Retro Video of the Week: "Slam" by Onyx

Tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of the release of New York hip hop group Onyx's debut album, Bacdafucup.  See what they did there?  The album was a big success, reaching #17 on the Billboard album chart and #8 on the Billboard R&B albums chart, eventually going platinum in the U.S.

Much of that success is owed to their second single from the album, "Slam," which is the group's highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, going all the way up to #4.  It also topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks and Dance Tracks singles charts, and it was the group's highest-charting song in the UK, hitting #31 on the UK pop chart.  The title isn't just a metaphor, as the song is credited with introducing moshing to rap and hip hop.

Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of the song when it came out.  It was just a lot rougher sounding that the smoother West Coast rap I was into at the time.  Time heals all wounds, and I don't mind the song now.  So there you have it.