Classics Discussion: EPMD

[Deltron]

edubb!

Gave it to the first 4...just...

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

The only trolls on here are the sheep.



All your examples have nothing to do with 2016.

I think you nikkas really get confused on what a classic actually is. A classic is something you can put on now and it sounds Illmatic sounds in 2016. It's superb fukking music. shyt's so good it doesn't even need an explanation. When I heard Illmatic, Cuban Linx, Infamous for the first time, I wasn't listening to them shyts with Cliff Notes. I just heard them and went Great beat. Great rhyme.

Or you have an album that is so damn pivotal, even if it wasn't 90% perfect and was superseded, that you have to give it the classic stamp. e.g. Paid In Full, Criminal Minded. These are the Cliff Notes albums.

Does Strictly Business fall into either category? I'd argue not, but maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps it falls into the Cliff Notes category. As I said, EPMD have some of the greatest rap songs in history. I still play the shyt out of "So What You Sayin". I visit my cousin in East Orange and what do I hear blasting outta of a Hummer on the street corner? So What You Sayin.

But that's one song on that album.

Instead of relaying history and being on some "this is what we all did follow-shyt", tell me why Strictly Business means so much to you in 2016. Are you loving the fukk out of all those songs? Playing them often? What beats do you think are still crazy? What rhymes really speak to you artistically in 2016?

Still got my coffee

A lot of Rakim's Paid in Full rhymes don't really speak to me artistically right now


literally everything that followed in his discog was 100 times better and more memorable

The rhymes weren't the primary strength of EPMD, it was the dynamic between the two...the way they made that chemistry work and bounced off each other rhythmically

as for the beats? are you kidding? where to begin? the title track on SB, I'm Housin', You Gots to Chill, It's My Thing, You're a Customer, Jane

also the one track with scratches - DJ K La Boss - is way better executed and sounds 100 times better than those monkey ass Eric B. (if it was even him) scratches on Rakim's albums

 

[SirBiatch]

EPMD hasn't been sampled before? Forget the quotables, which obviously KRS-One has a ton of, EPMD samples were used by so many artists that followed, esp. Nas and Jay-Z to name a couple.

They literally brought p-funk sampling to rap.

Now it obviously has the influence and critical acclaim and all the subsidiary factors it needs to become a classic. For me personally, and I think you as well, quality is the main factor. Now if you somehow think the quality isn't there, then you might be onto something. That said, the quality barometer I usually use for questionable classics e.g. Hell on Earth, Dare iz a Darkside etc. basically the contentious ones rather than those set in stone. As I've said before, I don't like Criminal Minded that much, but it would be ridiculous for me to be too subjective and then preference would prevent me from rating it a classic. Just wouldn't make sense. Strictly Business is in that boat, because it is undeniable.

Those same people that you praise, the 'real fans'....at least 90% of those people if not more would call SB a classic.

As for it holding up and whether ppl will listen in 2016...maybe or maybe not. But I don't think Criminal Minded is getting insane burn in 2016 either. And I know this almost certainly that if I were to show any random person who isn't into hip-hop per se both the albums being compared, this person in 2016 would probably prefer SB, because it sounds 10000 times fresher.

I'm well aware that EPMD were sampled by Nas and Jay-Z

Finally, we're getting somewhere. I aint mad if someone said Strictly Business is a classic. I'm just saying it's not an obvious shoe-in. To me, it's not quite classic.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

edubb!

Gave it to the first 4...just...

Redman's verse on Head Banger holy fukking mother of jeebus



he's so GOAT it's just not fair

 

[RC998]

I got nothing but respect for EPMD, they are from my hometown. I actually seen them at a Varsity boys basketball game a month or two ago at my High School cause some kid beat Mitch Kupchak's record. And yes Mitch Kupchak the GM of the Lakers went to my High School.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

I'm well aware that EPMD were sampled by Nas and Jay-Z

Finally, we're getting somewhere. I aint mad if someone said Strictly Business is a classic. I'm just saying it's not an obvious shoe-in. To me, it's not quite classic.

Ok so then they've been sampled, contrary to what you said


It's just not in quotable form like a KRS, because EPMD were production pioneers more than anything, but were still rhyming their ass off it's not like they were held back by pre-Rakim rhymes and flow

 

[SirBiatch]

A lot of Rakim's Paid in Full rhymes don't really speak to me artistically right now

Is this the part where we deflect to discussing Rakim instead of EPMD?

Rakim came into the game with a totally new flow, rhyme content and super innovative production courtesy of Marley.

EPMD came through with innovative production, and that's about it. That about it.

The rhymes weren't the primary strength of EPMD, it was the dynamic between the two...the way they made that chemistry work and bounced off each other rhythmically

as for the beats? are you kidding? where to begin? the title track on SB, I'm Housin', You Gots to Chill, It's My Thing, You're a Customer, Jane

also the one track with scratches - DJ K La Boss - is way better executed and sounds 100 times better than those monkey ass Eric B. (if it was even him) scratches on Rakim's albums

Strange how you didn't even mention Let the Funk Flow.

It's My Thing is fire, no doubt. Get Off the Bandwagon is cool too.

But honestly, The Bridge is Over and Eric B is President are just flat out better than all those joints. Beat, rhyme, everything.

Ok so then they've been sampled, contrary to what you said


It's just not in quotable form like a KRS, because EPMD were production pioneers more than anything, but were still rhyming their ass off it's not like they were held back by pre-Rakim rhymes and flow

that's not contrary to what I said. Y'all just so busy being hurt you can't read.

Obviously I was talking about quotable form.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

Is this the part where we deflect to discussing Rakim instead of EPMD?

Rakim came into the game with a totally new flow, rhyme content and super innovative production courtesy of Marley.

EPMD came through with innovative production, and that's about it. That about it.



Strange how you didn't even mention Let the Funk Flow.

It's My Thing is fire, no doubt. Get Off the Bandwagon is cool too.

But honestly, The Bridge is Over and Eric B is President are just flat out better than all those joints. Beat, rhyme, everything.



that's not contrary to what I said. Y'all just so busy being hurt you can't read.

Obviously I was talking about quotable form.

well I have to bring Rakim in because you mention something anti-EPMD so I have to bring in the counter example. It's still relevant.

Also by no means am I trying to say SB is more influential than PIF, because PIF is probably the most influential album ever. But SB has enough influence, acclaim and all those factors to merit a classic status.

So the only way you can knock it down is by quality, but then how subjective are we gonna be with that? I don't think the beats on those songs you mentioned are better, they're too dated imo, especially The Bridge is Over. Rhyming obviously goes without saying.

 

[SirBiatch]

well I have to bring Rakim in because you mention something anti-EPMD so I have to bring in the counter example. It's still relevant.

Also by no means am I trying to say SB is more influential than PIF, because PIF is probably the most influential album ever. But SB has enough influence, acclaim and all those factors to merit a classic status.

So the only way you can knock it down is by quality, but then how subjective are we gonna be with that? I don't think the beats on those songs you mentioned are better, they're too dated imo, especially The Bridge is Over. Rhyming obviously goes without saying.

it's not about dated vs not dated, man.

The Bridge is Over and Eric B is President are just better songs than anything on Strictly Business.

But I appreciate this convo. Where are all the other dap-happy, deflect-desperate mutes? nikkas pretend to have such great taste yet can't tell you a damn thing about why they (supposedly) love something.

 

[General Mills]

My all time favorite group.


Had them real thangs falling down my eyes when I heard they broke up while watching Yo MTV Raps.

When Eric B n Rakim broke up I was But not E and Parrish.

 

[General Mills]

I am not bias at all. . I gave all the albums a classic designation.

If you was to put a gun to my head I would def go with the first four.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

it's not about dated vs not dated, man.

The Bridge is Over and Eric B is President are just better songs than anything on Strictly Business.

But I appreciate this convo. Where are all the other dap-happy, deflect-desperate mutes? nikkas pretend to have such great taste yet can't tell you a damn thing about why they (supposedly) love something.

idk it depends what you're looking for in a song, I'm aware of EPMD's purpose so I know what to expect when I listen to them

Yeah man right back at you. I enjoy our debates, if only you weren't so damn controversial

 

[Mike the Executioner]

I'm split on voting for Unfinished Business.

 

[patscorpio]

First 4 are undisputed classics.

The comeback albums I enjoyed but not quite classic.

Shout-out to my man Stezo

 

[mobbinfms]