EPMD

The third album from Erick and Parrish, Business As Usual finds the Long Island duo continuing their tactics of banging beats, thick samples, and quality bragging on the mic. Released in '91, the production is a bit more advanced than their earlier work, and their verbal displays are even more furious. Check "Underground," "Gold Digger," and "Rampage" (with LL).

Once they were winning wannabees stealing pop hooks in the basement. Now they're big-time, as rappers measure such things, and for all the difference it makes in general humanity they might as well have gotten there selling crack. Ugly as the Geto Boys and a lot dumber, the cross-dressing tale "Jane 3" climaxes with the rape she deserves; elsewhere the rhymes run three bozacks and three criminal-mindeds to one Mandela/Farrakhan. Who cares whether they're truly street or just following hard fashion? How many dope beats does the world need? (Grade - C+)