# Business Never Personal

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1992 studio album by EPMD

Business Never Personal Studio album by EPMD Released July 28, 1992 (1992-07-28) Recorded 1991–1992 Genre East Coast hip-hop[1] Length 38:58 Label Def Jam Columbia Producer EPMD 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 "Crossover" Released: June 23, 1992 "Head Banger" Released: October 29, 1992

***Business Never Personal*** is the fourth [studio album](/source/Studio_album) by [hip-hop](/source/Hip-hop) duo [EPMD](/source/EPMD).[2] It was released on July 28, 1992, on [Def Jam Recordings](/source/Def_Jam_Recordings).[3] Following mixed criticism of their previous studio effort, 1990's *[Business as Usual](/source/Business_as_Usual_(EPMD_album))*, 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](/source/Billboard_Hot_100). The song is about keeping it real and not crossing over to the mainstream, but became EPMD's biggest mainstream success.

The duo cut "[Head Banger](/source/Head_Banger_(EPMD_song))" with [Redman](/source/Redman_(rapper)) and [K-Solo](/source/K-Solo), and it was also a hit in 1992. The album was certified [Gold](/source/RIAA_Certification) in sales by the [RIAA](/source/RIAA) on October 13, 1992.[4] The single "[Crossover](/source/Crossover_(song))" 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](/source/Gramophone_record) in [Europe](/source/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.[5]

## Critical reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [6] Robert Christgau [10] Entertainment Weekly B+[7] Rolling Stone [8] The New Rolling Stone Album Guide [9] The Source 4.5/5[11]

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](/source/The_Source_(magazine))* in 1992.[11]

*[The Washington Post](/source/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."[12]

## 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

**Boon Dox**

- "[I Can Feel It in My Bones](/source/The_Need_of_Love)" by [Earth, Wind & Fire](/source/Earth%2C_Wind_%26_Fire)

- "The Assembly Line" by [Commodores](/source/Commodores)

- "Slow Down" by [Brand Nubian](/source/Brand_Nubian)

- "If It Don't Turn You on (You Oughta Leave It Alone)" by [B.T. Express](/source/B.T._Express)

- "The Payback" by [James Brown](/source/James_Brown)

**Nobody's Safe Chump**

- "Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out" by [Bobby Womack](/source/Bobby_Womack)

- "Wah Wah Man" by [Young-Holt Unlimited](/source/Young-Holt_Unlimited)

- "The Message" by [Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five](/source/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five)

- "The New Style" by [Beastie Boys](/source/Beastie_Boys)

**Can't Hear Nothing but the Music**

- "Give Me Your Love" by [Barbara Mason](/source/Barbara_Mason)

- "It's a New Day" by [Skull Snaps](/source/Skull_Snaps)

- "School Boy Crush" by [Average White Band](/source/Average_White_Band)

- "Jungle Boogie" by [Kool and the Gang](/source/Kool_and_the_Gang)

**Chill**

- "Street Thunder" by [Foreigner](/source/Foreigner_(band))

- "Atomic Dog" by [George Clinton](/source/George_Clinton_(funk_musician))

- "UFO" by [ESG](/source/ESG_(band))

- "It's Funky Enough" by [the D.O.C.](/source/The_D.O.C.)

- "My Melody" by [Eric B. & Rakim](/source/Eric_B._%26_Rakim)

**Head Banger**

- "Impeach the President" by [the Honey Drippers](/source/The_Honey_Drippers_(soul_band))

- "Papa Was Too" by [Joe Tex](/source/Joe_Tex)

- "One of Those Funky Things" by [Parliament](/source/Parliament_(band))

- "Slow Down" by [Brand Nubian](/source/Brand_Nubian)

- "Surprises" by [the Last Poets](/source/The_Last_Poets)

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

- "Duck Down" by [Boogie Down Productions](/source/Boogie_Down_Productions)

- "I Like It" by [the Emotions](/source/The_Emotions)

- "Scenario" by [A Tribe Called Quest](/source/A_Tribe_Called_Quest)

- "Synthetic Substitution" by [Melvin Bliss](/source/Melvin_Bliss)

- "UFO" by [ESG](/source/ESG_(band))

- "Rampage" and "I'm Mad" by [EPMD](/source/EPMD)

**Crossover**

- "You Should Be Mine" by [Roger](/source/Roger_Troutman)

- "Say What" by [Idris Muhammad](/source/Idris_Muhammad)

- "Bring the Noise" by [Public Enemy](/source/Public_Enemy_(band))

**Cummin' at Cha**

- "Straight Outta Compton" by [N.W.A](/source/N.W.A)

- "Smokin Cheeba-Cheeba" by Harlem Underground Band

- "How I Could Just Kill a Man" by [Cypress Hill](/source/Cypress_Hill)

- "25 ta Life" by [D-Nice](/source/D-Nice)

- "Teddy's Jam" by [Guy](/source/Guy_(band))

- "They Want EFX" by [Das EFX](/source/Das_EFX)

- "Breath Control II" by [Boogie Down Productions](/source/Boogie_Down_Productions)

- "Underground" by [EPMD](/source/EPMD)

- "Hot Pants" by [James Brown](/source/James_Brown)

**Play the Next Man**

- "Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk [Pay Attention - B3M]" by [Parliament](/source/Parliament_(band))

- "Raw" by [Big Daddy Kane](/source/Big_Daddy_Kane)

- "Can't Truss It" by [Public Enemy](/source/Public_Enemy_(band))

- "Jingling Baby" by [LL Cool J](/source/LL_Cool_J)

**It's Going Down**

- "Paul Revere" by [Beastie Boys](/source/Beastie_Boys)

- "I Want You" by [Marvin Gaye](/source/Marvin_Gaye)

- "You’re Getting a Little Too Smart" by [the Detroit Emeralds](/source/The_Detroit_Emeralds)

- "Long Red" by [Mountain](/source/Mountain_(band))

- "The Big Beat" by [Billy Squier](/source/Billy_Squier)

**Who Killed Jane?**

- "Stone Junkie" by [Curtis Mayfield](/source/Curtis_Mayfield)

- "Mary Jane" by [Rick James](/source/Rick_James)

- "Papa Was Too" by [Joe Tex](/source/Joe_Tex)

## Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992) Peak position US Billboard 200[13] 14 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 5 Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] 44

## 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 Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["50 Greatest East Coast Hip-Hop Albums of the 1990s"](https://theboombox.com/50-greatest-east-coast-hip-hop-albums-1990s/). *[The Boombox](/source/The_Boombox)*. October 20, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TP_2-0)** ["EPMD"](https://trouserpress.com/reviews/epmd/). *Trouser Press*. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Album_3-0)** *EPMD: Business Never Personal*. [Def Jam Records](/source/Def_Jam_Records). July 1992.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [RIAA Searchable Database - Search: Business Never Personal](https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070626051113/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS) June 26, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on August 10, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [EPMD | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com](http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/epmd/bio.jhtml) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090506031914/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/epmd/bio.jhtml) 2009-05-06 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). MTV Networks. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Business Never Personal - EPMD | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/business-never-personal-mw0000613743) – via www.allmusic.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Music Review: 'Business Never Personal'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230908002959/https://ew.com/article/1992/07/31/music-review-business-never-personal/). *EW.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["EPMD: Business Never Personal : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080220041926/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/epmd/albums/album/94898/review/5945032/business_never_personal). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. February 20, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/epmd/albums/album/94898/review/5945032/business_never_personal) on February 20, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RS_9-0)** *The New Rolling Stone Album Guide*. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 281.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Robert Christgau: CG: EPMD"](http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=EPMD). *www.robertchristgau.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TheSource_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TheSource_11-1) Big Greg Cee (August 1992). ["EPMD: Business Never Personal"](http://ifihavent.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/classic-review-business-never-personal-in-the-source/). *[The Source](/source/The_Source_(magazine))* (35).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Griffin, Gil (July 31, 1992). ["NEW HIP-HOP'S MACHO LIP SERVICE"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/07/31/new-hip-hops-macho-lip-service/9f1b3f32-3597-40ab-9d21-a6e30987177d/) – via www.washingtonpost.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["EPMD, TLP"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=EPMD&charttitle=&label=&chartcode=TLP). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved January 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["EPMD, BLP"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=EPMD&charttitle=&label=&chartcode=BLP). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved January 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums). *Billboard*. Retrieved January 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_StatesEPMDBusiness_Never_PersonalalbumCertRef_16-0)** ["American album certifications – EPMD – Business Never Personal"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=EPMD&ti=Business+Never+Personal&format=Album&type=#search_section). [Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America). Retrieved January 15, 2021.

## External links

- *[EPMD – Business Never Personal](https://www.discogs.com/master/97457)* at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) (list of releases)

v t e EPMD Erick Sermon PMD Studio albums Strictly Business Unfinished Business Business as Usual Business Never Personal Back in Business Out of Business We Mean Business Singles "Strictly Business" "You Gots to Chill" "I'm Housin" "So Wat Cha Sayin'" "Gold Digger" "Rampage" "Give the People" "Crossover" "Head Banger" "The Joint" "Symphony 2000" Related articles Discography Hit Squad

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Business Never Personal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Never_Personal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Never_Personal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.