Hit Squad

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hit Squad


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Years_active = 1990 - 1993
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Past_members = EPMD
DJ Scratch
K-Solo
Redman
Das EFX
Knucklehedz
Hurricane G
Notable_instruments = The Hit Squad was a 1990s hip hop collective of East coast hip hop artists formed by Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith better known as EPMD. The collective separated when EPMD broke up for the first time in 1993, later reforming as Def Squad.

Career

After the success of their debut album "Strictly Business", EPMD sought to mentor new artists. The first artist to make a guest appearance on an EPMD album was K-Solo. Solo was featured on their second album "Unfinished Business" on the song "Knick Knack Patty Wack". The first mention of "Hit Squad" appeared on EPMD's third album "Business as Usual" on the track "Hit Squad Heist". The lyrics mention Redman, K-Solo and Tom J of Knucklehedz. [http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/epmd/as_usual/hitsquad.epm.txt] Redman is also featured on two tracks of that album.

In 1993, EPMD released the single "Headbanger" from their fourth album "Business Never Personal". The single featured K-Solo and Redman and the music video features appearances by most of the Hit Squad. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A767obLD31w YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] The single reached #11 on "Billboard"'s Hot Rap Tracks chart. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:t9q8b5z4tsqh~T51 allmusic ((( EPMD > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))) ] ] The single's success made "Head Banger" the Squad's "signature song". [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1543243/20061016/epmd.jhtml EPMD Get 'Massive Love' At Comeback Show - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News ] ] The album also features Das EFX on the track "Cummin' At Cha".

Breakup

In late-1992, tensions grew between Sermon and Smith. According to articles in "The Source", Sermon alleged financial impropriety on Smith’s part while Smith alleged that Sermon hired intruders to burglarize his home at gunpoint. Sermon was arrested and briefly detained for questioning, but no charges were filed. This resulted in a heated altercation on the set of the "Head Banger" video. EPMD officially broke up in January 1993. Redman, Twinz and Hurricane G continued to collaborate with Sermon while Das EFX and DJ Scratch remained under Smith's management. K-Solo pursued separate endeavors. The debut album by Knucklehedz became lost in the shuffle in the midst of the breakup and was shelved. [ [http://wakeyourdaughterup.blogspot.com/2006/07/unreleased-gems-part-five-lost-hit.html Wake Your Daughter Up - Hip Hop and Audio Blog ] ]

Sermon later formed the Def Squad with Redman and another protege Keith Murray. Smith continued to mention the name "Hit Squad" on his subsequent solo albums and on EPMD's reunion albums, but it remained unclear who the members the new Squad were. Smith appeared alongside rap unknowns Blast, Poogi and L The Pro on the classic 1997 Tony Touch mixtape "Power Cypha 2", credited as "PMD & The Hit Squad". In 2004, Smith released an album titled "Hit Squad: Zero Tolerance" using previously unreleased verses by the original members combined with his latest new artists.

It appeared at first that the Hit Squad was renamed to the Def Squad. However due to the EPMD break-up, the group split into two. As of the 2006 EPMD reunion, Def Squad rappers and former Hit Squad members also reunited. A new album for the Def Squad may surface this year but due to the reunion may be under the original name "Hit Squad" instead.

References

External links

* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=QsMihbbwEiA 1995 Redman interview]