EPMD — Strictly Business

In 1987, Erick "E Double" Sermon and Parrish "Parrish Mic Doc" Smith formed the Brentwood, Long Island, New York hip-hop duo Easy Erick and Parrish the Microphone Doctor. The duo later shortened their name to the acronym EPMD, removing an "E" due to NWA's Eazy-E's notoriety, and changed the meaning of the acronym to "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars". The group signed to Fresh Records and released the single "It's My Thing" in 1987, and released a full-length LP the following year. The effort is devoid of guests, either on the mic or behind the keyboards.

The title refers to one of the most famous scenes from the cult movie "The Godfather" (1972): when Michael Corleone returns home to his family's villa in Long Island, after being beaten up for no reason by police captain McCluskey, he chooses to plan a revenge against McCluskey and Sollozzo by eliminating both of them in a public place during a meeting with him. His brother Sonny teases him, saying that what is happening is business and that the boy is taking it too personally, but Michael is convinced of his plan and that his future double murder will also be covered by family friends' newspapers, explaining to those in the room that it's not a personal vendetta of his, but that it's «strictly business».

This becomes the first hip-hop album to feature a tribute to that film in the title. The production and mixing are entirely handled by the duo, the scratches are by DJ K La Boss. The title track opens the whole vinyl with a scratched sample, simple skinny and raw beat, sample of "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton, regular and skeletal drum machine, dope delivery of the duo who's going strong, flowing, pure, crystalline, great cut. "Let the Funk Flow" boasts a magnificent sample taken by "Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)", Otis Redding classic: simple raw rhythm supported by this sample which is used for the entire musical carpet, minimal drum machine, excellent fresh funky production, dope velvet delivery of the duo. Great track.

"You Gots to Chill" is another highlight. It has a simple soundscape, minimal and hard drum machine, skinny beat, samples from Rakim, Kool & the Gang, and Zapp: velvet delivery, tight background sample, good rap. "It's My Thing" presents a splendid female soul sample looped on the hook, with a jazzy dope bridge on the hook, regular delivery of the duo, then a heavy break mid-cut with samples of "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson looped very tight, other good samples like "Another Brick in the Wall (Part I)", Marva Whitney homonymous song, and "Seven Minutes of Funk" by The Whole Darn Family. "Jane" closes the album, but it's the beginning of a twenty-year saga with numerous sequels in the following EPMD records. Sampling two funky rock like "Mary Jane" by Rick James and "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex, simple rhythm, raw, syncopated and minimal drum machine, fresh production, syncopated and regular delivery, with soulful sample looped in the background, light-hearted slow-flow rapping for this classic.

Released by Fresh / Sleeping Bag Records, the album soared to the top of the hip-hop charts, entering the top 100 of the pop charts and becoming one of the best-selling rap releases of the season. Fueled by the success of the singles "You Got to Chill", "It's My Thing", "Strictly Business" and "I'm Housin'" — the last three of which received good traction in the UK — the album was certified gold by the RIAA within months of its release. Received positively by most critics, albeit with some skepticism, the album entered several lists of the best albums of the year, and in retrospect it's considered one of the best hip-hop albums of the decade and their most influential album.

Although not really having something to say, the Long Island duo manages to compose ten tracks, ten excellent cuts, based on an excellent choice of samples that enhance a simple and amazing funky timeless production, braggadocio lyrics with some pretty nice storytelling, and on a smoothness and effortless rapping delivered with a relaxed style. This record is fully enjoyable, consistent and fluid, a must-listen.

Rating: 8.7/10.