Firestarr
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | February 13, 2001 |
| Founder | Fredro Starr |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Hip hop music |
| Parent | Koch Records |
Firestarr marks the initial solo studio release by American hardcore rapper Fredro Starr, widely recognized as a member of the multi-platinum hip hop group Onyx. The album was issued on February 13, 2001, under the Koch Records label.
The production team consisted of Fredro Starr himself, alongside DaVinci and Ant Beats. The project includes guest appearances from Outlawz members—E.D.I. Mean, Napoleon, and Young Noble—as well as contributions from Sticky Fingaz, X1, Ice-T, Capone-N-Noreaga, Cuban Link, and vocalist Aaron Hall.
Upon its release, Firestarr entered the US charts, reaching number 76 on the Billboard 200, climbing to number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, and securing the second spot on the Top Independent Albums ranking as of March 3, 2001.
Background
Following his departure from Def Jam, Onyx’s lead rapper Fredro Starr moved from New York City to Los Angeles to embark on a solo career. There, he formed a partnership with Omar "Iceman" Sharif, which led to the album’s release through independent label Koch Records, the same company that later distributed Onyx's fourth studio effort, Bacdafucup: Part II. The album consists of 15 tracks that showcase Fredro Starr's individual artistic expression.
Recording and production
The recording sessions took place between 1999 and 2000 at OPM Studios located in Hollywood, California. One track, titled "I Don't Wanna...," was recorded separately in 2000 at Studio 76 in Cleveland, Ohio, featuring Aaron Hall. Production duties were mainly shared by Fredro Starr and DaVinci, with Ant Beats producing four of the tracks.
Releases
The Japanese version of the album contains an additional bonus track called "V12 - Niggaz," which had previously appeared on the compilation album Race Riot released in 2000. Another song named "Dangerous," recorded alongside Still Livin', was originally intended for this album but ultimately featured on Fredro Starr’s sophomore solo project. The album sessions also produced an unreleased track titled "Thugz N My Killaz," featuring X1 and Begetz. Additionally, the single "Perfect Chick (Remix)" references a remix of "Me & My Bitch" by The Notorious B.I.G..
Singles
The album was promoted through four singles: "Shining Through" (Theme From "Save The Last Dance") (2000), "Dying For Rap" (2000), "Dat B Dem / Dying For Rap" (2000), and "Perfect Chick" (2001). Music videos were created for two songs: "Dyin' 4 Rap / Dat Be Dem" and "Perfect Bitch."
Critical response
Jon Azpiri from AllMusic awarded the album a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, remarking that Fredro Starr mixes party-oriented tracks catering to Onyx followers with more introspective material aimed at expanding his audience. He praised Starr’s assertive responses to questions about his authenticity in songs like "Thug Warz," yet criticized the excessive presence of lesser-known guest rappers.
Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews rated it 6 out of 10, noting that Starr adopted a less aggressive tone compared to his earlier work, successfully balancing high-energy cuts such as "Dyin' 4 Rap" with more contemplative pieces like "What If" and "Shining Through."
HipHopDX gave the album a score of 3.5 out of 5, highlighting unevenness in featured collaborations and certain production decisions that diminished the overall impact despite standout contributions from Cuban Link, Capone-N-Noreaga, and Ice-T.
Stefan Johannesberg from Laut.de delivered a negative critique, pointing out mediocre flow, uninspired lyrics, and average production characterized by generic synthesizer sounds and commercial beats. While he acknowledged some decent tracks including "What If," "Perfect Bitch," and the remix version of "Save the Last Dance," he found most of the album predictable and lacking originality.
Track listing
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Producer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | "Comin' At The Game" | Ant Beats | 1:24 | |
| 02. | "Dyin' 4 Rap" | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 3:24 | |
| 03. | "What If" | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 4:36 | |
| 04. | "Thug Warz" | Outlawz (E.D.I. Mean, Napoleon), Sticky Fingaz (background vocals) | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 3:36 |
| 05. | "Perfect B!tch" | Ant Beats | 3:23 | |
| 06. | "Electric Ice" | X1, Mieva | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 2:47 |
| 07. | "Who F#!k Betta" | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 3:34 | |
| 08. | "Big Shots" | Sin, Begetz (background vocals) | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 3:29 |
| 09. | "Soldierz" | Sticky Fingaz, X1 | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 4:08 |
| 10. | "One Night" | Begetz, Ice-T, Versatile, Mieva (background vocals) | Ant Beats | 3:13 |
| 11. | "Dat Be Dem" | Begetz (background vocals) | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 3:53 |
| 12. | "Dyin' 4 Rap (Remix)" | Capone-N-Noreaga, Young Noble, Cuban Link | Fredro Starr, DaVinci; DJ Hectic (scratches) | 3:46 |
| 13. | "I Don't Wanna..." | Aaron Hall | Fredro Starr, DaVinci | 5:05 |
| 14. | "America's Most" | Ant Beats | 1:20 | |
| 15. | "Shining Through (Remix)" | Sunshine (background vocals) | Fredro Starr, DaVinci; Hector Delgado (remix) | 3:32 |
Japan Edition Bonus Track
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Producer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "V-12 Niggaz" | Sunshine (background vocals) | DaVinci, Fredro Starr | 4:00 |
Personnel
The following credits for Firestarr are derived from AllMusic and the album's CD booklet.
- Fredro Starr – vocalist, performer, producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer, sequencer
- E.D.I. Mean – featured artist
- Napoleon – featured artist
- Sticky Fingaz – featured artist, background vocals
- X1 – featured artist
- Mieva – background vocals
- Sin – featured artist
- David "Begetz" Cooper – featured artist, background vocals, A&R
- Ice-T – featured artist
- Versatile – featured artist
- Capone – featured artist
- Noreaga – featured artist
- Capone-N-Noreaga – featured artists
- Cuban Link – featured artist
- Young Noble – featured artist
- Aaron Hall – featured artist
- Sunshine – featured artist
- DaVinci – producer
- Ant Banks – producer
- DJ Hectic – scratches
- Omar "Iceman" Sharif – executive producer, management
- Just – management
- Hector Delgado – recording engineer, mixing engineer, sequencer
- Mauly T. – recording engineer ("I Don't Wanna...")
- Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
- Jonathan Mannion – photographer
- Jeff Chenault – art director, designer
Charts
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (2001) | Highest Position |
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