The group's name is an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars", referencing its members: rappers Erick Sermon ("E Double") and Parrish Smith ("PMD"). Diamond J, DJ K La Boss, and later DJ Scratch were DJs for the group.
The duo split by January of 1993, under controversial circumstances. According to interviews in The Source and Rap Pages, in late 1991, Smith’s house was burgled by armed intruders. According to Smith, in the ensuing police investigation, one of the apprehended culprits supposedly gave up Sermon’s name as having allegedly paid them to do it. Sermon was arrested and briefly detained for questioning, but no charges were filed.
Apollo
EPMD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[E] Yo P check this yo
[P] Yo what?
[E] I bugged one of the rooms in the Apollo yeah word up
Yeah c'mon keep it movin keep it movin
[E] Nah I'm sayin so and so's room ya know what I'm sayin' P?
[E] Tryin to say somethin niggaz be playa hatin
[P] True
[E] Let's hear what they talkin about
Yo P c'mon!
[E] Aight let's go to the back let's go in the car
Foxy Brown up next, Foxy Brown up next
[P] Yo yo whattup?
[E] Hold up, where my key at?
[E] Hey whassup y'all? Peace peace yo whassup?
Yo whattup son?
[E] Check it out
"You saw that shit? You saw that niggaz show?
Aww, whoa
Niggaz talkin about the stinkiest shit
They bring on that shit
Wha-hoahh, man, God to what?
You gotta admit B, the motherfuckers tore the fuckin house down
I got the fuckin album B!
I ain't gon front on the shit, fuck em, know what I'm sayin'?
Bust on niggaz and shit
We gon change the whole era man, we gotta go back man...
Nocturnal yo we got one, we got one..."
The Apollo Interlude by EPMD is a short clip of a conversation between two individuals (E and P) outside of the Apollo theater. The singers first mention that they bugged one of the rooms inside the theater and suggest they listen in on what is being said in another guest’s room. They then proceed to talk about a performance that they both witnessed, one which arguably stole the show (‘tore the fuckin house down’). There are insightful observations made about the state of the music industry, with the idea being thrown out that they need to ‘change the whole era man, we gotta go back man’. Overall, this interlude is a window into a conversation between two people involved in the music industry, providing insights into what goes on behind the scenes beyond just the music, including bugging other rooms and maneuvering to stay on top.
Line by Line Meaning
In back of the Apollo the episode
EPMD is disclosing to their friend P that they have secretly bugged one of the rooms at the Apollo theater.
Yo P check this yo
EPMD trying to involve his friend P in this secretive and scandalous activity.
Yo what?
P is surprised by his friend's revelation.
I bugged one of the rooms in the Apollo yeah word up
EPMD succeeded in planting a bug in one of the rooms in the Apollo theater.
Yeah c'mon keep it movin keep it movin
EPMD instructing P to maintain secrecy and to go to the next step quickly.
Word?
P is still skeptical about EPMD's plan.
Nah I'm sayin so and so's room ya know what I'm sayin' P?
EPMD divulging to their friend P which particular room they have bugged.
Tryin to say somethin niggaz be playa hatin
EPMD believes that some people have been talking negatively about them behind their backs.
True
P agrees and understands that this is a serious matter.
Let's hear what they talkin about
EPMD suggesting that they listen to the conversation recorded by the bug in the room.
Yo P c'mon!
EPMD urging P to come with him to listen to the recording.
Aight let's go to the back let's go in the car
EPMD suggesting that they go listen to the recording in a more private space, namely, a car outside.
Foxy Brown up next, Foxy Brown up next
EPMD reminding P of the next performer at the Apollo theater.
Yo yo whattup?
EPMD's greeting to people they meet outside of the Apollo theater.
Hold up, where my key at?
EPMD trying to find his car keys.
Hey whassup y'all? Peace peace yo whassup?
EPMD greeting some acquaintances.
Yo whattup son?
EPMD greeting someone who is possibly closer to them.
Check it out
EPMD wants everyone in the car to listen to the recorded conversation.
"You saw that shit? You saw that niggaz show?
EPMD sharing a snippet of the conversation that they have recorded.
Aww, whoa
One of the people in the car reacts with surprise and amazement at what they heard.
Niggaz talkin about the stinkiest shit
EPMD is upset that people are talking about them in a derogatory manner.
They bring on that shit
EPMD believes others are criticizing them for their artistic work.
Wha-hoahh, man, God to what?
One of EPMD's friends is confused about what they heard, asking 'what happened?'
You gotta admit B, the motherfuckers tore the fuckin house down
EPMD acknowledging that their rival artists had a successful performance.
I got the fuckin album B!
EPMD is upset that the rival artist's album is more popular than theirs.
I ain't gon front on the shit, fuck em, know what I'm sayin'?
EPMD is angry and resents what their rivals are saying.
Bust on niggaz and shit
EPMD believes that their rivals are spreading rumors and talking behind their backs.
We gon change the whole era man, we gotta go back man...
EPMD is convinced that they will revolutionize rap music.
Nocturnal yo we got one, we got one..."
EPMD believes that they have caught someone saying something incriminating on their recording.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERICK S. SERMON, PARRISH J. SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Green
@71dhwand sounds like him, and to make sure on that, he's in the MC LYTE "Ice Cream Dreams" video dancing with "lemon", Shadow was light-skinned; many dancers you may remember were in that video from all 5 boroughs, & even Jersey & Connecticut. But, Shadow lives in ATL now, saw him about 4 years ago. He was definitely dope, as well as his partnet Lemon, and many others from Southside, Hollis, Cambria Heights, etc....Queens representatives.
I was known in Queens as the "club/house head", real early around 85-87, while most were still doing the hip-hop....I became popular at what they call, "House dancing" from late 80s till now. But, I remember when I first saw FENDI, I was like, "ohhh shh...hip-hop is going to another level now, I'm staying on the House shit"...lolol.....also....
....if anyone knows how the clubs, jams, &/or basement parties were back then in hip-hop in ANY BOROUGH, it was fun, stab, dance, battle, shots, reggae lights off lots of rolling ass from the whinnin (lol), & stabbings again....lololol. Those who survived, & KNOW, then they KNOW, & those who didn't, don't know.
BUT, after shoot outs at the ENCORE, laces, union square, & other places I went to once or twice because just following the hip-hop flow from being a boogie boy. Lucky I did other dance styles (tap, jazz, ballet, etc..), and those dancers told me about the "freestyle/clubbing/house" music early, in clubs like, "Bonds, Tunnel, late Paradise Garage, L'amour East, etc...", or I wouldn't know where to go out..... much less violence/battling, and much more just dancing (negative setbacks was wayyyyy tooooo much drugs, & sexual things going on, but it was better than shoot-outs & stabbings just for stepping on sneakers, bumping into someone by mistake, dancing with someone's girl that YOU DIDN'T KNOW was someone's girl, &/or being from the wrong borough).
And if we know the history, all the hip-hop dancers ended up the house clubs (HIP-HOUSE era) in the late 80s/early 90s, in infamous places like, The World, The Tunnel, Red Zone, etc...
....but Queens had a signature style in hip-hop freestyle that's unforgettable.
While I was into "freestyle/clubbing/house" early, I remember seeing Shadow, Peekaboo, Drock, Jeff, Trip, Future, and others when jams were thrown at St. John's University, and other places; just watching them until the house music came on, then it was me. lol.
All of them (except Shaik) are still alive, and just was on IG chat with Peekaboo (dancer for Salt n Pepa, kwame, & more) just yesterday, because another great dancer from Brooklyn named, "china boy (kito)" just died....part of THE MISFITS dance/emcee crew (prancer, peekaboo, rubbaband, marquest (who danced with FENDI at times for EPMD; like in the song, "crossover"), & china boy). And I'm always speaking to Future & Drock here and there.
Lael Rockwell
Fendi was the best freestyle dancer in Queens. He pushed cats to really step their game up for real. Hip hop has taken a turn for the worst at the moment but as long as we have moments such as these to remember, it will never die.
Felix Pfaltermann
Arguably the best beat of all time. What an amazing performance. EPMD is unreal.
mandingaprincess
One of the Sickest Basslines in a Rap Song...I miss these days!
nyqt75
I remember my mom paying for me to watch and tape this on pay per view. She didn't have a lot of money but she knew how much I love the culture. From being a B girl dancing with my brother and his crew. I was so excited to have been a part of hip hop. EPMD is one of my favorite groups of all time.
All Positive Network
Much respect to your mother. I didn't see this immediately. I saw the replay on MTV some time later and my favorite performance was Rakim's "let the rhythm hit em".
David Barnes
EPMD always killed it LIVE.The best HIP HOP TEAM DUO of all time.
RGee 805
David Barnes respectfully, I'd have to take Run DMC, but the beauty is that we can all enjoy Hip Hops' finest from this era!!
DNICE41
epmd, Pete rock and cl smooth, nice and smooth...
abdel fassouti
@DNICE41 v
RebelTV r
@DNICE41 EPMD way better than Pete Rock/CL and nice n' smooth