From mic-wielding menace in the legendary rap group Onyx to a familiar face on screen in shows like Moesha, Fredro Starr has carved out a unique space in hip-hop and Hollywood. In a candid interview, the South Jamaica Queens native opened up about the Miami Heat‘s resilience, singling out Tyler Herro for praise, before diving deep into his own basketball history, the dream-matchups for Verzuz, his thoughts on Brandy‘s skills, and his time on the set of Moesha.
The Heat, Herro, and Hardwood History
While music and acting are his professions, Starr’s connection to basketball is undeniable, especially when discussing the NBA season. He gave props to the Miami Heat for maintaining their strength despite the challenging environment of the season.
“Tyler Herro. He’s always doing his thing, you know what I’m sayin’?” Starr noted, acknowledging the difficulties of the pandemic era in the NBA. “With this Corona a lot of players are not playing and it’s going in and out and they’re getting a lot of dudes from the G-League and it’s not a normal season, but Miami is strong though. I think those guys in Miami… They definitely know how to play together because they’ve been together for so long, so I think that they got a great team.”
But before the pros, there was the ‘hood court. “Oh yeah! Every black man hooped. If you was from the ‘hood, you had to learn how to play basketball,” he recalled. However, his self-assessment was hilariously humble. “I wasn’t the nicest but, I got out there and did my thing. I know how to talk trash… I can talk better than I could play. I’ll put it like that! [laughs]. I had a little jumper coming up in South Jamaica Queens.”
The Versatile Versuz: Onyx vs. M.O.P.
When the conversation shifted to the cultural phenomenon of Verzuz battles, Starr was immediately animated, advocating for a highly anticipated showdown: Onyx versus M.O.P.
“Yo! Onyx and M.O.P. would be fuckin’ crazy!” he exclaimed.
“Like, M.O.P. is from Brooklyn. Onyx is from Queens. We came out about around the same time, we both got that same energy… everybody knows that’s the Versuz that Onyx is supposed to do but I’m hearing that M.O.P. doesn’t want to do Versuz. But I’m sure if the situation is right we can get it done. We just have to get it done.”
Starr even painted the picture of the back-and-forth: “They can drop Ante Up and we’re gonna drop Slam! You know what I’m sayin’? They’re gonna drop How About Some Hardcore and we’re gonna throw Throw Ya Gunz on! So it’s going to be — that’s what needs to happen.”
He didn’t stop there, listing other potential opponents: “I’m willing to take on Cypress Hill to do an Onyx/ Cypress Hill Versuz; I’m willing to do an Onyx/ Dogg Pound Versuz. I just think that the Versuz stage is great for artists who’ve been in the game for a minute… I think that Onyx has one of the best stage shows in hip-hop. You give us an hour with anybody on that stage, and they’re going to feel the wrath! But yeah, Onyx/ M.O.P., Onyx/ Cypress Hill, Onyx/ Lost Boyz… Onyx vs WHOEVER! Let’s do it! Dogg Pound I don’t care.”
Debating the Legends: Jay-Z, Nas, and Busta Rhymes
Starr also weighed in on the legendary Verzuz debates involving Hip-Hop’s elite, including Memphis Bleek’s controversial take on Nas’s catalog against Jay-Z.
“I don’t know about that. I think Nas got records to go against Jay-Z,” Starr countered.
“I think that when Jay-Z said that no one can touch him in Versuz, I was like… the first person that came to my mind was Nas. That would be crazy to see Ether at Versuz. That would be crazy yo. I mean, that would probably break the internet. But Nas is still putting out great music. That’s the difference. I think that Nas is still passionate about hip-hop. That would be a DOPE Versuz for sure; or a Jay-Z/ Busta Rhymes…”
He also made a strong case for Busta Rhymes, who he believes is often overlooked in the top-tier conversation. “Busta got a LOT of hit records bro. That would be a crazy battle because Busta has longevity in hip-hop. He’s been here before Onyx; like, Leaders of the New School, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, Busta has been in the game for 30 years. Straight up. And that’s probably six or seven years before Jay-Z.”
While acknowledging Jay-Z’s hit record count, Starr emphasized Busta’s stage presence: “I think that Busta’s energy on stage would just be incredible. If you’re matching energy on stage, Jay-Z can’t rock with Busta. It’s two different things. Jay-Z’s smooth with it, Busta Rhymes is very…. Animated. But everybody knows that it’s Jay-Z and Nas though. That’s where it’s supposed to be at. And everybody knows that Onyx/ M.O.P.; that’s where it’s supposed to be at.”
The idea of an Eminem vs. Jay-Z battle was also discussed. “I just think that Jay-Z would outlast Eminem in a Versuz because I just think Jay-Z is more agreeable to the culture. I think Eminem — when he first came in, he kind of faded and started doing records that wasn’t representing the culture. But his records with Dr. Dre are CLASSICS.”
Black Hollywood Excellence & Brandy’s Bars on Queens
Before wrapping up, Starr reflected on his time starring as “Q” on the hit sitcom Moesha, alongside Brandy and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
“The set was cool man. The first day I got out there, I was nervous. I was out there by myself; just came from Queens, a little rough around the edges, you know what I’m sayin’? Now I’m in Hollywood on a sitcom set,” he confessed.
However, the environment quickly put him at ease. “It was like a family atmosphere — producers and all Black people on the set all the way down to the catering, and the writers… it was Black Hollywood Excellence and rest in peace to Lamont Bentley who played Hakim on the show; me and him was like Tom & Jerry like, you saw Lamont… you saw Fredro.”
Starr fondly remembered the camaraderie: “Just vibing with Lamont Bentley and the whole set; it was cool man being in L.A. and going to Roscoe’s [Chicken & Waffles] eating chicken every day for lunch so, the set was cool. Sheryl Lee Ralph was cool and it was good. It was a good time in hip-hop and a good time in filming and acting.”He also mentioned the new ABC Drama Queens, starring Brandy, noting that Onyx’s classic “Slam!” should’ve beem featured and giving a playful nod to her rapping skills on the show: “I did watch the show! It wasn’t like I want to see it… It was on TV and I watched it. The writing is cool. Shout out to Eve and everybody, they’re doing their thing… and Slam is going to be on the show… Now as far as the bars, her bars are cool! I’m not mad, you know what I’m sayin? Her bars is a’ight.”
