EPMD has returned with a new album “We Mean Business”. Erick Sermon & Parrish Smith (and DJ Scratch) are known for making quality funky Hip Hop through the years. From EPMD’s beginning with “You’s Got Chill” they have consistently brought feel good Hip Hop to the masses. With this new album they don’t disappoint nor disrupt their track record.

This new release by EPMD is especially poignant for DJs -vinyl deejays like myself - as Erick Sermon explains in an recent interview about it’s deal with Unique Distribution to release their singles on vinyl:

“DJ Premier said ’its cool to do the cds and all that, but you gotta respect the vinyl’ and Unique Distribution stepped their game up. I encourage a lot of rappers to release their own vinyl independent of the label situation”
Allhiphop.com

The release features guest appearances from KRS ONE,Wu Tang’s Method Man & Raekwon, Mobb Deep’s Havoc, and New Jack Swing creator Teddy Riley. As well as three new comers Skyzoo,Vic D & Tre and as you would expect Def Squad members Redman & Keith Murray.

The overall sound of the album is classic EPMD. A mixture of 70’s funk, late 80’s and early 90’s east coast underground Hip Hop revamped for today’s audiences. It’s not hipster rap nor a complete throwback to late 80’s HipHop. What is it? It is relevant, fresh and funky.

Here are some standouts…
“Put In Work”   featuring Raekwon is a head rockin club type joint.

“Roc Da Spot”  is a joint G Funk fans will love. EPMD has made the best gangsta funk joint in years with this song.

“Blow”  is an high energy fast paced song. Classic EPMD!! This beat reminds me of DJ Babu’s Ahead of My Time song. That song like this joint are crowd rockers.

The 9th wonder produced “Left For Dead”  featuring Skyzoo is what you would expect from 9th Wonder…straight goodness. I heard the name Skyzoo before but this was my second time hearing him rhyme and I am indeed feelin his voice and style.

“Bac Stabbers”  is the BEST track on We Mean Business. I love how EPMD used a sample from the Back Stabbers by The O’Jays. The song contains some nice cuts over the chorus by DJ Scratch. Scratch also drops nice cuts over the old school feel flavored “Jane”.

“They Tell me”  featuring Keith Murray is the second best track. This is what people expect from EPMD. A nice east coast underground sound. Keith brings his unique style to this sick track. After this listening to this song I’m ready for some new Murray. He indeed owes his fans something after 2008’s disappointing Intellectual Violence.

The rest of tunes on this album are quality Hip Hop songs. Classic Hip Hop fans and EPMD heads will enjoy them.

One disappointment though was “Run It”  featuring KRS ONE. I was expecting so much more. I just couldn’t get into the beat. Even KRS sounds like he’s struggling to spit a rhyme to beat. KRS definitely doesn’t bring it on this track. Let’s hope for remix sometime in the future because this song is beneath an EPMD & KRS ONE collaboration. It’s nowhere near 2007 ’s “Speak For Truth”  the collabo between X Clan & KRS.

EPMD’s 7th album “We Mean Business” (in stores on December 9th) is a solid album from start to finish. It’s such a great pleasure to hear classic mc’s from the golden age of Hip Hop still making quality music. Do yourself (and Hip Hop) a favor and grab this album.

EPMD - We Mean Business Sampler

BUY THE ALBUM

One more thing DJ Scratch, EPMD’s DJ, released a mixtape of classic EPMD material a while ago. You can cop that here as well.

LISTEN
DOWNLOAD HERE

 

 Blow - EPMD [3:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Bac Stabbers - EPMD [3:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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