Jump to content

Strictly Business (EPMD album): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Eazy-P (talk | contribs)
97 edits
No edit summary
Moved reviews from infobox to album ratings template. You can help!
Line 10: Line 10:
| Label = [[Fresh Records (US)|Fresh Records]]/[[Sleeping Bag Records]]<br />[[Priority Records|Priority]]/[[EMI|EMI Records]]
| Label = [[Fresh Records (US)|Fresh Records]]/[[Sleeping Bag Records]]<br />[[Priority Records|Priority]]/[[EMI|EMI Records]]
| Producer = EPMD
| Producer = EPMD
⚫
| Reviews = * [[Allmusic]] {{Rating|5|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r27816|pure_url=yes}} link]
⚫
* [[Robert Christgau]] (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=EPMD link]
⚫
* ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' {{Rating|3.5|4}} [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59883702.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+11%2C+1988&author=JONATHAN+GOLD&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=66&desc=The+World+of+Hard+Rap+CHECK+LIST****Great+Balls+of+Fire***Good+Vibrations**Maybe+Baby*Running+on+Empty link]
⚫
* RapReviews (9.5/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_strictbiz.html link]
⚫
* [[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]] (favorable) [http://www.rhapsody.com/epmd/strictly-business link]
⚫
* ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{Rating|3.5|5}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/epmd/articles/story/6626987/459_strictly_business link]
⚫
* ''Rolling Stone'' {{Rating|5|5}} [http://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA281&dq=epmd+strictly+business+rolling+stone 2004]
⚫
* ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' {{Rating|5|5}} [http://www.listsofbests.com/list/12875/compare/daemon6 link]
⚫
* ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' (9/10) [http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A749.htm link]
⚫
* [[Sputnikmusic]] {{Rating|5|5}} [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=6877 link]
| Last album =
| Last album =
| This album = '''''Strictly Business''''' <br />(1988)
| This album = '''''Strictly Business''''' <br />(1988)
Line 41: Line 31:


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
⚫
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}} <ref>{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r27816}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
⚫
| rev2Score = (A-) <ref>[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=EPMD Robert Christgau Review]</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
⚫
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}} <ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59883702.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+11%2C+1988&author=JONATHAN+GOLD&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=66&desc=The+World+of+Hard+Rap+CHECK+LIST****Great+Balls+of+Fire***Good+Vibrations**Maybe+Baby*Running+on+Empty Los Angeles Times Review]</ref>
| rev4 = RapReviews
⚫
| rev4Score = (9.5/10) <ref>[http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_strictbiz.html RapReviews Review]</ref>
| rev5 = [[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]]
⚫
| rev5Score = (favorable) <ref>[http://www.rhapsody.com/epmd/strictly-business Rhapsody Review]</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
⚫
| rev6Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}} <ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/epmd/articles/story/6626987/459_strictly_business Rolling Stone Review]</ref>
| rev7 = ''Rolling Stone''
⚫
| rev7Score = {{Rating|5|5}} <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA281&dq=epmd+strictly+business+rolling+stone Rolling Stone Review]</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]''
⚫
| rev8Score = {{Rating|5|5}} <ref>[http://www.listsofbests.com/list/12875/compare/daemon6 The Source Review]</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
⚫
| rev9Score = (9/10) <ref>[http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A749.htm Spin Review]</ref>
| rev10 = [[Sputnikmusic]]
⚫
| rev10Score = {{Rating|5|5}} <ref>[http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=6877 Sputnikmusic Review]</ref>
}}
===Initial===
===Initial===
''Strictly Business'' peaked at #80 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and #1 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums]] chart.<ref name="AMGchartalbum" /> Of its four singles, three landed on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and two reached the US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart. Although none of the singles reached the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], the album was able to go [[music recording sales certification|gold]] within four months of its release.<ref name="riaa"/> Initial reviews of the album were strong: [[Allmusic]] gave the album a five star rating calling the album "simply amazing".<ref name="AMGrev">{{cite web | last = Bush | first = John | url = {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r27816|pure_url=yes}} | title = Strictly Business Review | publisher = [[Allmusic]] | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' assigned the album a [[The Source (magazine)#The Source.27s Five Mic Albums|5-mike rating]] making it one of 43 albums to ever receive this rating.<ref name="listobeats">{{cite web | url = http://www.listsofbests.com/list/12875 | title = The Source's 5 Mic Albums | publisher = ListofBests.com | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] also gave it an A- rating soon after its release.<ref name="rchris">{{cite web | last = Robert | first = Christgau | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=EPMD | title = EPMD Consumer Guide Reviews | publisher = [[Robert Christgau]] | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> ''Strictly Business'' was also featured on various "best of 1988" lists. ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]'' ranked it as the third best album of the year, and ranked its title track as the 25<sup>th</sup> best single of the year.<ref name="face">{{cite web | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/theface.htm | title = The Face Lists | publisher = RockListMusic.co.uk | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' judged it to be the 50<sup>th</sup> best album of the year,<ref name="sounds">{{cite web | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/sounds.html | title = Sounds Lists | publisher = RockListMusic.co.uk | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> while ''[[Spex (magazine)|Spex]]'' ranked it as the 8<sup>th</sup> best.<ref name="spex">{{cite web | url = http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/spex87.htm#1988 | title = SPEX - Popular Music Best-Of-List - 1988 | publisher = Home.Rhein-Zeitung.de | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref>
''Strictly Business'' peaked at #80 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and #1 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums]] chart.<ref name="AMGchartalbum" /> Of its four singles, three landed on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and two reached the US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart. Although none of the singles reached the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], the album was able to go [[music recording sales certification|gold]] within four months of its release.<ref name="riaa"/> Initial reviews of the album were strong: [[Allmusic]] gave the album a five star rating calling the album "simply amazing".<ref name="AMGrev">{{cite web | last = Bush | first = John | url = {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r27816|pure_url=yes}} | title = Strictly Business Review | publisher = [[Allmusic]] | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' assigned the album a [[The Source (magazine)#The Source.27s Five Mic Albums|5-mike rating]] making it one of 43 albums to ever receive this rating.<ref name="listobeats">{{cite web | url = http://www.listsofbests.com/list/12875 | title = The Source's 5 Mic Albums | publisher = ListofBests.com | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] also gave it an A- rating soon after its release.<ref name="rchris">{{cite web | last = Robert | first = Christgau | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=EPMD | title = EPMD Consumer Guide Reviews | publisher = [[Robert Christgau]] | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> ''Strictly Business'' was also featured on various "best of 1988" lists. ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]'' ranked it as the third best album of the year, and ranked its title track as the 25<sup>th</sup> best single of the year.<ref name="face">{{cite web | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/theface.htm | title = The Face Lists | publisher = RockListMusic.co.uk | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' judged it to be the 50<sup>th</sup> best album of the year,<ref name="sounds">{{cite web | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/sounds.html | title = Sounds Lists | publisher = RockListMusic.co.uk | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref> while ''[[Spex (magazine)|Spex]]'' ranked it as the 8<sup>th</sup> best.<ref name="spex">{{cite web | url = http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/spex87.htm#1988 | title = SPEX - Popular Music Best-Of-List - 1988 | publisher = Home.Rhein-Zeitung.de | accessdate = December 30, 2008}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:30, 27 July 2011

Untitled

Strictly Business is the debut album by golden age hip hop duo EPMD. It was released on July 7, 1988, by Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records around the world and BCM Records in Germany. It peaked at #80 on the Billboard 200 soon after release,[2] yet it earned an RIAA gold album certification within four months of its release.[3] In addition, it has received much positive critical attention since its release.

The album is known for its lighthearted party raps and funky sample-reliant production. The album has no guest emcees or producers except DJ K La Boss. The album is broken down track-by-track by the group in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [5]
Robert Christgau(A-) [6]
Los Angeles Times [7]
RapReviews(9.5/10) [8]
Rhapsody(favorable) [9]
Rolling Stone [10]
Rolling Stone [11]
The Source [12]
Spin(9/10) [13]
Sputnikmusic [14]

Initial

Strictly Business peaked at #80 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[2] Of its four singles, three landed on the UK Singles Chart and two reached the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Although none of the singles reached the Billboard Hot 100, the album was able to go gold within four months of its release.[3] Initial reviews of the album were strong: Allmusic gave the album a five star rating calling the album "simply amazing".[15] The Source assigned the album a 5-mike rating making it one of 43 albums to ever receive this rating.[16] Robert Christgau also gave it an A- rating soon after its release.[17] Strictly Business was also featured on various "best of 1988" lists. The Face ranked it as the third best album of the year, and ranked its title track as the 25th best single of the year.[18] Sounds judged it to be the 50th best album of the year,[19] while Spex ranked it as the 8th best.[20]

Retrospect

Years after its release, Strictly Business has continued to attract critical success. In 1994, Pop selected it a compliment to Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full on its list of The World's 100 Best Albums + 300 Complements. In 1998, The Source placed Strictly Business on its 100 Best Rap Albums list and included two of its singles on its 100 Best Rap Singles list.[21] In 1999, it was judged to be the 4th-best hip hop album of 1988 by ego trip.[22] In 2001, Dance de Lux ranked Strictly Business as the 11th-best hip hop record of all time.[23] In 2003, the album was placed on Blender's 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die list and ranked number 459 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[23] Additionally, the Rolling Stone Album Guide, which initially rated the album as three and a half stars out of five, awarded the album with a five-star rating in 2004.[23] Retrospective reviews by Spin (1995), the Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2002), Martin C. Strong (2004), and Sputnikmusic (2006) have respectively alloted the album a nine-out-of-10 rating, a four-star rating, a five-star rating and a seven-out-of-10 rating.[23][24] Strictly Business is now widely considered to be a classic release[25] and a seminal hip hop album.

Track listing

All songs produced by EPMD

# Title Performer(s) Sample(s) Time
1 "Strictly Business" EPMD 4:47
2 "I'm Housin" EPMD 4:01
3 "Let the Funk Flow" EPMD 4:16
4 "You Gots to Chill" EPMD 4:26
5 "It's My Thing" EPMD
  • "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson
  • "Seven Minutes of Funk" by Tyrone Thomas and the Whole Darn Family
  • "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney
  • "Long Red" by Mountain
  • "The Wall" by Pink Floyd
 5:45
6 "You're a Customer" EPMD 5:28
7 "The Steve Martin" EPMD
  • "Let Me Come on Home" by Otis Redding
  • "Pee-Wee's Dance" by Joeski Love
 4:44
8 "Get Off the Bandwagon" EPMD
  • "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band
 4:25
9 "D.J. K La Boss" DJ K La Boss (Scratches) 4:31
10 "Jane" EPMD 2:59

Personnel

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Germany 1988 BCM Records Vinyl LP B.C. 33-2125-43
Germany 1988 BCM Records CD CD 076-555722
Germany 1988 BCM Records CD B.C. 50-2125-46
United Kingdom 1988 Sleeping Bag Records Vinyl LP SBUKLP 1
United States June 7, 1988 Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records Vinyl LP LPRE-6
United States June 7, 1988 Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records Cassette CSRE-6
United States June 7, 1988 Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records CD CDRE-6
United States July 1, 1991 Priority/EMI Records CD 0499 2 57135 2 7/P2-57135
United States July 1, 1991 Priority/EMI Records Cassette 0499 2 57135 4 1/P4-57135
Worldwide February 23, 2010 Priority/EMI Records CD 50999 6 26869 2 1/P2-26869

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1988)[2] Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 80
U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1

Singles

Song Chart (1987)[26] Peak
position
"It's My Thing" UK Singles Chart 97
Song Chart (1988) Peak
position
"Strictly Business" U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 29
UK Singles Chart 90
"You Gots to Chill" U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 22
Song Chart (1989) Peak
position
"I'm Housin'" UK Singles Chart 89

References

  1. ^ "Hip-Hop's Greatest Year: Fifteen Albums That Made Rap Explode", RollingStone.com, February 12, 2008. Retrieved on July 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "EPMD > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - Searchable Database". RIAA. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  4. ^ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
  5. ^ Strictly Business at AllMusic
  6. ^ Robert Christgau Review
  7. ^ Los Angeles Times Review
  8. ^ RapReviews Review
  9. ^ Rhapsody Review
  10. ^ Rolling Stone Review
  11. ^ Rolling Stone Review
  12. ^ The Source Review
  13. ^ Spin Review
  14. ^ Sputnikmusic Review
  15. ^ Bush, John. "Strictly Business Review". Allmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  16. ^ "The Source's 5 Mic Albums". ListofBests.com. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  17. ^ Robert, Christgau. "EPMD Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  18. ^ "The Face Lists". RockListMusic.co.uk. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  19. ^ "Sounds Lists". RockListMusic.co.uk. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  20. ^ "SPEX - Popular Music Best-Of-List - 1988". Home.Rhein-Zeitung.de. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  21. ^ "The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums + 100 Best Rap Singles". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  22. ^ Sacha Jenkins, Elliot Wilson; et al. (1999). Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists. St. Martin's Griffin/Macmillan USA. ISBN 0-312-24298-0. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  23. ^ a b c d "Acclaimed Music - Strictly Business". AcclaimedMusic.net. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  24. ^ de Sylvia, Dave. "EPMD - Strictly Business Review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  25. ^ Bush, John. "EPMD > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  26. ^ "EPMD > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved December 28, 2008.

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strictly_Business_(EPMD_album)&oldid=441629024"