EPMD gave an epic reunion performance as a part of the 2023 Essence Festival of Culture‘s celebration of 50 years of hip-hop. The New York duo, comprised of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith, came out on Night One of the concert series hosted by Doug E. Fresh to play “You Gots To Chill” live.
The group had all of the classic hip-hop performance instructions for the crowd to follow, from the call-and-response request of “when I say hip, you say hop!” to “Now throw ya hands in the air!” topped off by a random background appearance of Raekwon walking across the stage in the middle of the song.
The two MCs’ chemistry was undeniable as they traded bars among each other throughout the track before bidding Essence festival goers aideu.
Sermon also had a solo appearance at the festival when he came on stage and performed “Music.” The hip-hop legend also performed the iconic single at the 2023 BET Awards on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop tribute curated by Kid Capri.
