HOW TO HANDLE BUSINESS

EPMD Live Review (HMV Forum, Kentish Town, 19 February)

“…we come from live shows, and what the new kids can’t touch us on is live performance” – Erick Sermon, EPMD (2011).

For a group that not only saw the golden era, but indeed were amongst its architects, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith aka EPMD, alongside DJ Scratch, proved to a sold out crowd at the Forum just why they continue to remain at the very top of the hip hop game.

They promised that there would be “no rapper tacky, just real hip hop” and they certainly delivered. Journeying from ’88 with scratch dropping EPMD classics such as ‘You Gots to Chill’ and ‘You're a Customer’ from their seminal debut album ‘Strictly Business’ to ‘Gold digger’ (1990, Business as Usual) and ‘Crossover’ (1992, Business Never Personal) said to be the pairs response to Hammer and Vanilla Ice hitting the scene in ’91. Much like the groups career, there was even a brief detour via hits such as ‘Rugged N’ Raw’ (1996) and ‘React’ (2002) from Smith’s and Sermon’s respective solo projects, before coming back together to end the show with ‘The Head Banger’ (1992), with a mosh pit literally ensuing by the front of the stage. 

“Hip hop is all about the DJ, if there is no DJ it's not real hip hop” and Scratch’s skills certainly proved to be a multi-sensory experience. In the words of the great DJ himself to the ladies in the audience, his command of the wheels of steel were likened to “… just having gone down on you” – now that’s mad skills. 

Preceding the main event, other Djs on the night included Mo Fingaz and Bobafatt followed by Spin Doctor (The Doctors Orders) proving yet again that when Spin goes to work it is like a surgeon is on the operating table - with absolute mastery. The night was supported by the UK’s very own hip hop pioneers in the form of Rodney “riddim Killa” P and Daddy Skitz definitely got the crowd whipped up and rode the vibes emanating from the ground level to the balcony, with Big Ted holding the hosting fort in between. 

EPMD have often been dubbed as your favourite rapper's favourite rap group…” with the spectators on the night including some of Brit hip hop’s own celebrated emcees, spotting the likes of TY and Blak Twang. This was the not to be missed show in the UK hip hop calendar, it was a night that was all about celebrating the true essence of hip hop in its rawest form - no bling or Pyrotechnics required.

As Erick Sermon so eloquently put it, “I don't f*** with the fast food rap, get the f*** out of here with that!” and EPMD without a doubt more than handled business.