Business Never Personal

Business Never Personal is the fourth studio album by hip hop duo EPMD.[1] It was released on July 28, 1992, on Def Jam Recordings.[2] Following mixed criticism of their previous studio effort, 1990's Business As Usual, the duo was able to return to their past acclaim on Business Never Personal. The lead single, "Crossover," became its biggest success, nearly reaching the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about keeping it real and not crossing over to the mainstream, but became EPMD's biggest mainstream success.

Business Never Personal
Studio album by
EPMD
ReleasedJuly 28, 1992
Recorded1991–92
GenreHardcore hip hop, golden age hip hop
Length38:58
Label
ProducerEPMD
Charlie Marotta
DJ Scratch
Mr. Bozack
EPMD chronology
Business As Usual
(1990)		 Business Never Personal
(1992)		 Back in Business
(1997)
Singles from Business Never Personal
  1. "Crossover"
    Released: June 23, 1992
  2. "Head Banger"
    Released: October 29, 1992

The duo cut "Head Banger" with Redman and K-Solo, and it was also a hit in 1992. The album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA on October 13, 1992.[3] The single "Crossover" was certified Gold on November 16, 1992. While it has yet to be reissued in the U.S., Business Never Personal was re-released in 2005 on vinyl in Europe.

Members Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith began having money troubles during recording, which led to a 1992 robbery of Smith's home. The perpetrators claimed that Erick Sermon paid them to do the deed, causing the group to break up soon after this release. They each released two solo albums between 1993 and 1996, then reunited as a duo in 1997.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Robert Christgau(dud)[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
The Source4.5/5[10]

The album is considered the duo's third classic by fans and critics. The record was given a rating of 4.5 mics out of 5 in The Source in 1992.[10]

The Washington Post wrote: "Zapp member Roger Troutman's sampled, synthesized voice is looped with the chorus of the bumping current hit 'Crossover,' EPMD's attack on rappers who 'sell their souls to go gold' while slinking bass propels 'Play the Next Man,' which finds Sermon and Smith slamming manipulative women."[11]

Track listing
# Title Producer(s) Performer (s) Length
1 "Boon Dox" EPMD EPMD 2:48
2 "Nobody's Safe Chump" EPMD EPMD 2:12
3 "Can't Hear Nothing But the Music" EPMD, Charlie Marotta EPMD 3:37
4 "Chill" EPMD EPMD 2:57
5 "Head Banger" EPMD EPMD, K-Solo, Redman 4:52
6 "Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc]" DJ Scratch, Mr. Bozack EPMD 3:04
7 "Crossover" EPMD EPMD 3:49
8 "Cummin' at Cha" EPMD EPMD, Das EFX 4:03
9 "Play the Next Man" EPMD EPMD 3:36
10 "It's Going Down" EPMD EPMD 4:12
11 "Who Killed Jane?" EPMD EPMD 3:47

Samples
Sample credits[12][13]

Boon Dox

Nobody's Safe Chump

Can't Hear Nothing But the Music

Chill

Head Banger

Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc]

Crossover

Cummin' at Cha

Play the Next Man

It's Going Down

Who Killed Jane?

Charts

Singles Chart Positions
Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1992 "Crossover" #42 #14 #1 #12
1992 "Head Banger" - #75 #11 -

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "EPMD". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. EPMD: Business Never Personal. Def Jam Records. July 1992.
  3. RIAA Searchable Database - Search: Business Never Personal Archived June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on August 10, 2008.
  4. EPMD | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com Archived 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine. MTV Networks. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.
  5. "Business Never Personal - EPMD | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  6. "Robert Christgau: CG: EPMD". www.robertchristgau.com.
  7. "Music Review: 'Business Never Personal'". EW.com.
  8. "EPMD: Business Never Personal : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. February 20, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20.
  9. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 281.
  10. Big Greg Cee (August 1992). "EPMD: Business Never Personal". The Source (35).
  11. Griffin, Gil (July 31, 1992). "NEW HIP-HOP'S MACHO LIP SERVICE" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  12. "EPMD: Business Never Personal". genius.com.
  13. "EPMD: Business Never Personal". secondhandsongs.com.
  14. "EPMD, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  15. "EPMD, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  17. "American album certifications – EPMD – Business Never Personal". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
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