React (Onyx song)

"React" is a song by American hip hop group Onyx. It was released on June 2, 1998 by JMJ Records, Rush Associated Labels and Def Jam as the third single from Onyx's third album, Shut 'Em Down. The song featured Onyx affiliates X1, Bonifucco and Still Livin' and a then unknown 50 Cent in his first official appearance on a song.

"React"
Single by Onyx featuring 50 Cent, Bonifucco, Still Livin' and X-1
from the album Shut 'Em Down
B-side
  • "Broke Willies"
  • "Shut 'Em Down (Remix)"
ReleasedJune 2, 1998
Recorded1997
StudioTrack Record Studios, North Hollywood, Los Angeles
Genrehardcore rap, East Coast hip hop
Length4:26
LabelJMJ Records
Rush Associated Labels
Def Jam
Songwriter(s)Fred Scruggs
Kirk Jones
Tyrone Taylor
Stephen Anderson
Bruce Sandlin
Producer(s)Bud'da
Onyx singles chronology
"Shut 'Em Down"
(1998)		 "React"
(1998)		 "Broke Willies / Ghetto Starz"
(1998)
Music video
"React" on YouTube

Produced by Bud'da, React was successful on the R&B and rap charts, peaking at 62 on the US Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and 44 on the US Hot Rap Singles.

Allmusic highlighted the song itself when they reviewed the album.[1]

Background

50 Cent mentioned Jam Master Jay as the man who put him on a song, during his book From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside, Queens:[2]

"...Jam Master Jay got me on a song called "React". At the time we did a song, no one expected it to be a single. They just put me on the song as a favor to Jay because I was the new nigga in his camp.

Music video

"React" was the first music video directed by Director X;[3] and it premiered on "Rap City" aired on BET on June 13, 1998.[4] The video concept called for rappers to be hockey players. 50 Cent spoke on his appearance in the video "React" when asked about the last time he went ice-skating.[5]

"...It actually was the Onyx video. I had to learn for the video. I didn't know why. I was like 'What the—?' I asked them to put me in the box. Like an actual [penalty box]".

The video can be found on the 2008's DVD Onyx: 15 Years Of Videos, History And Violence.[6]

Controversy

The beef between Onyx and 50 Cent started on Def Jam's "Survival Of The Illest" concert at the legendary world-famous Apollo Theater. The concert was held on July 18, 1998. During performing the song "React" rapper Scarred 4 Life (also known as Clay Da Raider) performed 50 Cent's verse. Later, 50 would diss Sticky Fingaz on a number of mixtapes, including 50's underground hit "How To Rob". Then he would fight with Fredro at the rehearsal for the 2003 VIBE Awards.[7] In a 2008 interview for AllHipHop Fredro Starr made a comment about 50 Cent:[8]

"...50 is a smart businessman and at the end of the day we gave him respect. We put him on records when we was at the top of the game. He didn't even have a car. We gave him respect on the strength of Jam Master Jay. What did we get in return? Someone talking slick on mixtapes? Swinging on n****s?"

Releases

12" vinyl single track listing

A-Side:

  1. "React" (Radio Edit) - 4:25 (Featuring 50 Cent, Bonifucco, Still Livin, X1 [Uncredited])
  2. "Broke Willies" (Radio Edit) - 4:08 (Featuring X1 [Uncredited])
  3. "Shut 'Em Down" (Remix)- 4:07 (Featuring Big Pun, Noreaga)

B-Side:

  1. "React" (TV track)- 4:26
  2. "Broke Willies" (TV Track) - 4:09
  3. "Shut 'Em Down" (Remix) (TV Track) - 4:07

CD promo single track listing
  1. "React" (Radio Edit)- 4:26 (Featuring 50 Cent, Bonifucco, Still Livin, X1 [Uncredited])
  2. "Broke Willies" (Radio Edit)- 4:11 (Featuring X1 [Uncredited])
  3. "Shut 'Em Down (Remix)" (Radio Edit)- 4:02 (Featuring Big Pun, Noreaga)
Notes
  • The single version of "Broke Willies" is very different in music from the album version.

Samples
  • "Eastside Connection" by Frisco Disco
Notes

Personnel
  • Onyx - performer, vocals, co-producer ("Broke Willies")
  • Fredro Starr - performer, vocals
  • Sticky Fingaz - performer, vocals
  • Sonny Seeza - performer, vocals
  • Bud'da - producer ("React")
  • Keith Horne - producer ("Broke Willies")
  • Don Elliot - engineer ("Broke Willies")
  • Self - producer ("Shut 'Em Down (Remix)")
  • Ken "DURO" Ifill - engineer, mixing
  • DJ LS One - engineer, mixing, scratches
  • Patrick Viala - remixing ("Shut 'Em Down (Remix)")
  • Tony Black - mixing, remixing ("Shut 'Em Down (Remix)")
  • Tom Coyne - mastering

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[9] 62
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[10] 44
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References
  1. "All Music Review: Onyx - Shut 'Em Down". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  2. "From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens (by 50 Cent) [August 11, 2005]". books.google.ru. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  3. "Onyx - React". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  4. "Billboard Magazine (June 13, 1998)". books.google.ru. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  5. "50 Cent Recalls Ice-Skating With Onyx For "React" Video (by Danielle Harling) [June 6, 2014]". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  6. "Onyx: 15 Years of Videos, History & Violence (2008)". imdb.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  7. "A History of G-Unit's (Alleged) Physical Altercations". complex.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  8. "Onyx: Cold Getting Dumb (by AllHipHop Staff) [August 22, 2008]". allhiphop.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  9. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) July 4, 1998". billboard.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  10. "Hot Rap Songs (Billboard) July 4, 1998". billboard.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
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