Money, arrived in 2003.In 2003, Fredro Starr started a new movement "100 Mad". Sticky Fingaz came up with the term "100 Mad". It means the following: "No matter where in the world Onyx, there are always 100 crazy niggas with it". In 2019, "100 Mad" released an album, the title referring to Onyx's artist collective. Production on the album included Snowgoons and The Alchemist, and guest vocalists included Conway The Machine, Tha God Fahim, Jay Nice, Planet Asia, Termanology and more.
In 2011, Fredro Starr founded his own label "Mad Money Movement" in Los Angeles. The first release of the label was his solo album "Made In The Streets", a collaboration album with producer Audible Doctor, which was dropped on December 25, 2013. Other releases include Onyx "#WAKEDAFUCUP", Onyx "Against All Authorities", ONYX "#WAKEDAFUCUP Reloaded", Onyx "#WAKEDAFUCUP Reloaded ", Onyx & Dope D.O.D. "Shotgunz In Hell", Onyx "Black Rock "
On May 13, 2013, Starr released his mixtape and first solo project in 10 years entitled "Live 4Ever, Die 2Day". On November 26, 2013, Starr released his first single from his upcoming third album The Firestarr 2 entitled "What If 2". On January 8, 2014, he released the official video for the single.
On October 4, 2015, at the Milk River restaurant in Brooklyn was held a rap-battle between Fredro Starr and Keith Murray. On the results of 3 rounds, Fredro Starr won with a score of 3–0.
On March 9, 2018, Fredro Starr released his 4th solo album "Firestarr 2" on Mad Money Movement. In 2011, Fredro Starr announced via Twitter that he was working on the follow-up of his debut work. The album was due out in the summer of 2012, but later the release was postponed to the first half of 2013. In the end, the project was abandoned, as Fredro met producer Audible Doctor.
In 2020, Fredro Starr released a video "Fuck Corona" on the subject of the COVID-19 pandemic. The single "Corona Freestyle" was released on April 17. During the year, Fredro Starr took part in the recording of albums by N.B.S. & Snowgoons — Still Trapped In America, OptiMystic MC — Salty Waterz 2.
On September 7, 2021, together with his younger brother 6ambu Starr, Fredro Starr released 6lunt 6rothers. The release consists of six tracks and was entirely produced by DJ Audas. On August 23, was released the visuals for "Onyx OG". During the year, Fredro Starr took part in the recording of albums by DJ Kay Slay — Accolades, Taiyamo Denku — Hip-Hop Or Death, Outlawz — One Nation, Dope D.O.D. & ChuBeats — The Whole Planet Shifted.
On September 2, 2022, 100 Mad released on digital platforms a 6-track EP by rapper Phenam Presto, entirely produced by Fredro Starr. The track "Brazil" was adapted for the screen. On September 23, was released Smoovth's album Project Near You, entirely produced by Fredro Starr. The recording featured Hus Kingpin and JD Era. A music video was filmed for "Project Near You" . On November 4, 100 Mad released on digital platforms Fredro Starr's fifth studio album Jazz. The album got its name from the genre of the original samples used in creating the music. The release consists of 10 tracks. The album featured rappers Jonny Vulgar, N.B.S., Mac Mason, Harrd Luck, Marin Big Bags, and Jonny Vegas. All the music for the album was produced by Fredro himself, and each one wrote his own lyrics. Videos were filmed for the tracks "Heartbeat" and "Electric Hummers" . During the year, Fredro Starr took part in the recording of albums by Snowgoons — Renaissance Kings, V Knuckles — Winter Warfare, Fortunato "All We Know" feat. Fredro Starr, DJ Audas — 100 Mad Presents: Oros Tape, Vol. 1, McGyver — Camillionizm, Termanology — Determination.
In early 2023, Fredro Starr announced the end of his musical career. However, by the end of the year, on November 17, 2023, 100 Mad released on digital platforms Fredro Starr's sixth studio album Legends Corner. The album featured rappers RJ Payne, Sheek Louch, Jacob G., Mr. Cheeks, Nature. The entire album was produced by Jay Wex and Fredro himself. The video for "Down Like That" was released two years ago, on November 13, 2021. On December 8, 2023, 100 Mad released the compilation Beats By Dro, Vol. 1, consisting of 11 tracks featuring Starr's music. Featuring Harrd Luck, Ricky Bats, Inspectah Deck, N.B.S., LaQuan, Jody Larenz, SmooVth, Hus KingPin, Manolo Rose, Illa Ghee, Lord Nez, JD Era, Jiggidy, Mysonne, Jonny Vulgar, Zab Judah, Da Inphamus Amadeuz. During the year, Fredro Starr took part in the recording of albums by Snowgoons — 1st Of Da Month Vol. 2, Skits Vicious — Nice Night For a Walk Volume 1, Meeco & DJ Access — We Run Shit, Gotham City Boys & Ricky Bats — Gotham City Boys, Jay NiCE — Rise & Shine, V Knuckles & Phoniks — The Next Chapter, DJ Kay Slay — Rolling 200 Deep.
On May 20, 2024, together with his younger brother 6ambu Starr, Fredro Starr released the second part of 6lunt 6rothers, Vol. 2. The release consists of five tracks and was entirely produced by DJ Audas. Two tracks featured rappers Ricky Bats and WhoSane. On June 7, was released the visuals for "Blunt Brothers" , and on August 19 — "#QGTM". On June 28, 100 Mad released on digital platforms the UFO Fev's album Strapped, entirely produced by Fredro Starr. The recording featured Red Inf, Termanology and Tek. It featured a videos for "Fast Life", "Batumi" and "Peace God". On December 27, Starr filmed a joint single with Ricky Bats, "Raze It Up". During the year, he participated in the recording of the album Hus Kingpin & 9th Wonder — The Supergoat.
On January 10, 2025, 100 Mad released on digital platforms Fredro Starr's seventh studio album Soul. Similar to his previous release, Jazz, the album was named for the genre of the original samples used to create the music. The release consists of 10 tracks and was recorded at The Watche Studio in North Hollywood, California. The album featured rappers Pryce Whyte, Siggy, Big Al, and Ricky Bats. All the music for the album was produced by Fredro himself, and each one wrote his own lyrics. It featured a video for "Hood Jealousy", which follows Starr as he and his friends head to his neighborhood to smoke marijuana and rap while his girlfriend waits for him in the car. On February 4, a video for the track "Back in Reverse" was released, similar in plot to the previous video: Starr is still spending the evening in one of the New York City areas and rhyming with rapper Big Al on the topic of representation. On March 28, 2025, 100 Mad released the compilation Beats By Dro, Vol. 2, consisting of 11 tracks featuring Starr's music. Featuring Ufo Fev, Rayza, Ricky Bats, Laquan, YaH-Ra, Red Inf, Jody Larenz, Kidd Pryde.