On the surface, the sample-reliant productions and monotone rapping styles of
Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith had little to recommend them, but the duo's recordings as
EPMD were among the best in
hip-hop's underground during the late '80s and early '90s. Over the course of four albums (from the 1988 classic
Strictly Business to 1992's
Business Never Personal), they rarely varied from two themes: dissing sucker MCs and recounting sexual exploits. But a closer look reveals that the duo's rhymes were nothing less than incredible, simply undervalued because of their lack of intonation during delivery.
"BlueBeat has changed my life! ...I listen to my
[Crate] all the time, and like the Lord I declare my creation good..."
-----John David Baldwin,
BlueBeat listener
& DJ Crate creatorRegistered BlueBeat users, make your own programs and declare them good at our
Be The DJ channel
EPMD also had a feel for a good groove, and created numerous
hip-hop classics, including "It's My Thing," "You Gots to Chill," "Get the Bozack," "Strictly Business," and "Rampage."
Though
EPMD's hardcore style influenced the
urban-oriented gangsta '90s,
Erick Sermon (aka E Double E; b. Nov. 25, 1968) and Parrish Smith (aka Pee MD; b. May 13, 1968) were both raised in the Long Island suburb of Brentwood. They moved into
rap separately, with Smith DJing for Rock Squad on a single for Tommy Boy. After coming together in 1987 -- naming themselves
EPMD, short for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars" -- the duo recorded their debut "It's My Thing" in three hours. The single was later licensed to Chrysalis, and
EPMD signed to Sleeping Bag/Fresh Records for debut album
Strictly Business. Propelled by several strong singles ("You Gots to Chill," the title track), the album eventually went gold, as did 1989's follow-up,
Unfinished Business. Signed to Def Jam by the beginning of the '90s,
EPMD returned in 1990 with
Business As Usual and
Business Never Personal two years later. By 1992, they presided over an extended family dubbed the Hit Squad, including
Redman, K-Solo, and
Das EFX. The duo split later that year, however, prompting solo careers for each;
Sermon debuted in 1993 with
No Pressure, and Smith made his statement on 1994's Shade Business. The duo re-formed
EPMD in 1997, recording a strong comeback LP,
Back in Business.
Out of Business followed in 1999. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
