Fredro Starr facts for kids

Fred Lee Scruggs Jr. (born April 18, 1971), known as Fredro Starr, is an American rapper and actor. He is famous as a member of the hip hop group Onyx.

Fredro Starr was discovered by the late hip hop star Jam Master Jay from Run-D.M.C.. Jam Master Jay signed Onyx to his record label, JMJ Records. Onyx released three popular albums before Fredro started his solo music career. As part of Onyx, Fredro Starr was nominated for "Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist" at the American Music Awards of 1994. He also won "Best Rap Album" at the 1994 Soul Train Music Awards.

Fredro Starr has acted in more than 55 films and TV shows. His first acting role was in the HBO drama Strapped. He appeared in movies like Spike Lee's Clockers, Sunset Park, Ride, Light It Up, Save the Last Dance, and Torque. He also sang the theme song "Shining Through" for Save the Last Dance with Jill Scott. This song was on the movie's multi-platinum soundtrack.

Starr first appeared on TV in Law & Order and New York Undercover. He is well-known for playing Quentin 'Q' Brooks on UPN's Moesha. In this show, he starred alongside R&B singer Brandy. He also appeared in HBO's The Wire, NYPD Blue, Blade, and CSI: Miami. Fredro also co-hosted Dance 360, a daily dance competition show.

Early Life and Beginnings

Fred Lee Scruggs Jr. was born in Kings County Hospital Center on April 18, 1971. He grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. In 1984, when he was 13, he moved to South Jamaica, Queens with his brother David Scruggs.

Between 1984 and 1988, Fredro Starr attended John Adams High School (Queens). Other students there included Marlon Fletcher (known as Big DS), Tyrone Taylor (Suave, Sonny Seeza), Mr. Cheeks, and Freaky Tah. Fredro first met Suave at a rap battle in Ajax Park in Jamaica.

How Fredro Starr Started in Music

Fredro started as a breakdancing dancer after watching the movie "Beat Street" (1984). He was known by the name Magic. In late 1985, Fredro Starr decided to become a street poet. He was inspired by the style of LL Cool J after watching the movie "Krush Groove" (1985).

Fredro first used a microphone in 1986 at a basketball court in Baisley Park in Queens. He rhymed with his friends Cocheeks (also known as Mr. Cheeks), Freaky Tah, and others. They performed over live music mixes by GrandMasta Vic and CutMasta JT. Fredro was known as Kool Fredro at this time.

In 1986, Fred started working at "Nu Tribe Barbershop" in Queens. His younger cousin Kirk Jones (also known as Sticky Fingaz) joined him there three years later. At this barbershop, Fred and Kirk earned money. They continued working there until they heard their song "Throw Ya Gunz" on the radio in November 1992.

Onyx: The Hip Hop Group

In 1988, after finishing school, Fredro Starr formed the rap group Onyx. He created it with his school friends Big DS and Suavé (also known as Sonny Seeza). Big DS chose the name for the group, naming it after the black stone Onyx. They started making their first demo songs in a basement.

In 1989, Onyx signed Jeffrey Harris as their manager. He helped them get a contract with Profile Records. In 1990, they recorded their first song, "Ah, And We Do It Like This". It was released on April 25, 1990, but did not sell many copies.

Fredro Starr, Big DS, and Suave (also known as Sonny Seeza) met Jam Master Jay at a festival on July 13, 1991. Jay asked them to create a demo tape. Suave and Big DS could not make it to the studio. So, Onyx's manager, Jeff Harris, asked Fredro to bring his cousin, Kirk Jones, to the studio. Kirk was doing solo music at the time under the name Trop.

Fredro and Sticky Fingaz made two songs, "Stik 'N' Muve" and "Exercise". Jam Master Jay liked these songs. This is how Sticky joined the group, because Jay said, "If Sticky ain't in the group, it ain't no group!" Jay signed the group to his label, JMJ Records.

In 1991, Onyx's music producer, B-Wiz, sold his drum machine. He then moved to Baltimore and was later killed. Because of this, all of Onyx's early recordings were lost.

In 1993, Onyx released their first album called "Bacdafucup". It was very successful and sold millions of copies. This was mainly because of their famous song "Slam". After that, Onyx released two more albums on JMJ Records: All We Got Iz Us and Shut 'Em Down.

Fredro Starr's Solo Music Career

In 2000, Fredro Starr signed a deal with Koch Records. He released a mixtape called "Firestarr" that same year. In 2001, he released his first solo album, also called "Firestarr". From this time, he became known by the nickname Firestarr.

He also worked with Jill Scott on the song "Shining Through". This song was the main single for the movie soundtrack of Save the Last Dance. Starr's next album, Don't Get Mad Get Money, came out in 2003.

The "100 Mad" Movement

In 2003, Fredro Starr started a new movement called "100 Mad". Sticky Fingaz came up with the name. It means that no matter where Onyx is in the world, there are always many loyal fans with them. In 2019, "100 Mad" released an album. This album featured music by Snowgoons and The Alchemist. It also included guest singers like Conway The Machine and Planet Asia.

Mad Money Movement Label

In 2011, Fredro Starr started his own record label called "Mad Money Movement" in Los Angeles. The first music released by this label was his solo album "Made In The Streets". This album was a collaboration with producer Audible Doctor and came out on December 25, 2013.

Other releases from his label include Onyx albums like "#WAKEDAFUCUP" (2014) and "Against All Authorities" (2015). They also released "Black Rock (Onyx album)" (2018).

On May 13, 2013, Starr released his mixtape "Live 4Ever, Die 2Day". This was his first solo project in 10 years. On November 26, 2013, he released the first song from his third album The Firestarr 2, called "What If 2". The music video for this song came out on January 8, 2014.

On October 4, 2015, Fredro Starr won a rap battle against Keith Murray in Brooklyn. Fredro Starr won all three rounds.

On March 9, 2018, Fredro Starr released his fourth solo album, "Firestarr 2", on Mad Money Movement. He had announced this album years earlier.

In 2020, Fredro Starr released a video called "Corona" about the coronavirus situation. The song "Corona Freestyle" was released on April 17. He also worked on other artists' albums that year.

On September 7, 2021, Fredro Starr and his younger brother 6ambu Starr released an EP called ... Brothers. It had six songs produced by DJ Audas. They also released a video for "Onyx OG". Fredro Starr also featured on several other albums in 2021.

On September 2, 2022, 100 Mad released an EP by rapper Phenam called Presto. Fredro Starr produced all six songs on it. On September 23, Smoovth's album Project Near You was released, also fully produced by Fredro Starr. A music video was made for "Project Near You". On November 4, 100 Mad released Fredro Starr's fifth album, Jazz. The album was named after the type of music samples used. It had 10 songs, and Fredro produced all the music himself. Videos were made for "Heartbeat" and "Electric Hummers". Fredro Starr also appeared on several other albums in 2022.

In early 2023, Fredro Starr announced he was ending his music career. However, on November 17, 2023, 100 Mad released his sixth album, Legends Corner. This album featured rappers like RJ Payne and Sheek Louch. Fredro and Jay Wex produced the entire album. A video for "Down Like That" was released earlier. On December 8, 2023, 100 Mad released Beats By Dro, Vol. 1, a collection of 11 songs with Starr's music. Fredro Starr also featured on many other albums in 2023.

On May 20, 2024, Fredro Starr and his younger brother 6ambu Starr released the second part of ... Brothers, Vol. 2. This EP had five songs produced by DJ Audas. It featured rappers Ricky Bats and WhoSane. Videos were released for "Blunt Brothers" and "#QGTM". On June 28, 100 Mad released UFO Fev's album Strapped, which Fredro Starr produced entirely. Videos were made for "Fast Life", "Batumi", and "Peace God". On December 27, Starr filmed a song with Ricky Bats called "Raze It Up". He also featured on Hus Kingpin & 9th Wonder's album The Supergoat.

On January 10, 2025, 100 Mad released Fredro Starr's seventh album, Soul. Like Jazz, this album was named after the type of music samples used. It has 10 songs and was recorded in North Hollywood, California. The album featured rappers Pryce Whyte and Ricky Bats. Fredro produced all the music himself. A video for "Hood Jealousy" was released. On February 4, a video for "Back in Reverse" was released. On March 28, 2025, 100 Mad released Beats By Dro, Vol. 2, a collection of 11 songs with Starr's music.

Yung Onyx Group

In 2006, Starr started a new group called Yung Onyx. However, the group later broke up.

Fredro Starr's Acting Career

Fredro Starr's manager, Jeff Harris, encouraged him to try acting. He was quickly chosen for a TV pilot called B Boys (1992), but the project was stopped. Less than a year later, he got his first role as Bamboo in Forest Whitaker's film Strapped for HBO. This role earned him a nomination for "Best Supporting Actor" at the CableACE Awards.

Fredro Starr also acted in the drama Clockers and in Abel Ferrara's The Addiction. Starr then got his first main role as Shorty in Sunset Park. Besides acting in Sunset Park, Fredro also helped write and performed the title song "Thangz Changed".

Other movies he appeared in include Ride, Light It Up, and Save the Last Dance.

On television, Starr had a regular role on Moesha as the main character's boyfriend. He appeared in three episodes of HBO's The Wire as Marquis "Bird" Hilton. Starr also co-hosted Dance 360, a daily dance competition show, with actor Kel Mitchell. This show aired for one season in 2004.

Starr also made guest appearances on NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Blade: The Series (where Sticky Fingaz played the main role), and Promised Land. He played Ricky Gannon on a CSI: Miami episode that aired on February 2, 2009. He also appeared on New York Undercover.

Fredro produced a documentary about his mentor, Jam Master Jay, called Two Turntables and a Microphone: The Life and Death of Jam Master Jay. He also worked as an Executive Consultant on the hip hop musical film A Day In The Life, directed by Sticky Fingaz, in which he also starred.

Between 2009 and 2010, Starr appeared in 12 episodes of the web series Tales Of The Industry. In 2012, Starr starred in 20 episodes of the web series 16 Bars with Fredro Starr.

Starr played the main character in the independent film Diamond Ruff. This movie premiered in Hartford, Connecticut, on November 1, 2013. In 2018, the movie Firestarr 2 was filmed. It was made up of music videos for songs from the album Firestarr 2.

Other Activities

In 2011, Fredro Starr released two children's books. They were titled "Lil Freddy: The Red Sock" and "Lil Freddy: The Bully Kid".

Personal Life

His cousin and fellow Onyx group member is Sticky Fingaz. Fredro Starr has three children with his wife, Croatian model Korina Longin. They got married in 2007.

Music Albums

Studio Albums

• Firestarr (2001)
• Don't Get Mad Get Money (2003)
• Made In The Streets (2013)
• Firestarr 2 (2018)
• Jazz (2022)
• Legends Corner (2023)
• Soul (2025)

EPs (Extended Plays)

• A Few Joints (2021)
• ... Brothers (with 6ambu Starr) (2021)
• ... Brothers, Vol. 2 (with 6ambu Starr) (2024)

Compilation Albums

• Soul On Fire (2021)
• Stash Box (2021)
• 16 Bars Wit Firestarr (2021)
• Real Rap Wit Fredro Starr (2021)
• Beats By Dro, Vol. 1 (2023)
• Beats By Dro, Vol. 2 (2025)

Mixtapes

• Firestarr (Mix-Tape) (Hosted & Mixed by DJ Clue) (2000)
• Live 4ever Die 2day (2013)

Albums Produced by Fredro Starr

• Onyx — All We Got Iz Us (1995)
• Phenam — Presto (EP) (2022)
• Smoovth — Project Near You (2022)
• UFO Fev — Strapped (2024)
• JD Era — Yellow Goose (2025)
• Jay Nice — Flairstarr (2025)

Awards and Nominations

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Video Games

Music Videos

See also

In Spanish: Fredro Starr para niños