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.
Intro
Erick Sermon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has determined, that the sounds you're about to hear
can be devestating, to your ear..
[Erick Sermon]
Yeah, uh-huh, huh, Long Island
Queens.. Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan
Staten.. Y.O., uhh
Yo, E-Dub, I come from the gutter
The Ving Rhames of rap, it's guns or butter
I make things happen, rappin
The game don't want to act right, we kidnap it
(Get on the floor!) Rob it like Napster
There's gonna be slow-singin and flower bringin so call the pastor
The Roger Moore of the rap game
He's 007, I'm E-Double the veteran, the name
(Erick!) The way I do it is Mean Joe
Green Eyed Bandit, nigga check the pamphlet
On my CD, you won't hear the same
It's two special guests, and the rest is my name
You won't hear the bling, or the champagne - nuttin
You won't hear a nigga on the microphone frontin
And no love songs, I'm not serenadin
I'm just narratin the streets on my beats
I'm a New York nigga, and Strawberry's home
That's a New York nigga, and it gets no bigger
Go figure; ch-ch-check out, check out, check out "My Melody"
Bittin niggaz' style that's a Jayo Felony
I'm a rap pioneer what you tellin me?
This ain't hot in the street, so what you sellin me?
That's a bootleg rap, shake dance Duke
You a fluke, got proof and that's that
[Chorus: Erick Sermon]
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan (uh-huh)
Chilltown, my nigga what's happenin?
"Chilltown, New York" (chill.. chill.. chill..)
It was all good just a week ago
Suffolk, Nausau, Yonkers, Staten
Chilltown, my nigga what's happenin?
"Chilltown, New York" (chill.. chill.. chill..)
[Erick Sermon]
Yeah, why didn't you make your own music?
You thought Down South records'd do it - nope!
You're you, and that's them
Look in the mirror, that's you, and that's them - find yourself
If 'Pac came back he'd be a mad muh'fucker
Now all y'all proceeds should be goin to his mother
{?} get your money, your career was cute
But y'all hoes will soon be exposed, open the doors
The Don King of the rap ring, I bring the mic
Promote the hype, be in Vegas that night, let's fight!
Ding, there's nuttin more to it
I'm takin back the city and that key you got to it - yep
I'm the first one to bounce Down South
A-T-L in ninety-two, I took that route - uh-huh
Real recognize real
Def Squad regime, the rap supreme, that's my team, yeah
[Chorus]
The opening lyrics of "Home" by Erick Sermon introduce him as "The Surgeon General of Chilltown, New York," indicating his status as a master of his craft. The song is a tribute to his hometown of New York City, specifically the boroughs of Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as Yonkers, Suffolk, and Nassau. While acknowledging the struggles and difficulties that come with growing up in the city, Sermon proudly claims his New York identity and brags about his skills as a rapper. He compares himself to Ving Rhames and the Green Eyed Bandit and declares himself a rap pioneer.
Sermon also uses "Home" to critique the state of hip-hop at the time of its release. He accuses other artists of biting his style and of taking their cues from the South, rather than creating their own original music. He warns that these artists will soon be exposed as phony and states that he is taking back the city of New York. Overall, the message of "Home" is one of pride in New York City and its hip-hop community, as well as a commitment to authenticity and originality in rap music.
Line by Line Meaning
The Surgeon General of Chilltown, New York
Warning: The following music may damage your hearing.
Has determined, that the sounds you're about to hear
We are aware of the potential danger that listening to this music may cause.
Yeah, uh-huh, huh, Long Island
I'm representing Long Island by expressing my agreement and excitement with affirmative sounds.
Queens.. Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan
I'm paying homage to all the boroughs of New York City.
Staten.. Y.O., uhh
I'm also showing respect to Staten Island and Yonkers.
Yo, E-Dub, I come from the gutter
I'm from a tough neighborhood and had to work hard to make something out of myself.
The Ving Rhames of rap, it's guns or butter
I'm a tough, gritty rapper, and my lyrics are about making money or surviving in the streets.
I make things happen, rappin
My music is powerful, and I have the ability to impact the rap game.
The game don't want to act right, we kidnap it
When the industry isn't behaving as it should, I step in and make sure it does.
(Get on the floor!) Rob it like Napster
I'm taking what's mine, like when Napster allowed people to share music online for free.
There's gonna be slow-singin and flower bringin so call the pastor
There will be trouble and violence, so get ready to call for help.
The Roger Moore of the rap game
Like Roger Moore's portrayal of James Bond, I'm a veteran in the rap game.
He's 007, I'm E-Double the veteran, the name
I'm just as suave as James Bond, but in the rap game, I'm E-Double.
(Erick!) The way I do it is Mean Joe
My approach to rap is tough and rugged, like football player Mean Joe Greene.
Green Eyed Bandit, nigga check the pamphlet
People know me as the Green Eyed Bandit, and if they don't, they can read about me in my pamphlet.
On my CD, you won't hear the same
My music is unique and won't sound like everything else out there.
It's two special guests, and the rest is my name
I have some features on my album, but mostly, it's all about me.
You won't hear the bling, or the champagne - nuttin
I'm not rapping about materialistic things like jewelry and alcohol.
You won't hear a nigga on the microphone frontin
I'm not pretending to be something I'm not when I rap.
And no love songs, I'm not serenadin
I'm not singing about anyone I'm romantically interested in.
I'm just narratin the streets on my beats
I'm telling stories about the realities of the streets over my instrumentals.
I'm a New York nigga, and Strawberry's home
I'm a proud New Yorker, and Strawberry's is an important landmark to me.
That's a New York nigga, and it gets no bigger
I'm a true New Yorker, and it doesn't get any realer than that.
Go figure; ch-ch-check out, check out, check out "My Melody"
Listen to my music and experience the vibes for yourself.
Bittin niggaz' style that's a Jayo Felony
Copying someone else's style is like what Jayo Felony did.
I'm a rap pioneer what you tellin me?
I'm one of the first and best rappers around, don't you forget it.
This ain't hot in the street, so what you sellin me?
If it's not popular or well-received by the streets, I won't buy into it.
That's a bootleg rap, shake dance Duke
Anything that's not my brand of rap is inferior and unacceptable.
You a fluke, got proof and that's that
You're a fake and I have evidence to back that up.
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan (uh-huh)
I'm shouting out all the boroughs of New York City once again.
Chilltown, my nigga what's happenin?
What's going on in my hometown of Chilltown?
"Chilltown, New York" (chill.. chill.. chill..)
This is Chilltown, NY, and it's a laid-back, cool place.
It was all good just a week ago
Things were going well recently, but not anymore.
Suffolk, Nausau, Yonkers, Staten
More shoutouts to New York neighborhoods and boroughs.
Yeah, why didn't you make your own music?
Why did you copy someone else's sound instead of creating your own?
You thought Down South records'd do it - nope!
You assumed that signing with a southern rap label would make you successful, but it didn't.
You're you, and that's them
You need to be true to yourself, not try to be someone else.
Look in the mirror, that's you, and that's them - find yourself
Reflect on who you are and what makes you unique.
If 'Pac came back he'd be a mad muh'fucker
Tupac would be upset with how the rap game has evolved if he were still alive.
Now all y'all proceeds should be goin to his mother
All the profits made from Tupac's music should go to his mother.
{?} get your money, your career was cute
Get your money, even though your career was only okay.
But y'all hoes will soon be exposed, open the doors
Your fake energy will be revealed, beware.
The Don King of the rap ring, I bring the mic
I'm the king of the rap game, and I bring my mic skills to the forefront.
Promote the hype, be in Vegas that night, let's fight!
I'm hyping up the crowd and encouraging violence, like a boxing match in Vegas.
Ding, there's nuttin more to it
It's as simple as that, there's nothing more to say about it.
I'm takin back the city and that key you got to it - yep
I'm reclaiming my status and power in the city, including the key to the city.
I'm the first one to bounce Down South
I was one of the first rappers to branch out to the southern rap scene.
A-T-L in ninety-two, I took that route - uh-huh
I took that path in 1992 when I went to Atlanta.
Real recognize real
I can tell when someone is authentic and genuine, and I am too.
Def Squad regime, the rap supreme, that's my team, yeah
Def Squad is my rap group, and we are the best in the game.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ERICK S. SERMON, M. BERTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind