Strictly Business [Bonus Tracks]

by EPMD

Overview

EPMD's blueprint for East Coast rap wasn't startlingly different from many others in rap's golden age, but the results were simply amazing, a killer blend of good groove and laid-back flow, plus a populist sense of sampling that had heads nodding from the first listen (and revealed tastes that, like Prince Paul's, tended toward AOR as much as classic soul and funk). A pair from Long Island, EPMD weren't real-life hardcore rappers -- it's hard to believe the same voice who talks of spraying a crowd on one track could be name-checking the Hardy Boys later on -- but their no-nonsense, monotoned delivery brooked no arguments. With their album debut, Strictly Business, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith really turned rapping on its head; instead of simple lyrics delivered with a hyped, theatrical tone, they dropped the dopest rhymes as though they spoke them all the time. Their debut single, "You Gots to Chill," was a perfect example of the EPMD revolution; two obvious samples, Zapp's "More Bounce to the Ounce" and Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie," doing battle over a high-rolling beat, with the fluid, collaborative raps of Sermon and Smith tying everything together with a mastery that made it all seem deceptively simple. There was really only one theme at work here -- the brilliancy of EPMD, or the worthlessness of sucker MCs -- but every note of Strictly Business proved their claims. [The 2013 reissue adds five bonus tracks including dub versions of "You Gots to Chill," "It's My Thing" and "You're a Customer," an acapella version of "You Gots to Chill," and a funky mix of "I'm Housin'" by Simon Harris.] ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	09/03/2013
Label:	Priority Records / Universal
UPC:	0602537498666
Rank:	43563

Tracks

1. Strictly Business
2. I'm Housin'
3. Let the Funk Flow
4. You Gots to Chill
5. It's My Thing
6. You're a Customer
7. The Steve Martin
8. Get Off the Bandwagon
9. D.J. K La Boss
10. Jane
11. I'm Housin' [U.K. Mix]
12. You Gots to Chill [Dub Version]
13. You Gots to Chill [Percapella]
14. You're a Customer [Dub Version]
15. It's My Thing [Dub Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

EPMD   Primary Artist
Parrish Smith   Vocals
Erick Sermon   Vocals
PMD   Vocals

Technical Credits

Parish Smith   Liner Notes
PMD   Producer,Composer
Simon Harris   Producer
Bob Marley   Composer
EPMD   Composer,Producer,Performer
Parrish Smith   Composer
Charlie Marotta   Engineer
John Poppo   Engineer
Roger Troutman   Composer
Roger   Composer
Gordon Davies   Assistant Engineer
Erick Sermon   Composer,Producer
Herb Powers   Mastering
Eric Haze   Logo
Janette Beckman   Photography
A. Moon   Composer
Al Watts   Engineer
Susan Huyser   Design
Rich Rahner   Assistant Engineer
Jim Foley   Engineer