EPMD - Unfinished Business

After dropping 1988's classic debut album, Strictly Business, doubters and playa-haters wondered whether the legendary duo of Erick "E-Double" Sermon and Parrish "PMD" Smith had anything left for a follow-up. Striking back with 1989's excellent Unfinished Business, EPMD avoided the sophomore jinx by sticking closely to their winning, bass-heavy formula. Booming "jeep-beat" production and severely laid-back drawls highlighted their career, and the formula was perfected on "So Wat Cha Sayin'" and "The Big Payback." Departing temporarily from their upbeat vibe, the duo got serious on "Jane II" and the autobiographical "Please Listen to My Demo." With an easily recognizable clutch of samples, the duo's forte was definitely in rocking parties and making heads nod. Though they tried a little too hard with uncharacteristically soft cuts such as "It's Time 2 Party" and "You Had Too Much to Drink," Unfinished Business is still a great example of hip-hop mastery that could rock dance floors, ghetto blasters, and the suburbs alike. --Hua Hsu Amazon.com

Never Finish Your Business

The second album from Erick and Parrish, a must own classic. Super tight with their beats and rhymes. March 17, 2007

4 stars?

i dont know what would make any1 think its a 4 star album, its 5 stars, but u should know, the second last song is gonna be skipped every time. but its dont matter cus the last song is like 6 mins and its amazing. September 5, 2006

My personal favorite EPMD album, 2nd classic in a row!

The Green Eyed Bandit and Mic Doc come with the old adage - "If it ain't broke don't fix it". Saying That, Erick's beats are slightly different from Strickly Business' James Brown and Roger samples. Unfinished is more 1989 than SB. Parrish Smith once again is the secret weapon and knockout punch with his wordplay, following in the footsteps of "DMC". My absolute favorite track on here is "Fame". My favorite line on Fame is:

" My father always told me to wise up son, because if you hang out with 9 broke friends you're bound to be the tenth one. So I cut friends off and P went for self, me & Erick Sermon and no one else. Strictly writing def lyrics to my best ability with the crazy imagination as my only utility. Cause MC's around my way brag how def they are, but they work full-time and sharing their mom's car."

Wise words indeed, those words inspired me then and still inspires me to get that paper and follow my own path. Thank Parrish! June 25, 2006

The Second Of Three Straight Classics [Part 2 of 3] (5 Stars)

I can't speak for anyone else, but after experiencing Strictly Business, I found myself fiendin' for more EPMD tracks. I was getting dressed to go play basketball and then I heard this ill loop resonating from my TV. And there it was.....the video for "So What Cha Sayin". At that point, the album was a must have....no questions asked. No curiousity as to whether or not they could top Strictly Business. No questioning if the product was gonna be uncut and raw. Unfinished Business had to become part of my collection. No ifs, ands, or buts. Remember, this was a time when most of the joints being dropped were straight fire, not like today where 80% of the stuff on the radio is garbage, so chances are it was gonna be dope and I had to be the first kid with the album in my class (I was 12 at the time). Here it is, 17 years later, and this album is still bangin'. Due to a crackdown on sampling and rappers being sued (like Biz Markie, Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, and many others), EPMD weren't able to use the funk and soul samples as often as they did on Strictly Business. Don't get me wrong, there are still samples on this album, but they weren't as heavy handed this time. The new sound was still totally familiar and definitely dope. The range of subject matter also makes this worth hearing. They cover topics like safe sex (Who's Booty), drunk driving (You Had Too Much To Drink), groupies (It Wasn't Me, It Was The Fame), doubters (So What Cha Sayin'), and of course there are party jams (It's Time To Party) and the typical smashing of wack MCs and a continuation of the Jane story.

As far as flaws and shortcomings, I can't think of any. I would've liked to hear more from DJ Scratch, but that's minor. This album is tight from start to finish.

I don't think there's any question that EPMD is one of the best groups ever to pick up the mic. Unfinished Business is a mus thave LP. Erick and Parrish are one of only a handful of groups to drop three straight classics (A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast, Organized Konfusion, BDP). If you don't have this album, get it now.

Standout Tracks: Strictly Snappin' Necks, Jane II, It Wasn't Me It Was The Fame, Total Kaos, Please Listen To My Demo, So What Cha Sayin', Knick Knack Patty Wack, The Big Payback, It's Time To Party (My Favorite), & Get The Bozack January 4, 2006

The best follow up ever

I was hooked on EPMD after picking up "Strictly Business" after seeing the video for "you gots to chill" on Yo!, but I actually like the second album even better. "So wat Cha Sayin" is just a dope jam and "Knick Knack" is off the flibbity chain. The only think that even comes close to EPMD in the rap world is snow. I also dig the cover of this album. This pretty much could be a picture of Jabs and me, but our cars are much cooler and instead of Kango jogging suits, we'd be decked in old school baseball jerseys(probably Mark Lemke and Kelly Gruber), elegant men's evening furs and chest waders from Hodgman. I drive an H5 that I had hummer make special for me. It's the size of a footbal field and instead of painting it, I just have pictures of myself on it. EPMD runs some good smack on this CD, but I am the king of smack. At most red lights I'll point over to the driver next to me and when I get their attention, I put up a #1 finger and point to myself. I'll then point at them and give them a thumbs down. It angers some people, but the truth hurts sometimes. If average is pluto, I am the sun. That's how far from average I am. September 8, 2005

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