Yet More Biz (Business As Usual - EPMD)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	Business As Usual - EPMD
Date:	25/08/09 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bangers throughout

Disadvantages: Nothing specific

"Business As Usual" came in 1990 as the third album from Parish and Erick Sermon as EPMD performing their typical underground East Coast Hip Hop material as they ad with the two which came before, in it, you also have the production of he two being cut up even more by their DJ; DJ Scratch, to help as they kept things flowing with more of their progressive and influential material.

1. "I'm Mad"

The album has them kick things off in a big way as they jump right into one where they throw in some fly rhymes to reintroduces themselves into the game and show that in the year it took to create this, they were able to make somethin to get people livened up again through the creative production and flows.

**Four Stars*

2. "Hardcore"

This tune has an early appearance from Redman (who would go on to form part of Def Squad with Erick Sermon in the future) and I felt that he had a lot to offer as a fresh face in the game and work well as the duo are seen to get down to some hardcore Hip Hop material where their rhymes have moved on form the funkier past to much more serious work.

**Five Stars**

3. "Rampage"

Another big name is seen to joint the tow in this one, and here it is quite clearly the biggest collaborator they had up to that point as LL Cool J shows support here (at a time where he as trying to reinvent himself trough his "Mama Said Knock You Out" phase, and so you see that here they get down some rough Rap.

**Five Stars**

4. "Manslaughter"

From the title alone, you can see just how far they have moved things on in just two years as with this one (for their third album) they have got right into the most hardcore Gangsta rap material by this point as they try to keep u with the likes of Kool G. Rap and those out on the West Coast too who had emerged.

**Five Stars**

5. "Jane 3"

With this one they get into one of the most memorable tunes in the "Jane" series as they jump on top of some of the funkiest beats that they are capable of (and had been seen since their debut) for one which has them taking her out once again as they do things in a way which was seen to be taken as inspiration for a few other tracks around this time (such as Da Lench Mob).

**Five Stars**

6. "For My People"

This is a fly track from them and it sees them changing their approach somewhat with the beats being replaced with applause to show just how far their originality goes and have effectively they are able to go things as they try out something so fresh and get down to some of the biggest rhymes that the album has to offer.

**Five Stars**

7. "Mr. Bozack"

With this they sample some funky material as only they could to show just how the turn of the decade has affected the Hip Hop which they could produce, and so you find that you get much more professional mixing t suit the cleanness you get from the rhymes which they deliver as they perform in a tag team format.

**Five Stars**

8. "Gold Digger"

With this one you see that they get right down to something freaky as the jump on some classic Funk material and stick in a few Breakbeats to up the pace of the material and hype them up as they perform a tune which you can predict the content of the rhymes for. It is a banger of a jam and perfectly suited as the first single from the release.

**Five Stars**

9. "Give The People"

This sia freaky am from them and it sees that they work with yet more sample work to get you grooving along with them. It gets tha tin it they decide that its about to time to get into one where they appear to have got to the stage where they understand just how the game works when it comes to the Black entertainment world as how they ft in with it.

**Five Stars**

10. "Rap Is Outta Control"

This one is a freaky tune from them as they work off a smooth guitar riff to motivate them to get into some blazing material which appeals to all of those who prefer it when they choose to do things in the more laid-back, and swore style. It is a killer one and I felt that the approach of the MCs made it much more impactful as they go against expectations.

**Five Stars**

11. "Brothers On My Jock"

They use material from the likes of James Brown, in addition to stuff which was heard coming from original Hip Hop compositions too, and so it makes for a fly jam which is based upon the perfect elements which make for the most effective underground East Coast Hip Hop as they get your to head bop with them and engage into their approach to rapping.

**Five Stars**

12. "Underground"

In this one they are seen to show just how far they contrast from the general mainstream Hip Hop scene of the time as they get down to one which has hem putting together one of the flyest and clam production efforts to get you swaying along and kicking some fly rhymes which have you floating with them.

**Four Stars**

13. "Hit Squad Heist"

On the final real Rap-based track on the album, you see that they do more of what was found in the album prior to this with some slapping beats which reflect the way that they old go on to inspire the West Coast with this type of stuff. It gets you taken in completely by the smooth style which is brought (solely by Parrish) and complimentary beats before Scratch cuts up some of samples.

**Five Stars**

14. "Funky Piano" (Outro)

This was, just as the first two they came up with, as a banger of an album which doesn't have any weak point within it. Thy show just how strong their capabilities are to both rhyme and create the most engaging production which were heard out on the East Coast at the time.

Summary: EPMD's third album