Call EPMD old, but call them consistent. EPMD's Out of Business is rather like their previous effort, Back in Business--agreeable, accessible, but deathly unexciting. EPMD can always be depended upon to put out albums with... more » a string of cool club hits and mild filler--they invented that formula on both Back and Out. But at this point in their career, EPMD's work feels weighted down by their molasses pacing and rhyme-by-numbers lyrics (basically, the same styled verbals EPMD's been kicking for over a decade now). They find brief moments of fire on tracks like "You Got Shot" (blazing with its hook taken from Ol' Dirty Bastard) and "Jane 6," which thumps with surprising force thanks to its reworked "Tramp" sample. Nevertheless, even "Symphony 2000," with cameos from M.O.P., Redman, and Method Man feels flat, indicative of Out of Business as a whole. They might still be old-school masters, clocking millennium ducats, but long-time fans may not feel paid in full. --Oliver Wang« less
Call EPMD old, but call them consistent. EPMD's Out of Business is rather like their previous effort, Back in Business--agreeable, accessible, but deathly unexciting. EPMD can always be depended upon to put out albums with a string of cool club hits and mild filler--they invented that formula on both Back and Out. But at this point in their career, EPMD's work feels weighted down by their molasses pacing and rhyme-by-numbers lyrics (basically, the same styled verbals EPMD's been kicking for over a decade now). They find brief moments of fire on tracks like "You Got Shot" (blazing with its hook taken from Ol' Dirty Bastard) and "Jane 6," which thumps with surprising force thanks to its reworked "Tramp" sample. Nevertheless, even "Symphony 2000," with cameos from M.O.P., Redman, and Method Man feels flat, indicative of Out of Business as a whole. They might still be old-school masters, clocking millennium ducats, but long-time fans may not feel paid in full. --Oliver Wang
kidojafam | Lafayette, LA United States | 10/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've followed EPMD from their debut album and have never been dissapointed. This is more of that same formula that has made them legends in the field of hip-hop."
SAY IT AIN'T SO...
cubedaman | NEW YORK CITY | 12/26/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"EPMD DISPLAYS LYRICAL STORMS,BATTLE FORM.THERE ARE DUOS OUT WHO SELL MORE,BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO DROPPING LETHAL LYRICAL STORMS,THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS.STRICTLY,UNFINISH,USUAL,PERSONAL,AND BACK TO BUSINESS.NOW IT IS OVER,OUT OF BUSINESS.THIS ALBUM IS VERY GOOD.THE E-DOUBLE AND PMD ARE THE DUO MASTERS AND SHOW WHY.THE BEATS ARE VERY GOOD BUT NOT AS DEEP AS A EPMD ALBUM.YOU HAVE TO GET THIS ALBUM.EPMD-THEY WILL BE BACK."
Tight As the Last one
BIG MAN L | Va | 12/04/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have to agree with A music fan from Brooklyn. This was tight. I know my music. I followed them from the beginning. From what I recall there were maybe 1 or 2 songs that stranded far left. But overall It was tight. I'm glad to see old schoolers coming back out and showin these candy like here today gone tommorrow mc's how to do it right..."
Only true EPMD fans will appreciate this CD.
BIG MAN L | 09/13/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I like many EPMD fans were anxiously waiting for this CD to be released. Especially since "Right Now" and "Symphony" were just blazin', blazin' tracks. So since this is supposedly the last EPMD joint, I had to pick it up. "The Fan", "U got shot", and "Jane 6" were hot, but the CD drags other than the first 2 selections I mentioned. It seemed like a hurried release. Erick Sermon is by no comparison, THE MOST UNDERRATED, and maybe even most UNAPPRECIATED M.C. in the rap game. Yet even he has done better in the past. Hope we see a solo release from both Erick & Parrish in 2000!"
I grew up on these cats !
BIG MAN L | 08/20/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It feels good to see EPMD still around . Keep exposing these kids to real hip-hop ."