1988 was definitely the greatest year for rap and hip-hop and EPMD’s Strictly Business album clearly demonstrates why. Cuts like "Strictly Business," "Let the Funk Flow," and "
You Gots to Chill" were rap anthems then as now, and feature heady samples like Zappas’ "More Bounce to the Ounce" and Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie.” There are fantastic samples sprinkled throughout the album, including Bob Marley's "
I Shot the Sheriff" on the title track. All the samples are joined together by tight battle rhymes and very sweet production.
The Strictly Business album from
EPMD harkens back to the day when sampling was clearance-free and the boys do it here with reckless and successful abandon.
