Albums
See Also: Keith Murray & Redman
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Bio From All Music Guide
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
Erick Sermon's Bio From All Music Guide
Official Sites: EPMD & Erick Sermon
EPMD - Out Of Business/Greatest Hits Double Limited Edition
Erick Sermon - Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis
Erick Sermon - Music
Erick Sermon - Chilltown, New York
Biz Markie - Weekend Warrior (Erick Sermon)
Black-Ty - Ghetto Royalty (Erick Sermon)
Boyz II Men - Vibin' (Single) (Erick Sermon)
George Clinton And The P-Funk All-Stars - T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (Erick Sermon)
Cypress Hill - Unreleased & Revamped (EP) (Erick Sermon)
The Dangerous Crew - Don't Try This At Home (Erick Sermon)
Chico DeBarge - Soopaman Lover (Remix) (Single) (Erick Sermon)
DJ Clue? - The Professional
DJ Drank's Greatest Malt Liquor Hits
DJ Premier - Crooklyn Cuts Volume III: Tape A (PMD)
DJ Quik - Balance & Options (Erick Sermon)
Essential Underground Hip-Hop 2 (PMD)
Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap Present The Tunnel (Erick Sermon)
Honey (Erick Sermon)
Honey (Enhanced Edition) (Erick Sermon)
How To Be A Player
In Tha Beginning...There Was Rap: Tha Originals
In Tha Beginning...There Was Rap (Erick Sermon)
Ja Rule - Venni Vetti Vecci (Erick Sermon)
A Low Down Dirty Shame (Erick Sermon)
Lyricist Lounge Vol. 2 (Erick Sermon)
Keith Murray - The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World (Erick Sermon)
Keith Murray - He's Keith Murray (Erick Sermon)
The Nutty Professor (Erick Sermon)
Outlawz - New World Order (Erick Sermon)
Prince Paul - Politics Of The Business (Advance) (Erick Sermon)
Redman - Dare Iz A Darkside (Erick Sermon)
Redman - Doc's Da Name (Erick Sermon)
Redman - Red Gone Wild: Thee Album (Erick Sermon)
Ride (Erick Sermon)
R.L. - RL:ements (Erick Sermon)
The Source Presents Hip Hop Hits Volume 1
Survival Of The Illest: Live From 125 N.Y.C. (Erick Sermon)
Sway & King Tech Featuring DJ Revolution - This Or That
Keith Sweat - Still In The Game (Erick Sermon)
SWV - New Beginning (Erick Sermon)
Too $hort - Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) (Erick Sermon)
Too $hort - Chase The Cat (Erick Sermon)
Too $hort - Pimpin' Incorporated (Erick Sermon)
Who's The Man? (Erick Sermon)
Xzibit - Restless (Erick Sermon)
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. 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."
One half of the legendary hip-hop duo EPMD, Erick Sermon was also among the genre's most prominent producers, deservedly earning the alias "Funklord" with his trademark raw, bass-heavy grooves. Born in Bayshore, New York on November 25, 1968, Sermon — a.k.a. E Double, the Green-Eyed Bandit and MC Grand Royal — teamed with rapper Parrish Smith in 1986 to form EPMD, an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars"; signing to the tiny Sleeping Bag label, they soon released their debut 12-inch, "It's My Thing," which went on to sell an astounding 500, 000 copies. In the years to follow EPMD emerged as one of rap's most vital acts, their hard-edged beats and Sermon's mumbled, monotone delivery becoming a great influence on the burgeoning gangsta movement. In addition to producing their own material, the duo also helmed records for the extended family of performers dubbed the Hit Squad, whose ranks included Redman, K-Solo, and Das EFX. In early 1993, EPMD disbanded, and Sermon soon resurfaced with his solo debut, No Pressure; he also became a sought-after producer and remixer, working with everyone from En Vogue to Blackstreet to Shaquille O'Neal. After a second solo effort, 1995's Double or Nothing, he and Smith reformed EPMD in 1997, releasing the LP Back in Business. — Jason Ankeny
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