On the surface, the sample-reliant productions and monotone rapping styles of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith had little to recommend them, but the duos recordings as EPMD were among the best in hip-hops underground during the late 80s and early 90s. Over the course of four albums (from the 1988 classic Strictly Business to 1992s Business Never Personal), they rarely varied from two themes: dissing sucker MCs and recounting sexual exploits. But a closer look reveals that the duos rhymes were nothing less than incredible, simply undervalued because of their lack of intonation during delivery. EPMD also had a feel for a good groove, and created numerous hip-hop classics, including Its My Thing, You Gots to Chill, Get the Bozack, Strictly Business, and Rampage.Though EPMDs hardcore style influenced the urban-oriented gangsta 90s, Erick Sermon (aka E Double E; b. Nov. 25, 1968) and Parrish Smith (aka Pee MD; b. May 13, 1968) were both raised in the Long Island suburb of Brentwood. They moved into rap separately, with Smith DJing for Rock Squad on a single for Tommy Boy. After coming together in 1987 — naming themselves EPMD, short for Erick and Parrish Making Dollars — the duo recorded their debut Its My Thing in three hours. The single was later licensed to Chrysalis, and EPMD signed to Sleeping Bag/Fresh Records for debut album Strictly Business. Propelled by several strong singles (You Gots to Chill, the title track), the album eventually went gold, as did 1989s follow-up, Unfinished Business. Signed to Def Jam by the beginning of the 90s, EPMD returned in 1990 with Business As Usual and Business Never Personal two years later. By 1992, they presided over an extended family dubbed the Hit Squad, including Redman, K-Solo, and Das EFX. The duo split later that year, however, prompting solo careers for each; Sermon debuted in 1993 with No Pressure, and Smith made his statement on 1994s Shade Business. The duo re-formed EPMD in 1997, recording a strong comeback LP, Back in Business. Out of Business followed in 1999.