If you’re reading this Hip Hop website and don’t know the basic bio info for Erick Sermon and his partner-in-rhyme Parrish Smith, kill yourself.

No introduction should really be needed for the green-eyed bandit, and in his recent conversation with HipHopDX, the E in EPMD made it abundantly clear that he and P won’t be straining to formally reintroduce themselves to a new generation of Hip Hop fans on their first group album in nine years, We Mean Business. But rather, offer up a new batch of funk-fused tracks for their longtime loyalists who are now mostly over the age of 25.

Due September 9th, the Strong Island duos seventh effort sports an album’s worth of new tracks crafted by Sermon, with the exception of one 9th Wonder produced song (“Left For Dead”). The disc’s first single, “Listen Up,” features the legendary Teddy Riley. And the album as a whole boasts a bevy of heavy hitters including M.O.P., Mobb Deep (“We Mobbin’”), Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, KRS-One (“They Tell Me”), Ghostface, Raekwon, and of course Redman, with the disc’s sole southern guest spot filled by Texas crooner/emcee Devin The Dude (“Jane 7”).

And according to the E-Double, the album’s two buzz singles, “Blow” and “Run It” [click to listen] and its remix featuring KRS [click to listen], might now not even be good enough to make the final tracklisting of the new CD.

We Mean Business will not only mark the group’s first full-length since the ‘90s, but their debut release on their own label, EP Records (which is distributed by RBC/Universal Music Group) due October 7. In addition to being back in business literally, Erick and Parrish plan on making dollars with not only their new label but their own limited edition EPMD hi-top sneaker called “The Spartan,” which will be coming out via the DC Shoe Company in October. Also sure to net some serious duckets for the fellas is a 3D documentary film tentatively bearing the same name as Sermon’s forthcoming new solo album (which will also function as the soundtrack to the film), The E True Hollywood Story, that begins shooting next month and will cover the 20-year history of the group

With so much on their plate for ’08, Erick Sermon had a lot to discuss with DX. In addition to the aforementioned plans, he revealed some never-before-published tidbits of info, including how he may have given Rick Ross his first real break nearly 10 years ago, that an heir to his musical throne is about to be introduced to the public, and maybe most notably he offerd up some interesting insight into EPMD - the break up, the make up, and how the brothers from another mother are fully focused on adding another chapter to their group’s historic Hip Hop legacy.

HipHopDX: The most important question first: When will EPMD be recognized by Vh1’s Hip Hop Honors and your show end with a rousing rendition of “Headbanger”?
Erick Sermon: I don’t know. I see that they got certain people on the board…I guess they [choose the honorees] for certain ratings or whatever, but it didn’t make no sense [not to honor EPMD last year]. I don’t have an explanation for that.

DX: Who does E and P – like, Jay-Z and Nas, Eminem and Royce?
ES: As far as what?

DX: You know how they always have artists like do the tribute.
ES: Well, it’s definitely Red and Meth. That’s who I see doing me and Parrish.

DX: Any other suggestions or just Redman and Method Man?
ES: If Prodigy [click to read] was here – ‘cause that’s who people saw [him and Havoc] as when they came in the game, as the new EPMD – definitely Mobb Deep [click to read]. But, that obviously can’t happen ‘cause Prodigy’s away.

DX: Now I came across an old news piece from 2001 where you mentioned that you guys were prepping We Mean Business. It’s seven years later, what’s taken so long?
ES: We have a couple records [from the album] on the web now. We let the underground pop off first until we had got the contracts signed. Me and Parrish just got finished [with that], so we got our own record label on Universal now. So we gonna get ready to start making stuff happening. You’ll start hearing mad shit soon. We got KRS-One [click to read] on the CD. We got a record with Mobb Deep on the CD. Of course, Redman on the CD. The CD is fuckin’ crazy. The shit is bangin’. Like, I ain’t gonna lie to you. It’s real Hip Hop shit for real Hip Hop heads. If you a Hip Hop head, it’s hard to hate the CD. You’re gonna be excited, trust me. Continued on page 2 »