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One-half of the legendary hip-hop duo EPMD, Erick Sermon was also among the genre's most prominent producers, deservedly earning the alias "Funklord" with his trademark raw, bass-heavy grooves. Born in Bayshore, NY, Sermon -- aka E Double, the Green-Eyed Bandit, and MC Grand Royal -- teamed with rapper Parrish Smith in 1986 to form EPMD, an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars"; signing to the tiny Sleeping Bag label, they soon released their debut 12", "It's My Thing," which went on to sell an astounding 500,000 copies. In the years to follow, EPMD emerged as one of rap's most vital acts, their hard-edged beats and Sermon's mumbled, monotone delivery becoming a great influence on the burgeoning gangsta movement. In addition to producing their own material, the duo also helmed records for the extended family of performers dubbed the Hit Squad, whose ranks included Redman, K Solo, and Das EFX. In early 1993, EPMD disbanded, and Sermon soon resurfaced with his solo debut, No Pressure; he also became a sought-after producer and remixer, working with everyone from En Vogue to Blackstreet to Shaquille O'Neal. After a second solo effort, 1995's Double or Nothing, he and Smith reformed EPMD in 1997, releasing the LP Back in Business.
Erick Sermon is a hip-hop icon, pure and simple. As a producer, his work has elevated the music of acts ranging from Redman and Jay-Z to D'Angelo and Mary J. Blige. With legitimate pioneer status, unrelenting longevity and a musical discography thicker than a New York City phone book, Erick Sermon is up to receiving his due credit.
"The simplest thing you can do to sound ill today is brag. That's not what you call hip-hop. I don't know what that is. I seen the era," states Sermon. "And I built the era. And I built what's coming now to be able to say, 'You know what? I'ma go against the grain.'"
Carving his own path with head nodding affect is the story of the "E Double"'s entire career. The Long Island native, now living between New York and Atlanta, blasted onto the hip-hop scene when EPMD dropped their classic Strictly Business album in 1988. Armed with gritty beats and dead pan flows, EPMD went on to release five more albums, the last being 1998's Out of Business. The group nurtured future hip-hop superstars including Redman, K-Solo, Keith Murray and Das-Efx under their loosely knit Hit Squad umbrella. Unfortunately, all was not bliss as tension between Erick and rhyme partner Parrish Smith led to EPMD's break up in 1993. Now splintered, the two friends went their separate ways with E continuing as a solo artist and promptly forming the Def Squad, consisting of himself, Redman and Keith Murray.
E's solo career has been first-rate. His debut solo shot, No Pressure (1993) was critically lauded and the immediate follow up was Double or Nothing (1995). While he put his solo career in cruise control, The Green Eyed Bandit's funk heavy, chest caving beats propelled the careers of those he blessed with his production skills. Besides his aforementioned Def Squad brethren, the list of artists blessed with E's production is exhaustive with notables including Jay-Z, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and on and on. He also cites Teddy Riley, with whom he worked with on Blackstreet, as a mentor.
When he decided to slow down on the outside production, Erick once again devoted time to his solo projects. In 2001 E's solo career was rejuvenated with the meteoric rise of his hit single "Music." The track featured Marvin Gaye's vocals mixed with a Sermon classic beat and rhymes creating an all-new groove.
It was a ..1 hit and received a Grammy nomination. Back in the spotlight, Sermon was quickly scooped up by J Records and released two more solo albums, 2001's Music and 2003's React. However, despite bringing two legitimate hits (the aforementioned albums' title songs) Sermon parted ways with J Records and signed with Universal/Motown Records in late (2003).
This year, E is prepping not to prove anything (over 20 years of Hip-Hop relevance speaks for itself) but to continue crafting hits, inevitably gaining even more fans in the process. Sermon begins explaining his niche in the hip-hop world. "Hip-hop kids know me, now it's time for pop music fans to know me."
Hip-hop's global domination-which he undoubtedly had a hand in ushering in-of late has inversely led to fewer and fewer artists with individual and unique sounds. That is what Erick believes gives him an edge. "Right now I'm happy because they're on my turf," says Erick. "You gotta make some music and you gotta say something.
During the time Sermon was working on Chilltown NY he lent his skills to Dr. Dre and Beyonce while fielding more and more calls for production and remix work. Ultimately, Sermon is doing what he does because he loves it, not for material gain. "If you're coming in for money right now you're in the wrong place. If you're coming in for love right now, you're in the right place."
Indeed, Sermon has no intention of bowing out anytime soon keenly aware of the influence of his sounds. "My whole thing is about speaking as much truth as possible."
Or, it could be that he simply has too much music left in him. "I'm gonna keep making music. I'll let you know when it's over." It's business as usual.
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