Business as Usual (EPMD album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Entertainment Weekly | A[1] |
| Los Angeles Times | link |
| RapReviews |  link |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
| The Village Voice | C+[3] |
Business as Usual is the third album from Hip Hop duo EPMD, released January 15, 1991 and their first on leading rap label Def Jam as a result of being signed over (along with Nice & Smooth) from their former label, Fresh Records. This album was also the first release by Def Jam as an imprint under its new Rush Associated Labels subsidiary, which allowed founder Russell Simmons more control and more ownership over its material, as the masters for proper Def Jam releases at that time were primarily owned by Sony Music's Columbia Records. Business as Usual was not as acclaimed as their first two albums, but was not considered to be a failure either. One notable aspect here was the debut of future Hip Hop star Redman, who appears on the tracks "Hardcore" and "Brothers on My Jock". Three singles were released from the album, "Gold Digger", "Rampage (Slow Down, Baby)" featuring LL Cool J and "Give the People". In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.
The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 7, 1991.
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Track listing
| # | Title | Performer (s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "I'm Mad" | EPMD | 3:41 |
| 2 | "Hardcore" | EPMD, Redman | 4:31 |
| 3 | "Rampage" | EPMD, L.L. Cool J | 3:51 |
| 4 | "Manslaughter" | EPMD | 4:38 |
| 5 | "Jane 3" | EPMD | 2:36 |
| 6 | "For My People" | EPMD | 3:03 |
| 7 | "Mr. Bozack" | EPMD | 2:45 |
| 8 | "Gold Digger" | EPMD | 5:11 |
| 9 | "Give the People" | EPMD | 3:36 |
| 10 | "Rap Is Outta Control" | EPMD | 3:09 |
| 11 | "Brothers on My Jock" | EPMD, Redman | 4:07 |
| 12 | "Underground" | EPMD | 3:30 |
| 13 | "Hit Squad Heist" | EPMD | 3:34 |
| 14 | "Funky Piano" | EPMD | 4:26 |
Samples
- "I'm Mad"
- "The Payback(Intro)" by James Brown
- "Let's Take it to the Stage" by Funkadelic
- "Laid It" by Ohio Players
- "Paul Revere" by Beastie Boys
- "Fame" by David Bowie
- "Strictly Business" by EPMD
- "Hardcore"
- "Don't Worry If There's A Hell Below(We're All Going to Go)" by Curtis Mayfield
- "Pride and Vanity" by Ohio Players
- "So Wat Cha Sayin'" by EPMD
- "Strictly Snappin Necks by EPMD
- "Rampage"
- "Still Good-Still Like It" by B.T. Express
- "Tramp" by Lowell Fulsom
- "Lord of the Golden Baboon" by Mandrill **"The Symphony" by Marley Marl(Kool G Rap Vocals)
- "Manslaughter"
- "Strange Games & Things" by Love Unlimited Orchestra
- "Strictly Snappin' Necks" by EPMD
- "Jane 3"
- "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown
- "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
- "For My People"
- "You Can't Love Me If You Don't Respect Me" by Lyn Collins
- "Mr. Bozack"
- "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
- "Take Some...Leave Some" by James Brown
- "Gold Digger"
- "It's A New Day" by James Brown
- "Think(About It)" by Lyn Collins
- "My Thang" by James Brown
- "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic
- "Fly Girl" by Boogie Boys **"I'll Do Anything For You" by Denroy Morgan
- "Give The People"
- "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band
- "Give the People What They Want" by The O'Jays
- "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy
- "Rap Is Outta Control"
- "I Bet You" by Funkadelic
- "Brothers on My Jock"
- "I'm Black and I'm Proud" by James Brown
- "Nautilus" by Bob James
- "So Wat Cha Sayin" by EPMD
- "Underground"
- "Keep on Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks
- "Hydra" by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Funky Man" by Kool & the Gang
- "Hit Squad Heist"
- "Hot Pants" by James Brown
- "Fly Like An Eagle" by Steve Miller Band
- "Funky Piano"
- "Internationally Known" by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- "I'll Play the Blues for You" by Albert King
- "Please Listen to My Demo" by EPMD
- "So Wat Cha Sayin" by EPMD
- "Pump Me Up" by Trouble Funk
- "La Di Da Di by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
- "Jam-Master Jay" by Run-D.M.C.
- "Timebomb" by Public Enemy
Album Chart Positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |||
| 1990 | Business as Usual | #36 | #1 | |
Singles Chart Positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
| Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1990 | "Gold Digger" | #14 | #1 | #24 |
| 1991 | "Rampage" | #30 | #2 | - |
| 1991 | "Give the People" | - | #28 | - |
See also
Notes
- ^ Benard, James (January 18, 1991). "Business as Usual:Music Review:Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA322&dq=rolling+stone+gang+starr&cd=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=rakim&f=false. Page 281
- ^ Village Voice review