MISSING: The Hip Hop Group

What's going on Grown Folks? I have a question, which can be considered rhetorical in nature. Where are the Hip Hop groups, and why does it seem like they've all dropped off the face of earth? I'm not talking about novelty acts like Pretty Ricky, D4L, Boyz in the Hood, etc. Nor am I referring to collections of solo artists like G-Unit, DipSet, Wu-Tang, D.I.T.C. (arguably the most underrated collection of MCs and producers ever), etc. I'm talking about REAL Hip Hop groups like Ultramagnetic MCs, Run DMC, Boogie Down Productions; A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock and CL Smooth; Salt-n-Pepa, NWA, Hieroglyphics, Naughty by Nature (what up Jersey!), Heavy D and The Boys, The Pharcyde; Nice-n-Smooth; Stetsasonic (precursors to The Roots), Geto Boys, Goodie Mob, PE, De La, etc. These are the groups that had MCs that finished each other's bars and rhymed back and forth ala Run DMC and EPMD. Most of our best conscious MCs were from Hip Hop Group (PE, Brand Nubian and X-Clan to name a few). Hip Hop Groups also introduced us to some of the greatest MCs of all-time (Digital Underground/Tupac; BDP/KRS-One; Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five/Melle Mel; NWA/Ice Cube; Geto Boys/Scarface). Very rarely do you see new Hip Hop groups being introduced to the masses. We do have some solid groups out here today like The Roots (the best group out, hands down), UGK, Little Brother (come back 9th!), Bone Thugs n Harmony (who will be re-introduced to the world by Swizz Beats later on this year), and The Clipse (one of my personal favorites); but other than OutKast you'd be hard pressed to name a successful, well known Hip Hop group out here today and even they decided to go their separate ways.

The Hip Hop group has been a staple in Hip Hop music from Day One. As a matter of fact, in the early days of Hip Hop, it seemed like there were more well known groups than solo artists (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Cold Crush Brothers, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force [you gotta love that name], The Treacherous Three, Funky Four + One More, Sugarhill Gang, etc.). Why is that? It is a money issue? We all now that advance money doesn't stretch too far so that may be a factor. Are the labels not checking for Hip Hop groups anymore? Or are there no new groups coming up to speak of? Some of my favorite groups still get busy on the independent side of things like Smif n Wessun (aka The Coco Brovas); dead prez and many others. But we at GFHH think that this is a component that is needed in today's Hip Hop climate. We always talk about the need for variety and balance in Hip Hop music and maybe the reemergence of the Hip Hop group will help bring that about. A lot of the groups that were out had the variety and balance in their music that we crave. Naughty would give us the sex joint (OPP), party joint (Hip Hop Hooray), the "pain in my life" joint (Ghetto Bastard), tell you to "Guard Your Grill" and then hit you with the "Uptown Anthem." Salt n Pepa may not have named themselves the "baddest b*tches", nor did they feel the need tell us how good their head game was, but they had mad hits and I know I wouldn't be the only one wildin out if I heard "Tramp" come on at a party. EPMD (probably the most underrated group of all-time) definitely weren't known as the hardest MCs in Hip Hop, but I know NO ONE who didn't count them among their favorite artists. And their chemistry together on the mic was only surpassed by the brilliance of Darryl and Joe (R.I.P. JMJ).

To bring it current, why a group like Little Brother doesn't get more love is crazy to me. The whole Boot Camp Click would definitely bring more quality music to the airwaves. The Roots are the quintessential Hip Hop group, but they usual play to live audiences of mostly caucasians (not that there is anything wrong with this) and urban (code word for Black and Latino) radio program directors act like they don't even exist (but there is something terribly wrong with THAT).

It looks like we're going to have to be satisfied with what we have now. Thanks to the internet we are able to access some of this music (thank goodness for Myspace Music!), but being the Hip Hopper that I am, I miss the Hip Hop group. I should be able to turn on the radio (not XM or Sirius either) and hear the music from at least some of these groups. But if not, I WILL find it.

THE LEGEND SERIES VOLUME 1:

EPMD

EPMD (Erick and Parrish Making Dollars) were among the best in hip-hop's underground during the late '80s and early '90s. They were sampling G-Funk records while Dr. Dre' was turning off the lights with his World Class Wrecking Crew (look it up). They were also some of the first MCs to use their government names when they performed, no "MC this or that" and no nicknames. I personally count EPMD among my favorite groups of all time after Run DMC and Public Enemy. Since coming on the scene in 1987 with the classic album Strictly Business, EPMD, along with the legendary DJ Scratch, were responsible numerous hip-hop classics, including "It's My Thing," "You Gots to Chill," "Get the Bozack," "Strictly Business," "Rampage" feat LL Cool J and the "Jane" series. Over the years EPMD's contribution to Hip Hop has gone largely unnoticed and underappreciated.

Though EPMD's hardcore style influenced the urban-oriented gangsta '90s, Erick and Parrish were both raised in the Long Island suburb of Brentwood. That alone was rare because at that time the only MC from out there making any noise was Rakim. EPMD was also a self-contained unit. They wrote and produced every one of their records, with Erick usually taking care of most of the production, because that what they thought all groups did. Plus, who had dough to pay a producer in the latter stages of the crack era. At the time, I thought P was a much better MC than Erick, but E's work behind the boards was heavy. Most Hip Hop fans know Erick went on to be a very successful and sought after for other artists. EPMD were pumping out gold records (a big deal in the early days of Hip Hop) when Tribe, Jungle, De La, etc. were in high school. After their outstanding debut record "Strictly Business" they signed to the Yankees of Hip Hop labels (at least back then) Def Jam Records. EPMD dropped "Business As Usual" in 1990 (which saw the debut of a certain Brick City MC named Reggie Noble on the stellar cut "Hardcore") and then came with "Business Never Personal" two years later. 1992 saw the introduction of the Hit Squad. A crew of an extended family that included Redman, K-Solo (that "Spellbound" joint was crazy and the remix to "Letterman", prod. by Pete Rock is an underground classic), Keith Murray, and Das EFX. This crew of real MCs would go one to drop, arguably (and with all due respect to "The Symphony"), the hottest posse cut of all-time titled, "Headbanger".

Unfortunately, the boys from Brentwood split up over personal and business issues towards the end of 1992. I remember reading about it "The Source" back when I was in college. Rumors of misappropriated funds (isn't that always the reason for the beef), home invasions and dissention among the members of the Hit Squad ran rampant. After the Hit Squad tour in 1992, EPMD would break up for 5 years. Both tried their hands at solo careers with mixed success, and they also started their own squads--The Hit Squad (comprised of PMD, Das EFX and K-Solo) and The Def Squad (which was made up of Erick, Red and Keith). Neither man was able to ever capture that feel they had when they were EPMD. Luckily for their fans they got back together in 1997 and put out the strong comeback LP, Back in Business. The last LP for the group, aptly titled Out of Business, was released in 1999. When the greatest Hip Hop groups of all-time are discussed, Erick and Parrish Making Dollars need to be part of that conversation.