No. 4 Strictly Business by EPMD
Erick Sermon and Parish Smith were initially criticized for borrowing the “slow flow” style of Rakim, but the duo lacks Ra’s intricate and layered approach to rhyming. What they do have is a tremendous amount of bravado and Sermon’s undeniable gift for production. E Double laces the group with smoothed-out, looped beats that sound ten years ahead of their time.
