Out of Business

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Out of Business | type = studio | artist = [[EPMD]] | cover = Outofbusiness.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|1999|7|20}} | recorded = 1998–1999 | studio = {{hlist|Mirror Image Recordings East ([[Dix Hills, New York|Dix Hills, NY]])|Mirror Image Recorders ([[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|NY]])|Northshore Soundworks (New York, NY)|Ian London ([[Long Island]], NY)}} | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] | length = {{Duration|m=47|s=15}} | label = [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] | producer = {{hlist|EPMD|[[DJ Scratch]]|[[Agallah]]}} | prev_title = [[Back in Business (EPMD album)|Back in Business]] | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = [[We Mean Business (album)|We Mean Business]] | next_year = 2008 | misc = {{Singles | name = Out of Business | type = studio | single1 = Right Now | single1date = June 8, 1999 | single2 = [[Symphony 2000]] | single2date = June 29, 1999 | single3 = Pioneers | single3date = August 24, 1999 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=John |title=EPMD Out of Business|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-business-mw0000043770 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=[[AllMusic]] |language=en}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev2score = A−<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Diehl |first=Matt |date=July 23, 1999 |title=Out of Business |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/07/23/out-business/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |language=en |page=68 |access-date=April 23, 2017}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev3score = 3/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cigarettes |first=Johnny |date=July 29, 1999 |title=EPMD – Out Of Business |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19990629103440reviews.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817211551/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19990629103440reviews.html |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=[[NME]] |via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref> | rev4 = ''RapReviews'' | rev4score = 3.5/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=July 20, 1999 |title=EPMD Out of Business |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/1999/07/epmd-out-of-business/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=RapReviews |language=en-US}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev5score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="RSAG">{{Cite book |last=Brackett |first=Nathan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&q=EPMD+Out+of+Business&pg=PA281 |title=(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |last2=Hoard |first2=Christian David |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster|Simon and Schuster]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/281 281] |language=en |author-link=Nathan Brackett |author-link2=Christian Hoard}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Morales|first=Riggs|author-link=Rigo Morales|date=August 1999|issue=119|department=Record Report|title=EPMD – Out Of Business|magazine=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|page=221|location=New York}}</ref> | noprose = yes }} '''''Out of Business''''' is the sixth studio album by American hip hop duo [[EPMD]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntosh |first=Daryl |date=July 17, 2019 |title=Revisiting EPMD’s ‘Out Of Business’ (1999) {{!}} Retrospective Tribute |url=https://albumism.com/features/epmd-out-of-business-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Albumism |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rabin |first=Nathan |author-link=Nathan Rabin |date=March 29, 2002 |title=EPMD: Out Of Business |url=https://www.avclub.com/epmd-out-of-business-1798194442 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en}}</ref> The album was originally scheduled for a December 1998 release under [[Def Jam Recordings]], but had been delayed numerous times as a result of a merger between [[Seagram]]'s [[PolyGram]] (Def Jam's parent company) and [[Universal Music Group]]'s [[MCA Records]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seagrams completes PolyGram acquisition - Dec. 10, 1998 |url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/12/10/companies/seagram/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020206174343/http://money.cnn.com/1998/12/10/companies/seagram/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2002 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Special Report: PolyGram-Universal Merger Bad News For Artists? |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/8zt5hd/special-report-polygram-universal-merger-bad-news-for-artists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818200905/https://www.mtv.com/news/8zt5hd/special-report-polygram-universal-merger-bad-news-for-artists |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref> combining Def Jam and [[Island Records]]' operations together under the [[The Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam Music Group]]. Ultimately, the album was released on July 20, 1999.<ref name="Oumano">{{Cite magazine |last=Oumano |first=Elena |date=July 24, 1999 |title=EPMD's Latest Gets Down To 'Business' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc.]] |volume=111 |issue=30 |pages=35, 38 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> It is the first official Def Jam album released under the newly-formed Island Def Jam Music Group and the group's last album released under the label as they left the imprint a year later before going inactive for the second time.

The recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Studio East in [[Dix Hills, New York|Dix Hills]], Mirror Image Recorders and Northshore Soundworks in [[New York City|New York]] and Ian London Studios in [[Long Island]]. The album was produced by members [[Erick Sermon]] and [[PMD (rapper)|PMD]], as well as [[DJ Scratch]], with [[Agallah|8-Off Agallah]] serving as co-producer. It features guest appearances from 215, 8-Off Agallah, [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Lady Luck (rapper)|Lady Luck]], [[Method Man]], [[M.O.P.]], and [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]]. The album peaked at number 13 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number 2 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] in the United States, with 73,000 units sold in its first week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skanse |first=Richard |date=July 28, 1999 |title=EPMD Scores Week's Highest Debut |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/epmd-scores-weeks-highest-debut-87138/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Its only single, "[[Symphony 2000]]", reached only No. 62 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]], No. 28 on the [[Hot Rap Songs]] and No. 58 on the [[R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay]] in the US.

The duo changed its [[Acronym|initialism]] for the release from 'Erick & Parrish Making Dollars' to 'Erick & Parrish Millennium Ducats'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowie |first=Del F. |date=September 1, 1999 |title=EPMD Out of Business {{!}} Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/epmd-out_of_business |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=[[Exclaim!]]}}</ref> A limited-edition issue of the album was released with a bonus [[greatest hits album]].<ref name="Oumano" />

==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Out Of Business'' | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Intro | writer1 = {{hlist|[[Erick Sermon]]|[[PMD (rapper)|Parrish Smith]]|[[DJ Scratch|George Spivey]]|[[Bill Conti|William Conti]]}} | extra1 = [[DJ Scratch]] | length1 = 2:18 | title2 = Pioneers | writer2 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra2 = [[Erick Sermon]] | length2 = 3:14 | title3 = Right Now | writer3 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra3 = Erick Sermon | length3 = 3:51 | title4 = Check 1, 2 | writer4 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Agallah|Angel Aguilar]]}} | extra4 = {{hlist|[[PMD (rapper)|PMD]]|[[Agallah|8-Off Agallah]] ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length4 = 3:16 | title5 = Symphony | note5 = featuring [[M.O.P.]] | writer5 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Billy Danze|Eric Murray]]|[[Lil' Fame|Jamal Grinnage]]}} | extra5 = Erick Sermon | length5 = 3:01 | title6 = Hold Me Down | writer6 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra6 = Erick Sermon | length6 = 3:34 | title7 = Rap Is Still Outta Control | note7 = featuring [[Busta Rhymes]] | writer7 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Busta Rhymes|Trevor Smith]]}} | extra7 = {{hlist|PMD|Erick Sermon ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length7 = 3:33 | title8 = The Fan | writer8 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra8 = Erick Sermon | length8 = 3:03 | title9 = Draw | writer9 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Dominic Frontiere]]}} | extra9 = Erick Sermon | length9 = 3:22 | title10 = U Got Shot | note10 = featuring 215 and [[Agallah|8-Off Agallah]] | writer10 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|Alec Nathaniel|Aguilar|[[Ol' Dirty Bastard|Russell Jones]]|[[True Master|Derek Harris]]|[[Ghostface Killah|Dennis Coles]]|[[RZA|Robert Diggs]]}} | extra10 = Erick Sermon | length10 = 3:38 | title11 = House Party | writer11 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra11 = PMD | length11 = 3:52 | title12 = The Funk | writer12 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Norman Whitfield]]|Dwight Turner}} | extra12 = PMD | length12 = 2:08 | title13 = [[Symphony 2000]] | note13 = featuring [[Method Man & Redman|Redman, Method Man]] and [[Lady Luck (rapper)|Lady Luck]] | writer13 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Redman (rapper)|Reggie Noble]]|[[Method Man|Clifford Smith]]|[[Lady Luck (rapper)|Chanelle Jones]]}} | extra13 = Erick Sermon | length13 = 4:03 | title14 = Jane 6 | writer14 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Rick James]]}} | extra14 = PMD | length14 = 4:22 | total_length = 47:15 }}

;Sample credits *Track 1 contains a sample from "Fanfare for Rocky" written and performed by [[Bill Conti]]. *Track 9 contains a sample from "[[Hang 'Em High (composition)|Hang 'Em High]]" written and performed by [[Dominic Frontiere]]. *Track 10 contains a sample from "[[Brooklyn Zoo (song)|Brooklyn Zoo]]" written by [[Ol' Dirty Bastard|Russell Jones]], [[Ghostface Killah|Dennis Coles]], [[RZA|Robert Diggs]] and [[True Master|Derrick Harris]] as performed by [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]]. *Track 12 contains a sample from "Do Your Dance" written by [[Norman Whitfield]] and Dwight Turner as performed by [[Rose Royce]]. *Track 14 contains a sample from "[[Mary Jane (Rick James song)|Mary Jane]]" written and performed by [[Rick James]].

==Personnel== {{div col}} *[[Erick Sermon]] — vocals, producer (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8–10, 13), co-producer (track 7), mixing (tracks: 2, 5–14), executive producer, sleeve notes *Parrish "[[PMD (rapper)|PMD]]" Smith — vocals, producer (tracks: 4, 7, 11, 12, 14), mixing (tracks: 2, 5–8, 10), executive producer, sleeve notes *Eric "[[Billy Danze]]" Murray — vocals (track 5) *Jamal "[[Lil' Fame]]" Grinnage — vocals (track 5) *Trevor "[[Busta Rhymes]]" Smith — vocals (track 7) *Alec "215" Nathaniel — vocals (track 10) *Angel "[[Agallah|8-Off Agallah]]" Aguilar — vocals (track 10) *Reginald "[[Redman (rapper)|Redman]]" Noble — vocals (track 13) *Clifford "[[Method Man]]" Smith — vocals (track 13) *Chanelle "[[Lady Luck (rapper)|Lady Luck]]" Jones — vocals (track 13) *George "[[DJ Scratch]]" Spivey — producer (track 1) *Marc Berto — recording (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 8, 12), mix engineer assistant (track 5), recording engineer assistant (tracks: 7, 9–11, 13, 14) *Charlie Marotta — recording & mixing (track 3) *John Decatur — recording (tracks: 5, 7) *Tommy Uzzo — recording (tracks: 9–11, 13, 14), mixing (tracks: 2, 4–14) *Richard A. LaSalvia — recording engineer assistant *Camilio Rodriguez — recording engineer assistant *Dave O'Donnell — recording engineer assistant *[[Tony Dawsey]] — mastering *[[Kevin Liles]] — executive producer *The Drawing Board — art direction, design *Wayne Van Acker — design *[[Danny Clinch]] — photography *Gerard Gaskin — photography *Richard Iohr — photography *Alvin Toney — sleeve notes {{div col end}}

==Greatest Hits bonus disc== {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=EPMD - Greatest Hits Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000946015 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=[[AllMusic]] |language=en}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RSAG" /> }} {{Track listing | headline = ''Greatest Hits'' | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = It's My Thang | writer1 = {{hlist|[[Erick Sermon]]|[[PMD (rapper)|Parrish Smith]]|August Moon}} | extra1 = [[EPMD]] | length1 = 5:37 | title2 = [[You Gots to Chill|You Gots 2 Chill]] | writer2 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Roger Troutman]]}} | extra2 = EPMD | length2 = 3:27 | title3 = [[Strictly Business (EPMD song)|Strictly Business]] | writer3 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra3 = EPMD | length3 = 4:39 | title4 = [[So Wat Cha Sayin'|So What Cha Sayin']] | writer4 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|Allen Williams}} | extra4 = EPMD | length4 = 4:28 | title5 = Big Payback | writer5 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra5 = EPMD | length5 = 4:04 | title6 = Get the Bozack | writer6 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra6 = EPMD | length6 = 4:33 | title7 = Please Listen to My Demo | writer7 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra7 = EPMD | length7 = 2:49 | title8 = [[Gold Digger (EPMD song)|Gold Digger]] | writer8 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]|Ronald Miller}} | extra8 = {{hlist|EPMD|Mr. Bozack ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length8 = 5:02 | title9 = [[Rampage (song)|Rampage]] | writer9 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith}} | extra9 = {{hlist|EPMD|Mr. Bozack ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length9 = 3:49 | title10 = [[Crossover (song)|Crossover]] | writer10 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|Troutman|[[David Gamson]]}} | extra10 = EPMD | length10 = 3:48 | title11 = [[Head Banger (EPMD song)|Headbanger]] | writer11 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|Clinton|Ed Greene}} | extra11 = {{hlist|EPMD|Mr. Bozack ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length11 = 4:51 | title12 = Never Seen Before | writer12 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Ziggy Modeliste|Joseph Modeliste]]|[[Leo Nocentelli]]}} | extra12 = Erick Sermon | length12 = 2:50 | title13 = [[Da Joint]] | writer13 = {{hlist|Sermon|P. Smith|[[Rockwilder|Dana Stinson]]|[[James Brown]]|[[Mike D|Michael Diamond]]|[[Adam Yauch]]|[[Matt Dike]]|[[John King (record producer)|John King]]|[[Michael Simpson (producer)|Michael Simpson]]}} | extra13 = {{hlist|Erick Sermon|[[Rockwilder]]}} | length13 = 3:26 | total_length = 1:40:38 }}

;Notes *Track 1 is a re-recording of "It's My Thing" from 1988 ''[[Strictly Business (EPMD album)|Strictly Business]]''. *Track 2 is a re-recording of "[[You Gots to Chill]]" from 1988 ''Strictly Business'', which previously appeared in 1997 ''[[Back in Business (EPMD album)|Back in Business]]'' as "You Gots 2 Chill '97". *Track 3 is a re-recording of the song of the same from 1988 ''Strictly Business''. *Track 4 is a re-recording of "[[So Wat Cha Sayin']]" from 1989 ''[[Unfinished Business (EPMD album)|Unfinished Business]]''. *Track 5 is a re-recording of "The Big Payback" from 1989 ''Unfinished Business''. *Tracks 6 and 7 are re-recordings of the songs of the same names from 1989 ''Unfinished Business''. *Tracks 8 and 9 are taken from 1990 ''[[Business as Usual (EPMD album)|Business as Usual]]''. *Tracks 10 and 11 are taken from 1992 ''[[Business Never Personal]]''. *Tracks 12 and 13 are taken from 1997 ''Back in Business''.

===Personnel=== *Erick Sermon — vocals, producer *Parrish "PMD" Smith — vocals, producer (tracks: 1–11) *Mr. Bozack — co-producer (tracks: 8, 9, 11) *Charlie Marotta — mixing (tracks: 1, 3–7) *Tommy Uzzo — mixing (tracks: 2, 10, 12, 13) *Ivan 'Doc' Rodriguez — mixing (tracks: 8, 9, 11, 13) *Dave Greenberg — mixing (track 11)

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1999) !Peak position |- {{album chart|UKR&B|18|date=19990725|rowheader=true|access-date=October 28, 2023}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|13|artist=EPMD|rowheader=true|access-date=April 18, 2022}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=EPMD|rowheader=true|access-date=April 18, 2022}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Discogs master|156421|EPMD – Out Of Business}}

[[Category:1999 albums]] [[Category:EPMD albums]] [[Category:Def Jam Recordings albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch]] [[Category:Albums produced by Erick Sermon]] [[Category:Albums produced by Agallah]] [[Category:Albums produced by PMD (rapper)]]