ONYX ft. DMC – Hollis 2 Southside Video

ONYX’s “Hollis 2 Southside” featuring DMC is built around borough pride, lineage, and Queens history. The concept is clear from the title alone. Hollis represents the foundation laid by Run-D.M.C., while Southside points to the gritty energy tied to ONYX and Jamaica, Queens. This is meant to be a bridge between generations, old school to rugged street era, with a nod to the late Jam Master Jay in spirit. The video, shot at the Coliseum in Jamaica, Queens, gives the release added weight because it places the record in a real neighborhood setting instead of a studio set. You feel the location more than the song’s actual tribute angle.

The production flips a sample from Run-D.M.C.’s “King of Rock,” which should have been a slam dunk idea. On paper, it sounds perfect. In execution, the beat lands softer than expected. It is subdued and the drums never fully crack the way an ONYX record usually should. This type of collaboration calls for impact, something loud enough to shake walls, and the mix never reaches that level. The sound feels flatter than it needs to. There is nostalgia in the sample choice, but not enough punch in the final product.

ONYX themselves feel less focused than the moment calls for. They have built careers off raw intensity, sharp attitude, and records that hit like street alarms. Here, the energy is present in spots, but the writing does not feel especially polished. Some lines come off more thrown together than sharpened. For a song carrying Queens legacy in the title, stronger verses would have helped sell the moment. It feels like a missed chance because the idea behind the record is better than parts of the execution.

Then DMC arrives and steadies everything. He uses the classic cadence fans know from the 80s, direct, commanding, and clean. His verse brings identity to the track. When he references black hats, brims, the “Hit It Run,” and New York pride, the record finally locks into its purpose. He sounds comfortable, proud, and fully aware of what he represents. The visuals also deserve mention. Uncle Ralph McDaniels appears in a cameo in addition to directorial duties. He came correct, as always. “Hollis 2 Southside” works best as a visual salute to Queens culture and pioneers, even if the song itself does not hit as hard as it should.