Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	A-
Los Angeles Times
Rapreviews.com	9.5/10
Rhapsody	(favorable)
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Source
Spin	9/10
Sputnikmusic	5/5

Strictly Business is the debut album by golden age hip-hop duo EPMD. It was released on June 21, 1988, by Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records around the world and BCM Records in Germany. It peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200 soon after release, yet it earned an RIAA gold album certification within four months of its release. In addition, it has received much positive critical attention since its release. In 2003, the album was ranked number 459 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The album is known for its lighthearted party raps and funky sample-reliant production. The album has no guest emcees or producers except DJ K La Boss. The album is broken down track-by-track by the group in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.

Strictly Business peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Of its four singles, three landed on the UK Singles Chart and two reached the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Although none of the singles reached the Billboard Hot 100, the album was able to go gold within four months of its release. Initial reviews of the album were strong: Allmusic gave the album a five star rating calling the album "simply amazing".The Source assigned the album a 5-mike rating making it one of 43 albums to ever receive this rating.Robert Christgau also gave it an A- rating soon after its release.Strictly Business was also featured on various "best of 1988" lists. The Face ranked it as the third best album of the year, and ranked its title track as the 25th best single of the year.Sounds judged it to be the 50th best album of the year, while Spex ranked it as the 8th best.

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Wikipedia