The Long Island, New York pair's first five albums went gold - 1988's Strictly Business, 1989's Unfinished Business, 1990's Business As Usual, 1992's Business Never Personal, 1997's Back In Business - thanks to Erick Sermon and Parish Smith's tag-team rap style and groundbreaking production. Now, after more than 20 years in the game, EPMD returns with We Mean Business, their first album on their own EP Records and their seventh overall. The new collection is a testament to their Business plan.
"All of our albums have Business in the title," Smith explains. "Now that we're in a new era and the game is changed, we realize that it's different from when we handed in a CD to our first label to being at Def Jam. Erick and I created our own vehicle to be able to drop this album. That's how we came with the title We Mean Business, because we do."
EPMD updates its classic sound and sentiment on "Listen Up," a funk-drenched song complete with a talk box. Recognizing EPMD's status as pioneers, Sermon acknowledges how important his lyrics are: "Can't talk ignorant/I got some intelligent folks that's digging it." Those same folks will be digging We Mean Business song "Roc Da Spot," a throwback of sorts to "You Gots To Chill," one of 1988's most acclaimed rap singles. "The beat had that EPMD sound, as far as the claps," Sermon says. "It had a familiarity to it because of the sound and, 20 years later, we've still got that funk coming."
EPMD has been killing it since it dropped its "It's My Thing" 12-inch single in 1987. Short for "Erick and Parish Making Dollars," the Long Island duo made an immediate impact on the rap scene, even though one of its trademark characteristics was born out of necessity. Given Sermon's lisp, he had to modify his rhyme style into a controlled, slow flow. Smith employed a similar style, and the pair's commanding, assured vocals and innovative, mid-tempo production made them stand out in a rap field populated with high-energy vocalists and frenzied beats.
"It's very important for us to stay us," Smith adds. "People want to hear and see EPMD." That's because We Mean Business isn't just an album title for EPMD. It's a mindstate.
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