Erick Sermon – AKA: The Green Eyed Bandit, E-Double-E, E-Dub, E, MC Grand Royal, is one of the founders of EPMD. He is also known for his production work for some of the biggest names in the industry… Diddy, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Akon, Jay-Z, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Mary J Blige, Mos Def, Redman, Method Man, Keith Murray, KRS-One, Ja Rule, Craig Mack, Heavy D, Das EFX and many more. Along with Keith Murray and Redman, he also created the Def Squad.

Erick has been called a Hip-Hop pioneer by many. His hits – like “You Got To Chill”, “Strictly Business”, and “Crossover” – showcased some of the genre’s earliest commercial success and quality music videos. With partner Parrish Smith, he helped to cement New York as the mecca of rap in the late 1980s, subsequently spawning a number of other unforgettable artists such as Keith Murray and Redman.
 
When his own career began to slow, and to the dismay of fans, he and Smith disbanded EPMD, Sermon found a long, success-filled career producing music for countless R&B and rap acts. He was one of the early MCs to extend his brand beyond the booth – a wise move at a time when label deals were shaky and corporate America was still being sold on the commercial viability of rap.
 
Sermon never stopped rapping and performing, releasing critical achievements like the Marvin Gaye-inspired “Just Like Music” in 2001 off the J Records release, Music.
 
Strictly Business was an album that laid the foundation for modern hip-hop, sampling everything from Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd, to Zapp and Steve Miller. In the two decades since, Erick has established himself as one of the genre’s greatest producers, with over 70 million album sales… thanks to his work with artists like Redman, Eminem, Method Man, 50 Cent, Das EFX, Mary J Blige and D’Angelo.
 
Erick produced 14 albums under Erick Sermon, EPMD and Def Squad and his filmography includes over 30 movies and documentaries.