LL COOL J SUBLIMINALLY DISSING PMD ON A COLLAB? ERICK SERMON BREAKS DOWN EPMD'S EARLY BEEF

n this past clip from My Expert Opinion Ep #213, legendary producer Erick Sermon sits with Math Hoffa to discuss the intense competition and major shifts in Golden Era Hip-Hop.

Erick breaks down the subliminal shots between LL Cool J and PMD, revealing how LL, a natural battle rapper, took a direct shot at EPMD's trademark phrase "The Danger" on their collaboration, "To The Break of Dawn."

The discussion expands on historical shifts, detailing how Rakim completely changed the rap landscape, causing established legends like Run-DMC to feel their time was over. Erick also provides key insight into EPMD's financial struggles: despite the success of their first album, they were still riding the bottom bunk of the Run-DMC tour bus. He reveals that Russell Simmons paid $1.6 million to get EPMD out of their bad contract with Sleeping Bag Records and move them to Def Jam. Finally, Erick gives the insider secret of EPMD’s sophomore jinx, detailing their extreme writer's block until he found the rare "Fair Play" sample in London that saved their second album and became "The Crossover."