Erick Sermon
Encyclopedia
Erick Sermon in Bay Shore, New York
is an American rapper, musician
, and producer
.
Sermon is best known as half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD
and for production work. He currently resides in Islandia
, New York.
and Redman recorded a cover version
of "Rapper's Delight
" by The Sugarhill Gang
, the first hit hip hop record. EPMD disbanded a second time in 1999.
In 2000, Sermon moved over to J Records
, and released the album Music
the following year. The title track (a Top 40 pop hit that also made it to #2 on the R&B music charts), featured guest vocals from late soul music
legend Marvin Gaye
, culled from unreleased recordings which Sermon reportedly found in a small record shop in London
.
Erick continued working on an album. React
was released in 2002. The title track became a major hit song, though the album still had disappointing sales. In 2003, J Records dropped Erick Sermon due to poor record sales. However, he still went on to establish his Def Squad imprint with Motown Records
. At this time, he recorded an album, Chilltown, N.Y., which was released a year later in 2004. The album was powered by the single "Feel It" (which contained a sample of reggae/R&B singer Sean Paul
), a song which became a success in the United States.
In an interview, he stated that he was going to step aside and try to get upcoming artists in the spotlight. However, Sermon hasn't stopped doing music altogether, as he produced the song "Goldmine" on Busta Rhymes
' album, The Big Bang
in 2006. Very soon after, Sermon has recorded "Don't Make No Sense" with Def Squad
. He also collaborated with Redman and produced a few songs on the album Red Gone Wild
while also making an appearance with Def Squad member Keith Murray.
Sermon was also heavily involved in Method Man
's critically acclaimed 2006 album 4:21... The Day After as well as the 1999 platinum Blackout!
album by Method Man & Redman
.
In early 2008, Erick Sermon and EPMD started their own record label called EP Records, distributed by RBS/Universal Music Group. The seventh EPMD album, We Mean Business
, came out in December 2008.
Sermon was featured in the final episode of Yo! MTV Raps
in a freestyle session featuring artists such as Rakim
, KRS-One
, Chubb Rock
, MC Serch
and Craig Mack
,
On November 12th, 2011 Sermon (age 42) suffered a heart attack which he recovered from.
Bay Shore, New York
Bay Shore is a hamlet and a census-designated place located in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, USA. It is situated on the south shore of Long Island, adjoining the Great South Bay. Bay Shore celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. The population of the CDP was 23,852 at the time of...
is an American rapper, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Sermon is best known as half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD
EPMD
EPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group's name is a concatenation of the members' name "E" and "PMD" or an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars", referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith...
and for production work. He currently resides in Islandia
Islandia, New York
Islandia is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 3,057 at the 2000 census.The Village of Islandia is in the northern part of the Town of Islip.-Overview:...
, New York.
Career
"The Green Eyed Bandit" has also made multiple solo recordings and albums. He began recording solo albums for Def Jam in 1993; in 1997, he rejoined EPMD. The following year, Sermon, MurrayKeith Murray (rapper)
Keith Murray is an American rapper and a member of the rap trio Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and Erick Sermon.-Music career:...
and Redman recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Rapper's Delight
Rapper's Delight
"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 single by American hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang. While it was not the first single to feature rapping, it is generally considered to be the song that first popularized hip hop in the United States and around the world. The song's opening lyric "I said a hip hop, a...
" by The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for their 1979 hit, "Rapper's Delight", the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. The song uses the instrumental track from the classic hit "Good Times" by Chic as its foundation....
, the first hit hip hop record. EPMD disbanded a second time in 1999.
In 2000, Sermon moved over to J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
, and released the album Music
Music (Erick Sermon album)
Music is the fourth album and first album on J Records by hip hop artist Erick Sermon. It was received well critically and commercially. Its success was fueled by its title track "Music" which sampled vocals from Marvin Gaye and in terms of chart position is Sermon's most popular song, peaking at...
the following year. The title track (a Top 40 pop hit that also made it to #2 on the R&B music charts), featured guest vocals from late soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
legend Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, culled from unreleased recordings which Sermon reportedly found in a small record shop in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Erick continued working on an album. React
React (Erick Sermon album)
React is Erick Sermon's fifth album. It received mediocre critical and commercial success despite featuring the single "React" which was a Rhythmic Top 40 and Billboard Hot 100 hit...
was released in 2002. The title track became a major hit song, though the album still had disappointing sales. In 2003, J Records dropped Erick Sermon due to poor record sales. However, he still went on to establish his Def Squad imprint with Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. At this time, he recorded an album, Chilltown, N.Y., which was released a year later in 2004. The album was powered by the single "Feel It" (which contained a sample of reggae/R&B singer Sean Paul
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
), a song which became a success in the United States.
In an interview, he stated that he was going to step aside and try to get upcoming artists in the spotlight. However, Sermon hasn't stopped doing music altogether, as he produced the song "Goldmine" on Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
' album, The Big Bang
The Big Bang (album)
The Big Bang is the seventh studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes.- Background :It was released on June 13, 2006. It is his only release under Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. Full production of the album came from Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Will.I.Am, Mr. Porter, Erick Sermon,...
in 2006. Very soon after, Sermon has recorded "Don't Make No Sense" with Def Squad
Def Squad
Def Squad is a rap supergroup consisting of Erick Sermon, Redman & Keith Murray. Mally G is considered an honorary member of the Def Squad. Before officially forming as a group to release an album in 1998, they had each been featured on tracks by each other...
. He also collaborated with Redman and produced a few songs on the album Red Gone Wild
Red Gone Wild
Red Gone Wild: Thee Album is the sixth studio album by rapper Redman. It was released on March 27, 2007 via Def Jam Recordings.-Background:...
while also making an appearance with Def Squad member Keith Murray.
Sermon was also heavily involved in Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
's critically acclaimed 2006 album 4:21... The Day After as well as the 1999 platinum Blackout!
Blackout!
Blackout! is the debut album by hip hop artists Method Man & Redman. It is the first full-length release by Method Man and Redman after many collaborations. The album continued a string of highly successful Def Jam releases in the late 1990s. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and...
album by Method Man & Redman
Method Man & Redman
Method Man & Redman, also referred to as Red & Meth, Meth & Red, Doc & Meth or Mr. Mef and Funk Doc, are an American hip hop duo, consisting of rap superstars Method Man and Redman ....
.
In early 2008, Erick Sermon and EPMD started their own record label called EP Records, distributed by RBS/Universal Music Group. The seventh EPMD album, We Mean Business
We Mean Business (album)
-Charts:...
, came out in December 2008.
Sermon was featured in the final episode of Yo! MTV Raps
Yo! MTV Raps
Yo! MTV Raps was a two-hour American television music video program, which ran from August 1988 to August 1995 through its original Yo! MTV Raps name and later by Yo! . The program was the first hip hop music show on the network, based on the original MTV Europe show, aired one year earlier. The U.S...
in a freestyle session featuring artists such as Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
, KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, Chubb Rock
Chubb Rock
Chubb Rock is a New York-based rapper who released several commercially successful hip hop albums in the early 1990s...
, MC Serch
MC Serch
MC Serch is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass.-Biography:Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, attending Far Rockaway High School, and graduated from Music & Art High School...
and Craig Mack
Craig Mack
Craig Mack is an American Grammy nominated rapper, who gained fame on Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Entertainment record label in the 1990s. Although his first single was released under the name MC EZ in 1988, he is best known for his 1994 hit single "Flava In Ya Ear", which was released under his real name...
,
On November 12th, 2011 Sermon (age 42) suffered a heart attack which he recovered from.