EPMD
Erick E Sermon (b. 25 November 1968, Brentwood, Long Island, New York, USA) and Parrish P Smith (b. 13 May 1968, Brentwood, Long Island, New York, USA) are two rappers who did much to revitalise a flagging rap scene with an early outburst of controlled creative energy, UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Taking samples from rock sources such as Steve Miller, as well as underground dance music, they worked up a healthy, funk fuelled groove. Particularly effective among their early recordings was the rap manifesto on 45, So Whatcha Sayin. Their early struggles to attract record company interest are best observed in the 1989 single, Please Listen To My Demo, which documents their malaise. By then, however, they had recorded their first two albums. STRICTLY BUSINESS was distinguished by an amusing idea for a new dance entitled The Steve Martin, while the goofball fun continued on UNFINISHED BUSINESS, which in many ways sounded just like that. Unrestrained anarchy in the studio appeared to be the order of the day, with improvised lines, interruptions and jokey singing forming the basis of proceedings. It included contributions from K-Solo (Kevin Madison), who had previously worked in a pre-EPMD band with Smith, and would go on to record a solo album under his tutelage They moved to Def Jam in time for their third album, a much more accomplished affair (at least musically) with tighter production and harder beats. Despite the prevailing ethos, they never felt the need to provide a direct political agenda like many rap groups, seeing music as a source of personal self-advancement. This is openly demonstrated by the titles of their LPs, and the fact that their initials stand for Erick And Parrish Making Dollars. However, the manner in which EPMD tried to accommodate new lyrical concerns was less than satisfactory. Their raps continued to chastise their peers as ‘sucker MC's’, which was by now little more than cliché, while tracks like Gold-Digger lashed out at the type of women who don't sign pre-nuptial agreements just so they can walk away with a poor man's loot. Ironically, one of the better cuts on BUSINESS AS USUAL was Rampage, a collaboration with L.L. Cool J, whose artistic fortunes had witnessed a similar decline in recent years. BUSINESS NEVER PERSONAL simply continued in remorseless EPMD style. The duo split in 1993, Sermon being the first to embark on a solo career with Stay Real and the NO PRESSURE album. The latter's title reflected, wryly, on the fact that most considered Smith to be the ‘talent’ of the band. Yet NO PRESSURE was an excellent collection which did much to lay that myth to rest.