Gettin' The Biz Done (Unfinished Business - EPMD)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	Unfinished Business - EPMD
Date:	11/05/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of big tunes

Disadvantages: Not as strong as their debut

The New York Hip Hop duo EPMD (consisting of members Erick Sermon and PMD) released their second album, "Unfinished Business" in 1989, just a year after debuting and making a heavy impact as a brand new major force in the world of underground East Coast Hip Hop. The pair composed all of the beats (using many samples) and MC together throughout, just as with 1988's classic "Strictly Business". This album also features DJ Scratch essentially doing as his name implies (scratching as the DJ and general over-looker to the album).

1. "So What Cha Sayin'"

To get this ting underway, you find that they start it all just as they left off with some music which has them coming with something hard to show that they are essentially here to bring more of what we know and enjoy their music for. It is hardcore, and just the way you like it all to begin as you feel some killer flows from the pair as they frequently throw the mic(rophone) to each other on some Funkadelic and B.T. Express.

**Five Stars**

2. "Total Kaos"

Dragging the classic "Impeach The President" from the track prior to it, this one has it has the main drum loop through the tune as you have them using a variety of samples which had been used heavily during this period with Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like An Eagle", James Brown and a little more of Funkadelic's work to lead them as they flow with confidence on some beats which you couldn't go wrong with.

**Four Stars**

3. "Get The Bozack"

This is a banger of a track from them and much of this is once again down to the amazing choice, and mix of Funk they choose to compose their work on. You find that Sermon's flows on this one just too much, and the way that they choose to show this off with regular breaks takes the thing to the next level. It is a great example of the quality of the music here.

**Five Stars**

4. "Jane II"

In the first sequel to a track which, initially found on their debut, has had a place on each of their seven records has them here take things back to the Old School as they choose to compose this one which beats which reflect the first half of the decade and of course this brings out excitement as they flow their rhymes in the modern style to create a strong contrast. They show their storytelling here, and it went well.

**Five Stars**

5. "Please Listen to My Demo"

With them in the knowledge that their music would really take out most others in the game, you have them taking things back to an earlier time when they weren't getting to the money and were almost blown out as people ignored them, thinking they would be just as the rest. The beats take on the reminiscing feel, and although it would have been a fairly recent thing, they appear o take it all back to a time when they weren't recognized as such a force in the game.

**Five Stars**

6. "It's Time to Party"

They bring the pace up in this on, and it appears that they go for something which a lot of the fans of their debut wouldn't really have expected to get from them as you have the duo getting down to a little party rap. It isn't really conventional, and seems to take on a bit too much House than is needed, but I felt that they kept it within their limits in this case to show that they can vary things and not get lost in something they aren't really familiar with.

**Four Stars**

7. "Who's Booty"

They are backed solely by classic Funk as it is The J.B.'s and Funkadelic who inspired the music in this particular track, and it makes for another killer of a joint as they flow in a laid-back manner to get into the raps for the girls. They do it very well as they show more of the variety they can drop on you. Each MC has their own style of approach and as PMD comes in after, it seems to rejuvenate the recording.

**Four Stars**

8. "The Big Payback"

It doesn't take a lot to work out that they chose to sample James Brown in this one, and they choose not to surprise as they go for something pretty conventional as they get down on some Breakbeats. Although these are pretty weak, in terms of the sharpness of them, it shows that they are just easing their way into the new style which would be used by the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Rakim and Kool G. Rap in and around this time.

**Four Stars**

9. "Strictly Snappin' Necks"

As Gangsta Rap had recently come into the game ,and made a big impact upon the Hip Hop scene, you find that in this case you have them taking on a little of this for this one as they show how the underground East Coast style of this would be done. It is hard, and really stands out for what they do. You have hints of the past as Sermon drops in a few Old School lines to mix it up, and it all adds to the experience.

**Five Stars**

10. "Knick Knack Patty Wack"

K-Solo joins them here as they decide that "Woman to Woman" (known famously as the main riff to 2Pac's "California Love") is appropriate as they kick one of their most well-known flows. This is a classic one, and everything about it shows that they are working at their absolute maximum potential. It really stands out and you can't help but get down to it.

**Five Stars**

11. "You Had Too Much to Drink"

Here it sounds as if they have taking heavy influence from Run-D.M.C. as they choose that it is time to do some cheesy raps and do so on Rock production. I felt that it really wasn't working as well as they rest of the material, and it brought the standards down quit a bit as they attempt something a little more mainstream.

**Three Stars**


12. "It Wasn't Me, It Was the Fame"

Ending the release off, you have a track which has theme getting back to the type of thing which was heard from the opening track on the album as you have them doing some head-bopping Hip Hop. Although the subject matter isn't all that conventional, it is something engaging as they talk of how fame has altered the way they lives their lives as a result of it.

**Five Stars**

I would have to say that although this is a strong record from them, it isn't really as good as their debut, and it slips up a little as they try out a few newer experimental work, which appears not to go down all that successfully. However there aren't any weak joint on here, so you can't really complain.

Summary: EPMD's second album