In a recent interview, Onyx rapper Fredro Starr revealed that he and his group are earning royalties from Travis Scott's massive hit song "SICKO MODE" featuring Drake. The reason? The track samples Onyx's 1992 song "Throw Ya Gunz," which was previously sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. on his 1994 song "Gimme the Loot."
As Fredro explained, "Luckily [the song's executive producer] Jam Master Jay told Puff Daddy, 'You gotta pay for that sample, my n-gga.' So Biggie sampled 'Throw Ya Gunz' on 'Gimme The Loot' and Travis Scott sampled Biggie on 'SICKO MODE.' So it trickles down."
While Fredro didn't disclose the exact percentage Onyx receives, he noted that "a little percent of something astronomical is not bad." And astronomical is certainly an accurate description for the success of "SICKO MODE."
The song, which was produced by a powerhouse team including Hit-Boy, Tay Keith, and Mike Dean, has been a massive hit for Travis Scott. The official music video has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, with the audio-only version racking up an additional 300 million plays on La Flame's channel.
"SICKO MODE" also reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has since been certified diamond by the RIAA, signifying at least 10 million sales in the U.S.
Producer Hit-Boy revealed there is actually a longer, extended version of the beat used in the opening of "SICKO MODE" that Travis Scott played for him shortly after recording it. However, fans will likely never get to hear that full version, as Hit-Boy said "it's probably not gonna ever come out."
Nevertheless, the massive success of "SICKO MODE" has proven quite lucrative for Fredro Starr and Onyx, who are now cashing in on the song's sample of their 1992 track. It just goes to show how the music industry's interconnected history can continue to pay dividends years and decades later.
Comments