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.
Erick Sermon
Erick Sermon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Owww!
Word em up, word em up yo
Yeah yeah, word em up like dat
Erick Sermon's in effect
Def Squad, that's the hype
One more time word
Yeah
Yeah
This is my openin, E comin at ya lazy style
Versatile, crazy wild with my profile
Dominatin the microphone, on my own
Freakin it, with the ill vocal tone
Outspoken, here's a token of my appreciation
I bring drama like Jason
Who can see me? You better ask Superman
for his super vision, cause I'm on a fuckin mission
Test my skills, and I rearrange your fuckin grill
Will kill if I have to get ill
Get away, carry on, and step
like the S1's, cause my crew carry big guns
to blow up, anybody in the range
And plus I'm bad as Michael Jackson, even though he +Dangerous+
E Double with the funk type shit
This is it, so get with the skit motherfucker
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Heyyyyyy, Erick Sermon (word, that's my motherfuckin name boy)
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Heyyyyyy, Erick Sermon
Check this out!
I still get loose in the rap vocal booth
I know I can, I can like a train caboose
Smoke up the hardcore scene when I be rappin
I make it blacken yo, and make things happen
Why? I'm like the Michael Jackson of rap
I'm bad, plus I moonwalk over tracks
I am still, so a-mazin
I flex, punk and get funky for the occasion
Superstitious, so I kill black cats and all that
and buck em down with the gat
E Double in the house don't you know me
What's up homey loc, step and you get smoked
I have a dream like Martin Luther King
that one day, yo, I can do away
with the pitiful, and the critical wack MC's
separate the ocean, and throw em in between
Grab my nuts, hold em, becaues they're golden
with more wins than Hulk Hogan
It's the future, of a dope producer
on the rise, the hype is my green eyes
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Heyyyyyy, Erick Sermon (word, that's my motherfuckin name boy)
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Heyyyyyy, Erick Sermon
Aowww, part three!
Shhhhh, quiet, your rap style's tired
The stores can't sell it, the fans won't buy it
Hell no - even if it was sold at an auction
Boy get rid of it, like an abortion
Word is bond, you made a mistake
and struck out, while I'm home safe at the plate
Def Squad, act like you know, backed by Russell
And that word to me means dough
Cause look -- I've been rich and I've been poor
Now I'm back in the door hardcore
So whattup Duke peace to the crew
Def Squad's in the house gettin wrecktafied beaucoup
Motherfucker!
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Heyyyyyy, Erick Sermon (word, that's my motherfuckin name boy)
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Who am I E.D. the Green Eyed Bandit
Heyyyyyy, Erick Sermon
Like dat!
The opening verse of Erick Sermon's song "Erick Sermon" begins with him introducing himself as a versatile and wild rapper with a distinct vocal tone. He asserts himself as a dominant force on the microphone, akin to a comic book villain and implies that he is unstoppable. Erick Sermon then goes on to describe his crew, Def Squad, as being heavily armed and willing to blow up anyone who gets in their way. He also invokes Michael Jackson's fame and danger, implying that he is just as bad as the pop icon.
In the second verse, Erick Sermon compares himself to Martin Luther King Jr., stating that he has a dream to eliminate wack MCs and get rid of bad rap. He claims to have more wins than Hulk Hogan and describes himself as a dope producer on the rise. In the third and final verse, Erick Sermon takes a swipe at other rappers, stating that their style is tired and no longer sells. He finishes with the assertion that Def Squad is in the house, getting wrecktafied and ready to take on anyone who opposes them.
Overall, the song "Erick Sermon" is a classic example of old-school rap, featuring boastful lyrics and a laid-back, funky beat. Erick Sermon's vocal delivery is confident and smooth, and the lyrics are full of swagger and bravado. The song is an ode to the artist's reputation and legacy, outlining his place in the rap world and his influence on the genre as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my openin, E comin at ya lazy style
I'm starting off this rap with my own style that I put a lot of work into
Versatile, crazy wild with my profile
I'm well-rounded and unique with my style
Dominatin the microphone, on my own
I'm owning this microphone, doing my own thing
Freakin it, with the ill vocal tone
I'm nailing it with my unique and impressive voice
Outspoken, here's a token of my appreciation
I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and here's a little something for the fans
I bring drama like Jason
My rhymes and presence can be intense and dramatic
Who can see me? You better ask Superman
No one can touch me, ask someone with superpowers
for his super vision, cause I'm on a fuckin mission
I'm on a mission and unstoppable, need a superhero to try and stop me
Test my skills, and I rearrange your fuckin grill
If you try to take me on, I'll mess you up
Will kill if I have to get ill
I'll even kill if I have to take things to that level
Get away, carry on, and step
Get lost and move on because I'm not messing around
like the S1's, cause my crew carry big guns
My squad is armed and dangerous, just like a military unit
to blow up, anybody in the range
We're ready to destroy anyone in our way
And plus I'm bad as Michael Jackson, even though he +Dangerous+
I'm even as cool and iconic as MJ during his Dangerous days
E Double with the funk type shit
I'm bringing some serious funk into the rap game
I still get loose in the rap vocal booth
I'm still comfortable and confident in the recording studio
I make it blacken yo, and make things happen
I make a statement and create change
Why? I'm like the Michael Jackson of rap
I'm that cool and legendary in the rap industry
I am still, so a-mazin
I'm still impressive and amazing
I flex, punk and get funky for the occasion
I'm versatile and can change it up depending on the situation
Superstitious, so I kill black cats and all that
I'm a little superstitious, and may do things my own way
and buck em down with the gat
I'm packing heat and ready to take on anyone
E Double in the house don't you know me
I'm a legend in the rap game, how do you not know who I am?
What's up homey loc, step and you get smoked
Don't mess with me, or you'll get taken down
I have a dream like Martin Luther King
I have big goals and dreams like MLK
that one day, yo, I can do away
Someday, I hope to rid the industry of bad rappers
with the pitiful, and the critical wack MC's
The untalented and overly negative rappers need to go
separate the ocean, and throw em in between
My goals are big and impossible, like separating an ocean
Grab my nuts, hold em, becaues they're golden
I'm proud and confident in myself, unafraid to show it
with more wins than Hulk Hogan
I have more victories than a legendary wrestler like Hulk Hogan
It's the future, of a dope producer
I'm a talented producer and the future looks bright for me
on the rise, the hype is my green eyes
I'm getting more popular and famous, and my green eyes are getting everyone's attention
Shhhhh, quiet, your rap style's tired
Be quiet and listen, your music is outdated and overused
The stores can't sell it, the fans won't buy it
You're not even successful because no one wants your music
Hell no - even if it was sold at an auction
No one would buy your music, even if it was dirt cheap
Boy get rid of it, like an abortion
It's time to abandon that tired style, like someone getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy
Word is bond, you made a mistake
I promise you, you're wrong and made a mistake
and struck out, while I'm home safe at the plate
You've failed and I'm succeeding, like a baseball reference
Def Squad, act like you know, backed by Russell
My Def Squad knows how good I am, and I have Russell Simmons in my corner
And that word to me means dough
That means I'm going to make a lot of money
Cause look -- I've been rich and I've been poor
I've been through it all, from being rich to being broke
Now I'm back in the door hardcore
But I'm back and more hardcore than ever before
So whattup Duke peace to the crew
What's up, peace to my crew
Def Squad's in the house gettin wrecktafied beaucoup
My squad is here and we're making big waves in the industry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DWIGHT MYERS, ERICK S. SERMON, MARCEL THEO HALL, MARLON WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nas Kingston
Beats Erick Sermon produced or Rocked....Thank You For listening ! More beat Compilations coming soon ! By the way with 2018 being behind us I made a play list with some of the dopest hip-hop videos from 2018, it's few hours long and available on my blog - https://goo.gl/8YxAzZ It's a solid argument against anyone who thinks this music and culture is in decline !!!!
desertestrada
Where's Volume 1?
Martin Dean
Respect brotha! The homis n I freestyling over all of these! Do Master P...that'd be sick. Anyways, thanks and peace.
Dark Kitchen Records
your tapes are always in my ears somehow, and even if they aren't, i'm humming them and beatboxing them. thank you for the uploads 🖤 never stop
Lori Mabunga
THANK YOU Nas Kingston!!! I discovered you when I cam across your Nas Vol. 1. But why you only got 66K subs?! Props....keep em' coming!!! God bless!!
Anna Pomelo
Amazing music! Thank you for uploading!
Nas Kingston
Thank You For Listening
Steven Soto
There was a beat on Part 1 that was CRAZY I can't find part 1 anymore... thanks for this work man these beats are craze
Larry
Thank you for blessing us with this amazing music, please continue providing us with the heat during these winter months.
G123G
jamal "keep it real" to start it off, with the stevie wonder "ribbon in the sky" sample, so lovely!