Hit Squad

{{short description|American hip hop group}} {{other uses|Hit Squad (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist  | name = Hit Squad | image = | caption = | image_size =  | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = | instrument = | genre = [[East Coast hip hop]] | occupation = | years_active = {{hlist|1990–1993|2006–present}} | label = | spinoffs = [[Def Squad]] | website = | current_members = [[EPMD]] [[DJ Scratch]] [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]] [[Das EFX]] [[K-Solo]] Knucklehedz | past_members = [[Hurricane G]] [[Top Quality]] [[Jesse West]] RKITECH | notable_instruments = }} The '''Hit Squad''' is an American [[hip hop collective]] of [[East coast hip hop|East Coast hip hop]] artists. Originally formed in the 1990s by [[Erick Sermon]] and [[Parrish Smith]] of the rap group [[EPMD]], the group included rap artists such as [[K-Solo]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], [[Das EFX]], [[Top Quality]], and Knucklehedz. When EPMD broke up for the first time in 1993, the collective separated, with Sermon forming [[Def Squad]] and Smith retaining the Hit Squad name.

==Career== After the success of their debut album ''[[Strictly Business (EPMD album)|Strictly Business]]'', EPMD sought to [[mentor]] new artists. The first artist to make a guest appearance on an EPMD album was [[K-Solo]]. Solo was featured on their second album ''[[Unfinished Business (EPMD album)|Unfinished Business]]'' on the song "Knick Knack Patty Wack". The first mention of "Hit Squad" appeared on EPMD's third album ''[[Business As Usual (EPMD album)|Business as Usual]]'' on the track "Hit Squad Heist". The lyrics mention Redman, K-Solo and Tom J of Knucklehedz.<ref>[http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/epmd/as_usual/hitsquad.epm.txt The Original Hip-Hop (Rap) Lyrics Archive]</ref> Redman is also featured on two tracks of that album.

In 1993, EPMD released the single "Headbanger" from their fourth album ''[[Business Never Personal]]''. The single featured K-Solo and Redman and the [[music video]] features appearances by most of the Hit Squad.<ref name="source"/> The single reached #11 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s [[Hot Rap Tracks]] chart.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p36/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} allmusic ( EPMD > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )]</ref> The single's success made "Headbanger" the Squad's "[[signature song]]".<ref name="mtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1543243/20061016/epmd.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026143026/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1543243/20061016/epmd.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2006|title=EPMD Get 'Massive Love' At Comeback Show|publisher=[[MTV News]]|author=Reid, Shaheem|date=2006-10-16|access-date=2007-01-18}}</ref> The album also features [[Das EFX]] on the track "Cummin' At Cha".

==Breakup== In late 1992, tensions grew within the Hit Squad. According to an article in ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'', squad members alleged financial impropriety by Smith, who owned their management company. Smith's home was invaded by armed intruders believed to have been hired by squad members. While Smith declined to publicly give details on who was behind the invasion, Sermon was arrested and briefly detained for questioning, but no charges were filed.<ref name="source">{{cite magazine|title=Out of Business|magazine=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|author=Dennis, Reginald C.|date=April 1993}}</ref> EPMD officially broke up in January 1993. Redman and Hurricane G continued to collaborate with Sermon, while Das EFX and DJ Scratch remained under Smith's management. K-Solo pursued separate endeavors.<ref name="source"/> The debut album by Knucklehedz became lost in the shuffle in the midst of the breakup and was shelved.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120710144954/http://bloggerhouse.net/2006/07/unreleased-gems-part-five-lost-hit.html Wake Your Daughter Up - Hip Hop and Audio Blog]</ref>

The original Hit Squad splintered into two different groups. Sermon formed [[Def Squad]] with Redman, [[Jamal (rapper)|Jamal aka Mally G]] and another [[protégé]] [[Keith Murray (rapper)|Keith Murray]] while PMD retained the Hit Squad name with Das EFX, DJ Scratch and [[Top Quality]].<ref name="vibe">{{cite magazine|title=EPMD Reunite To Resurrect Rap|magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=October 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mvremix.com/urban/interviews/pmd.shtml |title=MVRemix Interviews: PMD |access-date=November 11, 2020|date=2005}}</ref> In this new incarnation, the PMD led Hit Squad would appear on PMD's solo albums and on the Das EFX albums ''[[Hold It Down (Das EFX album)|Hold It Down]]'' and ''[[Generation EFX]]''. Hit Squad would also appear on the single and video for the song "Beef" from [[Chubb Rock]]'s 1997 album ''The Mind''. On the album ''[[The Mix Tape, Vol. II]]'' by Funkmaster Flex, a freestyle by PMD, Nocturnal & Das EFX was featured on the album. Smith appeared alongside rap unknowns Blast, Poogi and L The Pro on the classic 1997 [[Tony Touch]] [[mixtape]] ''Power Cypha 2'', credited as "PMD & The Hit Squad".

On EPMD's 1997 reunion album ''[[Back in Business (EPMD album)|Back in Business]]'', Smith's Hit Squad and Sermon's Def Squad came together and were billed as The Squadron.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-20-years-of-epmd-back-in-business |title=EPMD's 'Back in Business' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective |access-date=November 11, 2020|date=September 23, 2017}}</ref> Both groups are featured in the video for the single "[[Da Joint]]".

In 2004, Smith released an album titled ''Hit Squad: Zero Tolerance'' using previously unreleased verses by the original members combined with his latest new artists.

As of the 2006 EPMD reunion, most of the former Hit Squad members also reunited, along with Def Squad rapper Keith Murray.<ref name="mtv"/> A new album for the Hit Squad/Def Squad is planned.

Another reunion was staged in 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/02/hit-squad-rock-reunion-show-in-nyc/|title=Hit Squad Rock Reunion Show in NYC|magazine=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|author=Reid, Shaheem|date=2012-02-25|access-date=2012-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/02/hit_squad_ten_best_songs_epmd_redman_das_efx.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224204030/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/02/hit_squad_ten_best_songs_epmd_redman_das_efx.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 24, 2012|title=Head Bangers And Hardcore Hits: A Ten-Track Hit Squad Collection|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|author=Mlynar, Phillip|date=2012-02-23|access-date=2012-04-17}}</ref>

On PMD's 2013 EP release ''New Business'', he introduced a group under the Hit Squad umbrella called Team Takeover made up of rappers Nymrod, Comatose, Nam Nitty, and Michael Nixx. The group is featured in the music video for the track "Symphony 2013".

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://myspace.com/theoriginalhitsquad Hit Squad] on [[Myspace]] * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p510446|label=Hit Squad}} * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Hit+Squad Hit Squad at Discogs] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsMihbbwEiA 1995 Redman interview]

[[Category:East Coast hip-hop groups]] [[Category:Hip-hop collectives]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]] [[Category:Hip-hop supergroups]]