Redman’s illustrious legacy, which spans close to 30 years, all started when he connected with Erick Sermon while he was a DJ for New Jersey rap group, Lords of the Underground.
In an interview with Complex, Erick recounted the time he first met Reggie – he was hanging at a joint called Club Sensations in Newark when he bumped into Redman who happened to be DJing for DoItAll from Lords Of The Underground at the time. After hearing the young rapper spit a few rhymes, Erick got Redman to join EPMD on stage 10 minutes later.
Right before they performed we went to the back room and talked to them,” Redman recalled in an interview. “And one of the DJs told EPMD, “Yo, he’s a DJ, but he spits too.” So they asked me to spit and ten minutes later I’m onstage with EPMD rapping!
It wasn’t long before Redman made his debut on EPMD’s 1990 album Business as Usual, stealing the show on “Hardcore” and “Brothers on My Jock.” Two years later, Reggie dropped his debut album, the acclaimed Whut? Thee Album which was featured production from Erick Sermon.
Erick Sermon: I knew there was something spectacular about him. Right off the bat. The next day, we talked. And within the next two or three months, he moved to Long Island, to my crib. He moved right in to my apartment.
Erick Sermon Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records (Part 1) | Complex
