Epmd Big Business

[Matilda Equiluz]

Wherewere you in '92? A lot of us were cultivating a longstanding relationship with Ed Lover and Dr. Dre (Who's the Man Dre, not The Wash Dre) and maybe have spent at least a half hour of the past decade wondering how K-Solo and/or Keith Murray keeps busy these days. As long as EPMD can draw breath, they'll likely be welcome on any number of nostalgia tours, but if We Mean Business is the first you've heard of the Long Island duo's latest iteration of grown-man business, you've got company-- the record didn't even land inside the Billboard 200. Still, We Mean Business is a surprisingly enjoyable reminder of the potency of a group often overshadowed by their more name-dropped contemporaries.

Needless to say, subject matter mostly boils down to EPMD being living legends and these young rapsters need to show them some goddamn respect. And really, We Mean Business' greatest achievement is how it manages to do such without Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith sounding bitter or out of touch-- pretty much impossible since the record is constructed as a self-contained 1990s simulacrum. Despite the presence of 9th Wonder (who could probably learn a thing from Erick Sermon about how to make a snare knock), these are the same sorts of beats you'd hear on a pre-millennium Def Squad project, right down to what feels like the 12th song they've done called "Roc-Da-Spot" (down to the same sample of Biggie's "Unbelievable"). Usually, when beats are called "round," it's on some edgeless backpacker shit, but Sermon knows how to play the back without turning into wallpaper, still spitting out tracks resembling Super Balls, dense, rubbery and altogether fun.

The guests regularly outshine the hosts, but each has a variation on the sort of rugged, gruff flow that doesn't leave Erick or Parrish gasping. Redman shows to clown up "Yo", Raekwon and Method Man are still in great form on their respective drops, and Keith Murray answers the question raised earlier by indicating he's spent years trying to make sure "wanksta" and "a homo shanked ya" rhyme just right. Even the one notable contemporary feature comes from Skyzoo, the kind of guy who so far has made inroads only with the most virulent "bring New York back" crowd.

Not much has changed about the group dynamic either-- while Parrish has the more technically impressive flow, E somehow gets the memorable lines, although it works in both ways. It's like his lisp has actually progressed with age (he boasts that he's the reason kids slow flow these days), but it can result in fully intelligible groaners like "don't get me mad and make me Barack O-bomb-ya." But whatever the two are going on about, for better or worse, it's as impenetrable as Company Flow for just about anyone under the age of 25: EPMD namedrops, amongst others, Dominique Dawes, W.C., Andre Rison, Kung-Fu Hustle, Mekhi Phifer, and then revives the stick-up kid catchphrase "run your jewels" as a hook with a typically cantankerous KRS-One.

Obviously, with such a low-risk, modest-reward format and almost non-existent commercial prospects, EPMD really had no chance of creating something that could knock Strictly Business out the box-- in large part because something like "Yo" will never get a video treatment in the manner "Headbanger" or "Crossover" did. Still, We Mean Business actually bears more in common with recent mixtape-style releases like Prodigy's Return of the Mac or Clipse's Road to Til the Casket Drops without reaching the musical heights of the former or the lyrical heights of the latter-- the breakdown of the usual promotion cycle to acknowledge the increasingly niche-targeted appeal of non-superstar rappers. I can't imagine EPMD meant for this to go beyond an already established fanbase of intensely dedicated listeners, but then again, "the customer's always right"... well, that's just good business sense.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Pitchfork. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

We offer hassle-free returns for products in their original condition within 14 days of receipt. Orders are processed within 2-3 business days, and delivery times vary by location, ranging from 3-10 days for domestic orders and 7 days to 4 weeks for international orders. For any questions, please contact our customer service team or see our Returns & Shipping FAQ's

Beginning students of all communications disciplines learn a certain level of media production literacy. EPMD 1000 incorporates a combination of applied media aesthetics, theory and hands-on production experience in photography, filmmaking, audio and video production. As a core class, EPMD 1000 is preparation for subsequent theory and production courses in the School of Communications. GCP Coding: (ARTS) (OCOM).

Adobe Photoshop is an image editing software for manipulating, cropping, resizing and color correcting raster images. This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of the program as well as a few practical applications.

Adobe Illustrator is used by designers and illustrators who want to create digital graphics, logos, illustrations and original typography. This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of the program as well as a few practical applications.

Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics and compositing application used in the production of films and videos. This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of the program as well as a few practical applications.

Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing program that can be used to create posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers, presentations, books and ebooks. This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of the program as well as a few practical applications.

Adobe Audition is a digital audio editing program which includes features such as multitrack, non-destructive mix/edit environment and a non-destructive wave for the editor. This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of the program as well as a few practical applications.

Adobe Animate is a 2D vector-based animation program used to create animated content for online videos, cartoons, advertisements, games and other interactive media. This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of the program as well as a few practical applications.

This course will stress visual strategies for storytelling and introduce fundamental principles of visual communication. Students will analyze storytelling methods in media arts and express their understanding visually.

This course covers the basics of using WordPress as both a blogging platform and a CMS (content management system) for a website. Students will learn how to get a blog up and running as well as how to install, customize and market their blog. Additional topics include building and modifying themes and managing plugins to enhance functionality and leveraging your blog to generate ongoing revenue.

This course covers the basics of additive manufacturing (3D printing) and allows the student to get hands-on experience. We begin by learning about all the different materials and processes under the umbrella of additive manufacturing. Then we will build our own 3D models that we will print in class. Throughout this process, we will cover best practices for creating models that are print-ready and appropriate printer settings for different model types. Finally, we will investigate appropriate uses of 3D prints, printing service bureaus and marketplaces for 3D designs and finished goods.

This course provides an overview of the business of media, from sole proprietorships to multi-national conglomerates. Students will examine the operational structures, processes, economics, and legal regulations of the major mass media, streaming services and social media, related entertainment industries, and the entrepreneurial market of independent producers.

The course will address emerging trends in digital media, and the challenges and opportunities facing media companies today, as well as nuts-and-bolts approaches to how to do business with and within the media landscape.

3a8082e126