Tag: EPMD

Coming all the way from Long Island, NY, these two gentlemen came together to join forces and then became one of hip hop’s best to ever do it. Their names are Erick Sermon aka E Double and Parrish Smith aka Parrish Mic Doc and together they are EPMD. Eric And Parrish Making Dollars. On June 7th, 1988, they released their debut album “Strictly Business.” It is an essential hip hop classic and it is a first of its kind. With a sound that’s heavy bass with funk and rock samples and DJ scratches, they had heavy hits that can turn a party out. With four official singles, “It’s My Thing”, “I’m Housin’”, “Strictly Business”, and “You Gots To Chill”, EPMD became an instant hit. The album peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200, the album went gold four months after its release and The Source gave it a five mic rating, making it one of the 43 albums to ever receive this rating. 30 years later, the duo were recently seen at the Yo! MTV Raps: 30th Anniversary Show at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn performing their classics and even brought along K-Solo from the Hit Squad performing his classic “Spellbound.” These fellas have not lost their touch or step. I even had the opportunity to meet Parrish downtown at a spot on Houston Street called SOB’s for a Jam Master Jay birthday celebration and he was most definitely cool and a humbled guy. EPMD’s music hands down is one of the best and a must have in a hip hop collection. Album after album, they came with hits for years and even have merchandise but who in hip hop doesn’t have merchandise. Overall, when they come together on that stage, it’s all BUSINESS and no play.