2 Limited Release PMD Record Vinyls, BothAutographed by Parrish Smith from EPMD

$

53

Provenance: Parrish Smith, EPMD

The Story: Anchoring the integrity and truth in EPMD’s influence on hip-hop, Parish proudly recalls one of hip-hop’s elements: vinyl. “When the music went from underground to pop, people started to put the DJ away, and Serato [music production software] came into play, but if you was independent, then you kept the vinyl going for the DJs and for the collectors.” Continuing the original sounds of the underground community, vinyl not only meant honoring a tradition in hip-hop culture, but also offered a tangible, collectible piece of limited release beats for the fans. “I connected with my man, DJ Honda...and we decided to put an album together called ‘The Underground Connection’, and basically we toured the planet...starting in Korea, the first independent hip-hop group to touch the stage [performing for] about 15,000 people.” Erick Sermon joined them the second year, “... these vinyls are special because in the interim Erick and I did a song and it’s called ‘Look At You Now’ and this was one of the most underground songs and the underground instrumental track that you can’t really find nowhere, so with me just getting loose, getting back up in the game I had a couple laying around for the DJs and for the real EPMD heads.” Including two songs from Parish’s solo project, ‘The Awakening’, these vinyls are a truly rare collectible, not only featuring epic underground sounds, but the artwork features stunning live shots of the tour by DJ Honda’s team. Just add your favorite turntable and transport yourself back to another time when the energy, volume, and probably everyone at the concert, was high.

Item Description: 2 Vinyl records in original sleeve and packaging Both vinyls signed by Parish Smith, EPMD Condition: Excellent

EPMD: From teenagers hungry to be a part of the culture to legends creating it, Parrish Smith and Erick Sermon, the pioneering duo EPMD, sat down with KIRPA to share the stories and pieces that form part of hip-hop’s rich history. On the receiving end of his older sibling’s fruitful excursions to the Bronx, the hip-hop mecca of the 80s, Parrish was hooked to the scene, devouring any hip-hop cassettes and records he could get his hands on. Layering funk-laced samples with their laidback rhymes, Zapp’s “More Bounce in the Ounce” and the instrumentals to the soundtrack of 1982’s breakout hip-hop film, ‘Wild Style’ influenced EPMD’s unique sound. Parrish’s crate-digging days proved worthwhile research when he and Erick Sermon, Parrish’s childhood friend, were ready to lay down some tracks after years of DJ’ing junior high parties and spitting rhymes at bus stops in Brentwood. Their first album ‘Strictly Business’, dropping in 1988, paved the way for countless accolades; five of their seven albums going gold, one certified gold single, ten singles making Billboard’s Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop charts, a spot on The Source’s 100 Best Rap Albums in 1998, and one of Rolling Stone’s ‘Fifteen Albums That Made Rap Explode’. Not to mention inspiring generations of future artists to come; Eminem sampling vocals from their debut single 'It’s My Thing’, and Common crediting them as a big influence, “EPMD was one of the groups that inspired me to want to be an artist”. The inspiration didn’t stop there; stepping on stage in football jackets, bucket hats, and signature sneakers, EPMD had both a signature sound and style. Please enjoy this one of a kind collection filled with stories and experiences behind each artifact, brought to you by the legends of EPMD themselves.