Customer Reviews

Unfinished Business

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't speak for anyone else, but after experiencing Strictly Business, I found myself fiendin' for more EPMD tracks. I was getting dressed to go play basketball and then I heard this ill loop resonating from my TV. And there it was.....the video for "So What Cha Sayin". At that point, the album was a must have....no questions asked. No curiousity as to whether or not they could top Strictly Business. No questioning if the product was gonna be uncut and raw. Unfinished Business had to become part of my collection. No ifs, ands, or buts. Remember, this was a time when most of the joints being dropped were straight fire, not like today where 80% of the stuff on the radio is garbage, so chances are it was gonna be dope and I had to be the first kid with the album in my class (I was 12 at the time). Here it is, 17 years later, and this album is still bangin'. Due to a crackdown on sampling and rappers being sued (like Biz Markie, Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, and many others), EPMD weren't able to use the funk and soul samples as often as they did on Strictly Business. Don't get me wrong, there are still samples on this album, but they weren't as heavy handed this time. The new sound was still totally familiar and definitely dope. The range of subject matter also makes this worth hearing. They cover topics like safe sex (Who's Booty), drunk driving (You Had Too Much To Drink), groupies (It Wasn't Me, It Was The Fame), doubters (So What Cha Sayin'), and of course there are party jams (It's Time To Party) and the typical smashing of wack MCs and a continuation of the Jane story.

As far as flaws and shortcomings, I can't think of any. I would've liked to hear more from DJ Scratch, but that's minor. This album is tight from start to finish.

I don't think there's any question that EPMD is one of the best groups ever to pick up the mic. Unfinished Business is a mus thave LP. Erick and Parrish are one of only a handful of groups to drop three straight classics (A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast, Organized Konfusion, BDP). If you don't have this album, get it now.

Standout Tracks: Strictly Snappin' Necks, Jane II, It Wasn't Me It Was The Fame, Total Kaos, Please Listen To My Demo, So What Cha Sayin', Knick Knack Patty Wack, The Big Payback, It's Time To Party (My Favorite), & Get The Bozack

The Green Eyed Bandit and Mic Doc come with the old adage - "If it ain't broke don't fix it". Saying That, Erick's beats are slightly different from Strickly Business' James Brown and Roger samples. Unfinished is more 1989 than SB. Parrish Smith once again is the secret weapon and knockout punch with his wordplay, following in the footsteps of "DMC". My absolute favorite track on here is "Fame". My favorite line on Fame is:

" My father always told me to wise up son, because if you hang out with 9 broke friends you're bound to be the tenth one. So I cut friends off and P went for self, me & Erick Sermon and no one else. Strictly writing def lyrics to my best ability with the crazy imagination as my only utility. Cause MC's around my way brag how def they are, but they work full-time and sharing their mom's car."

Wise words indeed, those words inspired me then and still inspires me to get that paper and follow my own path. Thank Parrish!

From "So Whatcha Sayin", to "Knick Knack Patty Wack", "The Big Payback", among others. This still remains a classic follow-up since their first debut titled STRICTLY BUSINESS. EPMD were the best rap group in hip-hop history period. I luv them since I was a little kid and I'm still a fan to them no matter what.
If u're into Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B. and Rakim, Gang Starr, Kool Moe Dee, Young MC, Tone Loc, The Sugarhill Gang, etc. you gotta have this. This sure is a kickout!

This album is simply amazing.

Even though almost every song is made by sampling p-funk, each one is unique and not a single one is skip-able. The bass loops are heavy and are splashed with other funky elements, it's a beautiful blend.

Both E double and Pmd spit in this crazy nonchalant, almost sleepy manner but it works very well. E's voice is very unique...he can make a very simple line sound complex.

"Please listen to my demo" has the best beat on the album. It's a slowed down p-funk type loop which totally reflects the mood of the song, kind of somber and almost sad. The song is about their initial trouble getting their name out.

I'd give the album 6 stars if I could.

The second album from Erick and Parrish, a must own classic. Super tight with their beats and rhymes.

EPMD's best album is full of highlights from Knick Knack Patty Whack, Please Listen To My Demo,Jane 2 and so on.A must for your old school rap collection!

With the release of their sophomore album EPMD put to rest any doubts that they deserved to be mentioned as major players amongst hip hop's elite. This by far is my favorite EPMD album. At this point they added a new dj by the name of D.J. Scratch and on the first song "So Watcha Sayin'" he showcases some major skills. EPMD gives you more of the same hip hop that they introduced on the first album but the sound is upgraded with the addition of Scratch. EPMD were never really given a lot of credit for their excellent production skills. The blending of multiple samples and beats to make innovative and impressive music is incredible. Check out the beat for the song "Strictly Snapping Necks". This album is definitely a classic. Peace!

When EPMD compiled their first album STRICTLY BUSINESS in 1988, they surprised many. They were able to rap a lot slower than most rappers of that time and also astonished listeners with classic funk samples. Even with the success of their first album, their second release would probably determine if the group could stay in the rap field or be another one-hit-wonder. This album the group talks about how people thought they couldn't make another album. PMD says on the song "IT WASN'T ME IT WAS THE FAME", "I used to cruise by in my Roc and always hear them mumble / They got lucky on Strictly Biz but watch the next one crumble". They disproved everyone, and their first single from the album was "SO WAT CHA SAYIN". This is the opening track to the album, and many remember the catchy beat that goes along with this classic song. The group even dedicated a song for dissing their opponents called "GET THE BOZACK". Also, fans of EPMD's first album will get a treat when they hear "JANE II", which is a follow up of their story about a girl they use to know back in the day. Another classic is "PLEASE LISTEN TO MY DEMO". In this song EPMD talks about traveling around New York marketing their demo tape and finally Fresh Records signed them. Another song, which I believe had a music video, is called "THE BIG PAYBACK". This is a great example how the group sampled an old James Brown loop, and turned it into a masterpiece. Listening to the track "KNICK KNACK PATTY WACK", you might recognize a similar beat 2Pac & Dr Dre used for the song "CALIFORNIA LOVE", but this one came wayyy before. "KNICK KNACK PATTY WACK" features EPMD's newest member of the Hit Squad (K-SOLO). K-SOLO would later go on and release his debut album TELL THE WORLD MY NAME with help from the group. If you guys watched Yo! MTV Raps back in the day, you might remember seeing a video called "YOU HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK". This is a unique track because there is a heavy rock and roll influence here. The message of this song is to get their listeners to avoid drinking and driving. In this song, FRANK-B (high school friend of PMD), is portrayed drunk driving and is later pulled over by a cop and is busted. This is not only a classic for EPMD listeners, but also any old-skool rap fan. UNFINISHED BUSINESS is a great example of reusing old funk samples and great lyrics to create a work of art in it's own kind. This album sounds more similar in beat production to STRICTLY BUSINESS than the later EPMD releases. This album went gold the same year it came out. This is the last album EPMD released before signing to Def Jam. I personally recommend buying the entire "classic four" EPMD albums (STRICTLY BUSINESS; UNFINISHED BUSINESS; BUSINESS AS USUAL; & BUSINESS NEVER PERSONAL). You will not get bored with this album.

"Hurry, hurry and step right up..." exclaims Eric Sermon and that's exactly what you should do, pick up this ill classic.

i dont know what would make any1 think its a 4 star album, its 5 stars, but u should know, the second last song is gonna be skipped every time. but its dont matter cus the last song is like 6 mins and its amazing.