Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

6. EPMDStrictly Business

The way their styles went back and forth was some sick street shit. Their beats were ill and they had like a slur, a slang style going on that resonated with so many people on the street. When I first heard ‘You’re A Customer’ I was hooked; every single record was so tight and so completely banging. I think they had four or five gold records in a straight row which was such an incredible achievement. They were on some ill roll that just continued.

They also listened to the dopest shit too and you could tell that from listening to their music. As well as being influenced by so much themselves, they influenced a lot of people too. Bands like us, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C were just talking about EPMD so much. Back then, you had to make music that sounded real because if you didn’t, people just saw straight through that shit. Most motherfuckers didn’t make it but then artists like EPMD showed you how.

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