EPMD

Building on the success of their unquestionably classic debut Strictly Business, Erick and Parrish returned with this stellar sophomore LP. Filled with consistently funky beats and charismatic, chest-banging verses, Unfinished Business helped cement the Long Island duo's reputation as one of the greatest groups in hip-hop history.

The full-sized hooks and understated groove still mesh, but fame has rendered this self-made duo less brazen and more arrogant simultaneously. The real money (and pussy) they now boast doesn't suit them any better than the increasing subtlety of their steals--they need tunes, not just beats. But beyond the humble origins described in "Please Listen to My Demo" and the dramatized public service announcement "You Had Too Much To Drink," the overriding idea seems to be that stars can do it themselves. Which is the usual half-truth. (Grade - B+)