Def Squad

A lyrically dangerous all-star trio from NYC, Def Squad are Keith Murray, Redman, and Erick Sermon. Formidable stars in their own right, together they whip up a frenzy, flipping punchline-laden rhymes back and forth with ease. Production is primarily handled by Sermon and Redman, who concoct infectious beats teamed with bouncy basslines and fresh cuts. Their cover of Sugarhill Gang's classic "Rapper's Delight" lit up the charts in '98, and was followed by the album El Nino.