Business Never Personal is the fourth studio album by hip hop duo EPMD.[1] It was released on July 28, 1992, on Def Jam Recordings.[2] Following mixed criticism of their previous studio effort, 1990's Business As Usual, the duo was able to return to their past acclaim on Business Never Personal. The lead single, "Crossover," became its biggest success, nearly reaching the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about keeping it real and not crossing over to the mainstream, but became EPMD's biggest mainstream success.
| Business Never Personal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 28, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
| Genre | Hardcore hip hop, golden age hip hop | |||
| Length | 38:58 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | EPMD Charlie Marotta DJ Scratch Mr. Bozack | |||
| EPMD chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Business Never Personal | ||||
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The duo cut "Head Banger" with Redman and K-Solo, and it was also a hit in 1992. The album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA on October 13, 1992.[3] The single "Crossover" was certified Gold on November 16, 1992. While it has yet to be reissued in the U.S., Business Never Personal was re-released in 2005 on vinyl in Europe.
Members Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith began having money troubles during recording, which led to a 1992 robbery of Smith's home. The perpetrators claimed that Erick Sermon paid them to do the deed, causing the group to break up soon after this release. They each released two solo albums between 1993 and 1996, then reunited as a duo in 1997.[4]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Robert Christgau |  [9] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[6] |
| Rolling Stone |  [7] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
| The Source | 4.5/5[10] |
The album is considered the duo's third classic by fans and critics. The record was given a rating of 4.5 mics out of 5 in The Source in 1992.[10]
The Washington Post wrote: "Zapp member Roger Troutman's sampled, synthesized voice is looped with the chorus of the bumping current hit 'Crossover,' EPMD's attack on rappers who 'sell their souls to go gold' while slinking bass propels 'Play the Next Man,' which finds Sermon and Smith slamming manipulative women."[11]
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer (s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Boon Dox" | EPMD | EPMD | 2:48 |
| 2 | "Nobody's Safe Chump" | EPMD | EPMD | 2:12 |
| 3 | "Can't Hear Nothing But the Music" | EPMD, Charlie Marotta | EPMD | 3:37 |
| 4 | "Chill" | EPMD | EPMD | 2:57 |
| 5 | "Head Banger" | EPMD | EPMD, K-Solo, Redman | 4:52 |
| 6 | "Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc]" | DJ Scratch, Mr. Bozack | EPMD | 3:04 |
| 7 | "Crossover" | EPMD | EPMD | 3:49 |
| 8 | "Cummin' at Cha" | EPMD | EPMD, Das EFX | 4:03 |
| 9 | "Play the Next Man" | EPMD | EPMD | 3:36 |
| 10 | "It's Going Down" | EPMD | EPMD | 4:12 |
| 11 | "Who Killed Jane?" | EPMD | EPMD | 3:47 |
Samples
Boon Dox
- "I Can Feel It in My Bones" by Earth, Wind & Fire
- "The Assembly Line" by Commodores
- "Slow Down" by Brand Nubian
- "If It Don't Turn You on (You Oughta Leave It Alone)" by B.T. Express
- "The Payback" by James Brown
Nobody's Safe Chump
- "Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out" by Bobby Womack
- "Wah Wah Man" by Young-Holt Unlimited
- "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
- "The New Style" by Beastie Boys
Can't Hear Nothing But the Music
- "Give Me Your Love" by Barbara Mason
- "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps
- "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band
- "Jungle Boogie" by Kool and the Gang
Chill
- "Street Thunder" by Foreigner
- "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
- "UFO" by ESG
- "It's Funky Enough" by The D.O.C.
- "My Melody" by Eric B. & Rakim
Head Banger
- "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
- "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
- "One of Those Funky Things" by Parliament
- "Slow Down" by Brand Nubian
- "Surprises" by The Last Poets
Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc]
- "Duck Down" by Boogie Down Productions
- "I Like It" by The Emotions
- "Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest
- "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
- "UFO" by ESG
- "Rampage" and "I'm Mad" by EPMD
Crossover
- "You Should Be Mine" by Roger
- "Say What" by Idris Muhammad
- "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
Cummin' at Cha
- "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A
- "Smokin Cheeba-Cheeba" by Harlem Underground Band
- "How I Could Just Kill a Man" by Cypress Hill
- "25 ta Life" by D-Nice
- "Teddy's Jam" by Guy
- "They Want EFX" by Das EFX
- "Breath Control II" by Boogie Down Productions
- "Underground" by EPMD
- "Hot Pants" by James Brown
Play the Next Man
- "Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk [Pay Attention - B3M]" by Parliament
- "Raw" by Big Daddy Kane
- "Can't Truss It" by Public Enemy
- "Jingling Baby" by LL Cool J
It's Going Down
- "Paul Revere" by Beastie Boys
- "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye
- "You’re Getting a Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds
- "Long Red" by Mountain
- "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
Who Killed Jane?
- "Stone Junkie" by Curtis Mayfield
- "Mary Jane" by Rick James
- "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
Charts
Year-end charts
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] | 44 |
Singles Chart Positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1992 | "Crossover" | #42 | #14 | #1 | #12 |
| 1992 | "Head Banger" | - | #75 | #11 | - |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
External links
- EPMD – Business Never Personal at Discogs (list of releases)