EPMD released the 1988 debut album Strictly Business.
The New York duo consisted of rappers Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith, better known as PMD. Their name originally represented “Erick and Parrish Making Dollars.” Strictly Business introduced their relaxed, sample-heavy style and included the title track, which prominently uses a vocal sample from Eric Clapton’s version of “I Shot the Sheriff.”
The album helped establish EPMD during hip-hop’s golden-age period. Unlike some contemporaries who emphasized theatrical performances or dense storytelling, EPMD became known for business-themed rhymes, understated delivery, and funk-based production.
Strictly Business is sometimes confused with EPMD’s 1989 follow-up, Unfinished Business. The duo later released albums including Business as Usual and Back in Business, making the recurring “business” titles part of their identity.