EPMD is an American hip-hop music group from Brentwood, New York, active fr… Read Full Bio ↴EPMD is an American hip-hop music group from Brentwood, New York, active from 1987 to 1999, reuniting in 2006; one of the prominent acts in East coast hip hop.

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.

Let The Funk Flow
EPMD Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Relax while I tax, or you can just max
It really doesn't matter, just stay the hell back
Poppin much junk, now the time has arose-n
I pick your card and your name has been chosen
Not all about ?line-opin? or the stick up scene
"Let it flow!", you know what I mean
I'm the PMD, in the place to be
Clock rhymin' and I lock ya, around the tick-tocker

Suckers steady clockin' at the same time jockin'
So a brother like MD takes a chill and lay low
Hypnotize your girl, while the funk flow

I got my girls to keep me pumpin', just like Getti
Use the same fuel as Mario Andretti
Kickin' butt in the beginning all the way to the end
He drives, I rhyme no matter what we win
I come fully equipped, with the mic on my hip
So if you real, it's no time to slip
Cause when it's time for some action, check on the Mic-hael Jackson
Do a spin grab my nuts, and start taxin'
Let the MC's know that I shock like lightning
They mess with the E-Double-E, I sounds frightening

So let the funk flow
"Let it flow!"

Blastoff, and off you go
We usually take off fast, but now we take up slow
I would say ?bamba yards?, but I'm not leavin'
I don't wanna go, but the girlies keep screamin'
So I will stay, if that's fine wit you
But I won't leave, until the party is through
So while I'm here, let me get funky
Fiendin' for the rhyme (like a four-deuce junkie)
Put the pep in your step, the stride in your glide
EPMD them goin' nationwide

While the bass is steady pumpin' and the beat be like thumpin'
You lose your cool, then you start jumpin'
You're out of control, and I'm right on track
In seconds later I work the bone out your back
To mess with the two is to mess with hot water
We like to hang, torture then slaughter
All sucker MC's, who proceed to intrude
E said (let em slide), say what but I'm in the mood
For dishin' and dismissin', all those who don't listen
Reel the ones whose in, as if we was fishin'
So in eighty-eight, no wait I think it's too late
Cause in eighty-seven, you bit on the old bait

So let the funk flow
"Let it flow!"

Lounge homeboy you in the danger zone
When the brother PMD is on the microphone
The slow momentum of my rhymes are divine and combined
To go off beat, and come back on time
To maintain and explain, but never sound the same
And when it comes to do this, very few remain
People on my jock for the rhymes I invent
Dip in a phone booth just like Clark Kent
Step out dressed to impress, with no intention to fess
Chillin' HARD, with the P on my chest
Rhymin' on the mic, while the beat rocks steady
Throw a funky fresh rhyme and MC's fetch it like Freddy

Listen to heavy metal, hardcore rock n roll
Drink a six-pack, maybe Miller or Stroh
That's not the move, it's about hip-hop
The love that y'all playin' and screamin' had to stop
Let's get it straight for nineteen eighty-eight
For it can sound fine for nineteen eighty-nine
I hear the girls out there sayin' E is hot
That only shows you what juice I got
And if you don't like me, and you yellin' boo
There's nothin' wrong wit me, it's somethin' wrong with you
So let the funk flow
"Let it flow!"

So let the funk flow
"Let it flow!"

Yo, this beat is sort of funky

Man, I ain't worried about it, I know it's funky
"Let it flow!"

Overall Meaning

In the lyrics of Let The Funk Flow, EPMD talks about their love for the funk and their status as successful MCs. The song's general theme is about letting the music take control and just letting it flow. The piece also features EPMD's signature style of going back and forth with rhymes, with their voices complementing each other as they rap about their skills, success and even criticisms.

The song begins with PMD announcing his intentions to tax, which could be a reference to taking control over a situation or perhaps the rap game. He warns everyone else to stay back and let him handle it as he picks cards and chooses names. He then dismisses the idea that the song is all about line-opin and stick-up scenes, and urges everyone to let the funk flow. The chorus affirms the message as well, adding to the overall carefree and lighthearted tone of the track.

EPMD continues with their raps featuring their girls, the fuel of Mario Andretti, and how they are unbeatable from beginning to end. They also discuss their MC skills, drive, and sound, with a clear message that they are not to be messed with. The duo proves their capabilities by describing how they maintain their rhymes with a steady momentum and never sound the same. The song's last verse reinforces the message of the chorus, ending on the line "So let the funk flow."

Line by Line Meaning

Relax while I tax, or you can just max
Take it easy while I handle business or you can just chill

It really doesn't matter, just stay the hell back
It doesn't matter what you do, just stay out of my way

Poppin much junk, now the time has arose-n
Talking a lot of trash, now it's time to back it up

I pick your card and your name has been chosen
I choose you to be the one I compete against

Not all about ?line-opin? or the stick up scene
Not talking about robbing or scamming people

"Let it flow!", you know what I mean
Let the funk music flow, you know what I'm saying

I'm the PMD, in the place to be
I am PMD and I'm here to perform

Clock rhymin' and I lock ya, around the tick-tocker
Rapping with precision and timing, locking you in

Suckers steady clockin' at the same time jockin'
People always watching and imitating

So a brother like MD takes a chill and lay low
I, PMD, take a break and relax

Hypnotize your girl, while the funk flow
Captivate your girlfriend with my music, while the funk beats continue

I got my girls to keep me pumpin', just like Getti
I have my female fans to energize me, like Getti

Use the same fuel as Mario Andretti
Using the same energy as a famous racecar driver

Kickin' butt in the beginning all the way to the end
Performing incredibly well from start to finish

He drives, I rhyme no matter what we win
He drives his car and I rap, it doesn't matter as long as we win

I come fully equipped, with the mic on my hip
I have all the skills necessary and I carry a microphone

So if you real, it's no time to slip
If you're really good, don't mess up now

Cause when it's time for some action, check on the Mic-hael Jackson
When it's time to act, check me out like you would check Michael Jackson

Do a spin grab my nuts, and start taxin'
Do a spin move, grab my genitals, and start rapping

Let the MC's know that I shock like lightning
I want to impress other rappers with my abilities

They mess with the E-Double-E, I sounds frightening
If someone challenges me, they'll be scared of how I sound

Blastoff, and off you go
Get ready to take off at high speed

We usually take off fast, but now we take up slow
We usually start quickly, but now we're taking it easy

I would say ?bamba yards?, but I'm not leavin'
I would say something cool, but I'm not ready to leave yet

I don't wanna go, but the girlies keep screamin'
I don't want to leave because the girls are enjoying the music

So I will stay, if that's fine wit you
I'll stay as long as it's okay with you

But I won't leave, until the party is through
I won't leave until the party is over

So while I'm here, let me get funky
While I'm still here, let me play some funky music

Fiendin' for the rhyme (like a four-deuce junkie)
Craving to rap, like a drug addict craves drugs

Put the pep in your step, the stride in your glide
I want to energize you and make you move stylishly

EPMD them goin' nationwide
EPMD is becoming famous throughout the United States

While the bass is steady pumpin' and the beat be like thumpin'
The bass is keeping a steady rhythm and the beat is loud

You lose your cool, then you start jumpin'
You get so excited that you start dancing

You're out of control, and I'm right on track
You're going wild, while I'm doing my job perfectly

In seconds later I work the bone out your back
I'll keep you dancing hard until you're exhausted

To mess with the two is to mess with hot water
To take on both of us is trouble

We like to hang, torture then slaughter
We like to have fun, mess with people, and defeat them

All sucker MC's, who proceed to intrude
All bad rappers who try to compete with us

E said (let em slide), say what but I'm in the mood
My partner E says to let them go, but I want to keep competing

For dishin' and dismissin', all those who don't listen
For criticizing and ignoring those who don't understand my music

Reel the ones whose in, as if we was fishin'
Attract the people who understand and like our music, like we're fishing

So in eighty-eight, no wait I think it's too late
In 1988, or maybe it's already moved on

Cause in eighty-seven, you bit on the old bait
Because in 1987, you fell for our previous music

Lounge homeboy you in the danger zone
Relax, but you're still in my territory

When the brother PMD is on the microphone
When I, PMD, am rapping

The slow momentum of my rhymes are divine and combined
My slow and steady rapping style is special and powerful

To go off beat, and come back on time
To change up the rhythm, but stay on the beat

To maintain and explain, but never sound the same
To stay consistent but always sound fresh and new

And when it comes to do this, very few remain
When it comes to rapping like this, not many can keep up

People on my jock for the rhymes I invent
People are impressed by the lyrics I create

Dip in a phone booth just like Clark Kent
Disappear and reappear like Superman

Step out dressed to impress, with no intention to fess
Come back looking sharp, without admitting to any mistakes

Chillin' HARD, with the P on my chest
Relaxing, feeling cool with my EPMD logo on my shirt

Rhymin' on the mic, while the beat rocks steady
Rapping while the music keeps playing in a steady rhythm

Throw a funky fresh rhyme and MC's fetch it like Freddy
Create a great new verse and other rappers will copy it, like Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street

Listen to heavy metal, hardcore rock n roll
Listen to other styles of music, like heavy metal and rock

Drink a six-pack, maybe Miller or Stroh
Drink some beer, like Miller or Stroh

That's not the move, it's about hip-hop
But that's not what we're doing, we're about hip-hop music

The love that y'all playin' and screamin' had to stop
The music you're listening to that you're excited about needs to change

Let's get it straight for nineteen eighty-eight
Let's clarify what's important in 1988

For it can sound fine for nineteen eighty-nine
So we're prepared for how things will change in 1989

I hear the girls out there sayin' E is hot
I hear women in the audience say that E is good-looking

That only shows you what juice I got
That proves how charming I am

And if you don't like me, and you yellin' boo
If you don't like me and you're booing me

There's nothin' wrong wit me, it's somethin' wrong with you
There's nothing wrong with me, you're the one with the problem

Yo, this beat is sort of funky
Hey, this music is really good

Man, I ain't worried about it, I know it's funky
I'm not concerned, I know the music is great