Grown Folks Hip Hop

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.