Sermon is best known as one half of the late-1980s/1990s hip-hop group EPMD. He began recording solo albums for Def Jam in 1993.
In 1997, he rejoined EPMD. The following year, Sermon, Keith Murray and Redman recorded a cover version of "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, the first hit hip-hop record. EPMD disbanded a second time in 1998. In 2000, Sermon moved over to J Records, and released the album Music the following year. The title track (a Top 40 pop hit that also made it to #2 on the R&B music charts), featured guest vocals from late soul music legend Marvin Gaye, culled from unreleased recordings which Sermon reportedly found in a small record shop in London. React was released in 2002.
In 2003, J Records dropped Erick Sermon due to poor record sales. However, he still went on to establish his Def Squad imprint with Motown Records. At this time, he recorded an album, Chilltown, N.Y., which was released a year later in 2004. The album was powered by the single "Feel It" (which contained a sample of Reggae/R&B Singer Sean Paul), a song which became a moderate success in the United States. In an interview, he stated that he was going to step aside and try to get upcoming artists in the spotlight.
However, Sermon hasn't stopped doing music altogether, as he has produced the song "Goldmine" on Busta Rhymes' album, The Big Bang in 2006. Very soon after, Sermon recorded "Don't Make No Sense" with Def Squad.
Sermon joined up again for a special EPMD worldwide tour in 2006, were he was being held company by Keith Murray among others.
Do It Up
Erick Sermon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Check it out
I pull up to your bumper, with somethin funky
Yeah, somethin stronger than brass monkey
With the flavor I be kickin, dope
Like my horoscope, a Sagittarius, no joke
Word, the rappin dynamite, quick to blow like Mike
Who am I? (E.D.) Right, right
I'm catchin wreck so beat it
Yo I contour my lines, to freak a funky rhyme
to fit you like a pair of Calvin Kleins
Mad brother with distinction, keep the girls blinkin
and have the homeboys thinkin
I'm the man of hour, of the hour
I found He-Man, jacked him for his power (gimme that)
Now I carry a sword, attached by a live cord
Oh my lord!
Chorus: Erick Sermon (repeat 4X)
Watch me do it up like this.. {"like this.." -> Slick Rick}
Watch me do it up like that.. {"like.. like.."}
[Erick Sermon]
Yeah, E's real dope (word?) Yes indeed
No one can stop me, ask Apollo Creed
I pack a punch cause my crew runs deep
like the Brady Bunch, and we all smoke the blunts
(Word em up now) I get raw, raw like a fish market
Mics I spark it, with the funky target
You must trust me, and stop tryin to bug me
with the one-two, before I rush you and crush you
I'm on a mission, like a church group called Commission
Word-gifted, keep the crowd uplifted (yea yea)
E Double, a nigga standin tall
Rockin the microphone "for all of y'all"
Word up, live on your station
Gettin mad crowd participation, when I'm rockin the nation
Don't forget, I'm still cock diesel
Hoes be on me like the measles
Chorus
[Erick Sermon]
Oh no it's the _End of the Road_
Oh my God like Wanye, today was a good day
Word, ooh yah, I rip the mic to shreds
Enough lyrical food to keep the Ethiopians fed
Word em up {*pulls on a joint*} I inhale
from the K.D. Posse, two of my homegirls
When I rock the mic and get freaky and nasty
People in the industry seldom ask me
Whassup, whassup, whassup
wit you E, ask Eddie Murphy (yea yea)
Don't forget, to reach for the stars
Cause I'm past that, I'm reachin for Mars, so
peace to all those true human beings
Hehehehe, I see you in the coliseums
Chorus
"This is MY MOTHERFUCKIN HOUSE!!" -> Run of Run-D.M.C.
"This is MY MOTHERFUCKIN HOUSE!!" -> Run of Run-D.M.C.
"This is MY MOTHERFUCKIN HOUSE!!" -> Run of Run-D.M.C.
"This is MY MOTHERFUCKIN HOUSE!!" -> Run of Run-D.M.C.
In "Live It Up," Erick Sermon puts on a display of his lyrical dexterity and swagger. He begins by boasting about his skills and pulling up to someone's bumper with something funky. He compares his rapping to dynamite and Mike Tyson's punches. Sermon also mentions that he's a Sagittarius and calls himself the man of the hour. In the chorus, he invites listeners to watch him do it up like this and like that, which refers to his ability to switch up his flow and style.
Sermon also raps about his crew and their penchant for smoking blunts. He warns anyone trying to challenge him to back off before he rushes and crushes them. He mentions his mission in the game, which parallels that of a church group called Commission. He also notes that he's still "cock diesel" and that "hoes" are on him like the measles. In the third verse, Sermon talks about ripping the mic to shreds and references his friendship with Eddie Murphy. He finishes off by telling listeners to reach for the stars because he's already reaching for Mars.
One interesting aspect of "Live It Up" is how Sermon compares himself to dynamite and compares himself to a mythical superhero by mentioning that he found He-Man and jacked him for his power. Additionally, the song samples from Slick Rick's "La Di Da Di," which is a classic in hip-hop. The song was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie "The Program."
Line by Line Meaning
Check it out
Listen closely
I pull up to your bumper, with somethin funky
I arrive with something fresh
Yeah, somethin stronger than brass monkey
Something much stronger and more potent than the alcoholic drink Brass Monkey
With the flavor I be kickin, dope
With the fantastic rhyming style that I possess
Like my horoscope, a Sagittarius, no joke
My horoscope is the sign of Sagittarius, and I'm not joking about it
Word, the rappin dynamite, quick to blow like Mike
I am the dynamite of the rap scene, and I can burst like Mike Tyson's boxing style
Who am I? (E.D.) Right, right
My name is E.D.
Can you believe it, even Stevie Wonder couldn't see it
It's unbelievable, even Stevie Wonder couldn't see it
I'm catchin wreck so beat it
I'm doing my thing really well, so leave me alone
Yo I contour my lines, to freak a funky rhyme
I give shape to my rhyming lines to create dope music
to fit you like a pair of Calvin Kleins
It will suit you perfectly like a pair of Calvin Klein underwear
Mad brother with distinction, keep the girls blinkin
I'm an outstanding and crazy brother who makes the girls attracted to me
and have the homeboys thinkin
And have the guys thinking that I'm cool
I'm the man of hour, of the hour
I'm the man who's killing it right now
I found He-Man, jacked him for his power (gimme that)
I stole He-Man's power because I am the man
Now I carry a sword, attached by a live cord
Now I wield my power with a sword attached to a live cord that gives me its electric force
Oh my lord!
Oh my God!
Watch me do it up like this..
Watch me do it in this style
Watch me do it up like that..
Watch me do it in that style
Yeah, E's real dope (word?) Yes indeed
Yes, I am really dope
No one can stop me, ask Apollo Creed
Nobody can stop E.D.
I pack a punch cause my crew runs deep
My crew is deep and my punch is strong
like the Brady Bunch, and we all smoke the blunts
Like the Brady Bunch, we also all smoke marijuana
(Word em up now) I get raw, raw like a fish market
My rhyming is raw like a fish market
Mics I spark it, with the funky target
I make the microphone sound dope with my aim and style
You must trust me, and stop tryin to bug me
You should trust me and stop bothering me
with the one-two, before I rush you and crush you
With a one-two punch, I can defeat and humiliate you
I'm on a mission, like a church group called Commission
I'm on a mission, just like a church group called Commission
Word-gifted, keep the crowd uplifted (yea yea)
I'm gifted with words and I keep the crowd on a high
E Double, a nigga standin tall
E Double, a man standing tall
Rockin the microphone "for all of y'all"
Rocking the microphone for everyone
Word up, live on your station
Believe it or not, I'm live on your radio station
Gettin mad crowd participation, when I'm rockin the nation
I get so much crowd participation when I am performing across the country
Don't forget, I'm still cock diesel
Don't forget I'm still strong and powerful
Hoes be on me like the measles
Girls are attracted to me just like the measles is contagious
Oh no it's the _End of the Road_
Oh no, it's the end of the road for others trying to compete with me
Oh my God like Wanye, today was a good day
Today is a great day, just like Wanye said
Word, ooh yah, I rip the mic to shreds
I destroy the microphone with my fantastic rhymes
Enough lyrical food to keep the Ethiopians fed
I'm providing enough food for thought to prevent Ethiopians from starving
Word em up {*pulls on a joint*} I inhale
I take a puff of marijuana
from the K.D. Posse, two of my homegirls
I'm smoking with two friends from the K.D. Posse
When I rock the mic and get freaky and nasty
When I perform while being bizarre and obscene
People in the industry seldom ask me
Industry people rarely ask me questions
Whassup, whassup, whassup
wit you E, ask Eddie Murphy (yea yea)
They ask what's up with E, like Eddie Murphy
Don't forget, to reach for the stars
Don't forget to aim for the moon
Cause I'm past that, I'm reachin for Mars, so
I'm now aiming for Mars
peace to all those true human beings
Peace to all the kind-hearted humans
Hehehehe, I see you in the coliseums
I will see you all in the big arena
This is MY MOTHERFUCKIN HOUSE!!" -> Run of Run-D.M.C.
This is E's territory, just like Run of Run-D.M.C. declared.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERICK S. SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind