Business Never Personal

Last updated
Business Never Personal
Businessneverpersonal.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 28, 1992
Recorded19911992
Genre Hardcore hip hop, golden age hip hop
Length38:58
Label
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
  1. "Crossover"
    Released: June 23, 1992
  2. "Head Banger"
    Released: October 29, 1992

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.

Contents

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 Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [6]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Source 4.5/5 [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

#TitleProducer(s)Performer (s)Length
1"Boon Dox"EPMDEPMD2:48
2"Nobody's Safe Chump"EPMDEPMD2:12
3"Can't Hear Nothing But the Music"EPMD, Charlie MarottaEPMD3:37
4"Chill"EPMDEPMD2:57
5"Head Banger"EPMDEPMD, K-Solo, Redman 4:52
6"Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 [Mic Doc]" DJ Scratch, Mr. BozackEPMD3:04
7"Crossover"EPMDEPMD3:49
8"Cummin' at Cha"EPMDEPMD, Das EFX 4:03
9"Play the Next Man"EPMDEPMD3:36
10"It's Going Down"EPMDEPMD4:12
11"Who Killed Jane?"EPMDEPMD3:47

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

YearSongChart 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

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [17] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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  9. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 281.
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