Business Never Personal by EPMD (CD, 1992, RAL (Rush Associated Labels))

Description: AllMusic Review by Stanton Swihart Having recorded two undeniable hip-hop classics right out the box, EPMD met with a modicum of disapproval for the first time ever upon the release of its third album, which was graded down by some fans and critics because it seemed to be, yes, more business as usual rather than any sort of musical maturation or progression. Unbowed, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith returned with what, at the time, was rumored even before it hit shelves to be their final album together. Indeed, the duo broke up not long after Business Never Personal came out. It was a perfect way to go out together. The album proved to be both a commercial and artistic triumph at the time, and with each passing year, it sounds more and more like their finest -- if not their most historically important -- recording. Unapologetically underground throughout its career up to this point, the duo was savvy enough to throw a bone to an ever-growing rap-listening public in a supposed bid for "Crossover" appeal even as it was taking its concluding bow, thereby negating any cries of "sellout" that otherwise might have been tossed at the group's reputation for independence from any commercial concerns. Frankly, though, it would have been a difficult claim to make stick against EPMD anyway. Despite its appealing Zapp sample and hook, "Crossover" is every bit as coated in street soot as the rest of its music. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly the catchiest thing the pair had ever created. The rest of the album is harder hitting but in every respect as captivating, running from the abrasively metallic "Boon Dox" to the crowd-moving Hit Squad posse cut "Head Banger," and returning the group more often than not to the scowling (though often tongue-in-cheek) intensity and minimalistic aesthetic of its first two records. And if Erick and Parrish hadn't yet made the impending end of their partnership explicit enough, they do so on the final track, where they finally, figuratively kill off Jane, the transvestite prostitute who had hawked them through each of their albums. Business Never Personal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Business Never Personal is the fourth studio album by hip hop duo EPMD, released July 28, 1992 on Def Jam Records.[2] Following mixed criticism of their previous studio effort, 1990's Business As Usual, the duo was able to return to their past acclaim on Business Never Personal. The album is considered the duo's third classic by fans and critics. The record was originally given a rating of 4.5 mics out of 5 in The Source in 1992.[3] The lead single, "Crossover", became its biggest success, nearly reaching the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was about keeping it real and not crossing over to the mainstream, but became EPMD's biggest mainstream success. The duo cut "Head Banger" with Redman and K-Solo was also a hit in 1992. The album was later certified Gold in sales by the RIAA on October 13, 1992.[4] The single "Crossover" was certified Gold on November 16, 1992. While it has yet to feature a U.S. reissue, Business Never Personal has been re-released in 2005 on vinyl in Europe.[5] Members Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith began having money troubles during recording, which led to a 1992 robbery of Smith’s home. The perpetrators claimed that Erick Sermon paid them to do the deed, causing the group to break up soon after this release. They each released two solo albums between 1993 and 1996, then reunited as a duo in 1997.[6] Track listing # Title Producer(s) Performer (s) Length 1 "Boon Dox" EPMD EPMD 2:48 2 "Nobody's Safe Chump" EPMD EPMD 2:12 3 "Can't Hear Nothing But the Music" EPMD, Charlie Marotta EPMD 3:37 4 "Chill" EPMD EPMD 2:57 5 "Head Banger" EPMD EPMD, K-Solo, Redman 4:52 6 "Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc]" DJ Scratch, Mr. Bozack EPMD 3:04 7 "Crossover" EPMD EPMD 3:49 8 "Cummin' at Cha" EPMD EPMD, Das EFX 4:03 9 "Play the Next Man" EPMD EPMD 3:36 10 "It's Going Down" EPMD EPMD 4:12 11 "Who Killed Jane?" EPMD EPMD 3:47 Samples Boon Dox · "I Can Feel It in My Bones" by Earth, Wind & Fire · "The Assembly Line" by Commodores · "Slow Down" by Brand Nubian · "If It Don't Turn You on (You Oughta Leave It Alone)" by B.T. Express · "The Payback" by James Brown Nobody's Safe Chump · "Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out" by Bobby Womack · "Wah Wah Man" by Young-Holt Unlimited · "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five · "The New Style" by Beastie Boys Can't Hear Nothing But the Music · "Give Me Your Love" by Barbara Mason · "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps · "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band · "Jungle Boogie" by Kool and the Gang Chill · "Street Thunder" by Foreigner · "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton · "UFO" by ESG · "It's Funky Enough" by The D.O.C. · "My Melody" by Eric B. & Rakim Head Banger · "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers · "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex · "One of Those Funky Things" by Parliament · "Slow Down" by Brand Nubian · "Surprises" by The Last Poets Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc] · "Duck Down" by Boogie Down Productions · "I Like It" by The Emotions · "Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest · "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss · "UFO" by ESG · "Rampage" and "I'm Mad" by EPMD Crossover · "You Should Be Mine" by Roger · "Say What" by Idris Muhammad · "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy Cummin' at Cha · "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A · "Smokin Cheeba-Cheeba" by Harlem Underground Band · "How I Could Just Kill a Man" by Cypress Hill · "25 ta Life" by D-Nice · "Teddy's Jam" by Guy · "They Want EFX" by Das EFX · "Breath Control II" by Boogie Down Productions · "Underground" by EPMD · "Hot Pants" by James Brown Play the Next Man · "Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk [Pay Attention - B3M]" by Parliament · "Raw" by Big Daddy Kane · "Can't Truss It" by Public Enemy · "Jingling Baby" by LL Cool J It's Going Down · "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye · "Long Red" by Mountain · "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier Who Killed Jane? · "Stone Junkie" by Curtis Mayfield · "Mary Jane" by Rick James · "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex

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Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

End Time: 2023-10-15T22:14:51.000Z

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