ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek: Erick Sermon Episode

Podcast: ROC Solid
Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Memphis Bleek
Guest: Erick Sermon (of EPMD, producer, label exec, “Green Eyed Bandit”)

Episode Overview

This episode of ROC Solid features an in-depth, wide-ranging conversation between legendary hip-hop producer/MC Erick Sermon and host Memphis Bleek. The discussion traces Sermon’s journey from Long Island and Brooklyn to hip-hop icon status, pivots through lessons on business and legacy in the industry, and explores unfiltered stories from EPMD, Def Squad, and beyond. The tone is candid, with a brotherly vibe throughout, blending laughter, insight, and moments of real vulnerability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Names, Legacy & Industry Relevance

• Name Pronunciation: Bleek jokes about everyone calling him “Eric Sherman”, a running misconception even among hip-hop peers. Sermon laughs it off, clarifying it’s “sermon, like a church sermon” (04:08).
• Longevity in the Game: Sermon emphasizes the blessing of still being respected and working since starting his career in 1987 (04:33).

  “To be here and still be able to… what they call relevancy, you know what I’m saying?” – Erick Sermon (04:53)

• Legend vs. Opportunity: Being called a legend garners respect, but not always business opportunities:

  “They give you respect, shake your hand… but that don’t mean they want to f*** with you.” (05:03)

2. Ownership, Publishing & Generational Wealth

• Catalog Sales: Debate over older and younger artists selling catalogs—immediate paydays vs. long-term stability (06:42–13:00).
  • Bleek evokes Jay-Z's advice:

    “I called my OG Hov… And he was like, I would never [sell publishing].” – Memphis Bleek (13:02)

  • Sermon lays out the math of taxes and fleeting nature of cash windfalls:

    “If you got a million, $400,000 is not yours.” – Erick Sermon (07:52)
    “Some rich man said that if you have $20 million liquid cash, you should be okay forever.” (10:14)

  • Both agree true generational wealth lies in assets, businesses, and catalogs that outlive oneself.

    “It’ll be worth more just passing down the catalog… They can’t blow it because it come forever.” – Bleek (12:31–12:42)

• Contrast with Old Money: Sermon points to white America (Macy's, Rothschilds) mastering generational financial hand-offs (11:10).

3. Early Life, Street Stories, and Coming Up

• Brooklyn/Long Island Roots: Sermon clarifies he’s from Long Island but spent time in Pink Houses, Brooklyn (15:07).
• Wild Story – Getting Robbed in Staten Island (18:30–26:54)
  • Sermon recounts being set up and robbed (his chain and Benzi Box stolen); embarrassed, he rides home with no music.
  • He returns the next weekend with “Hawk and Dog" and lets shots fly outside a club to send a message:

    “Pop the trunk… start letting off. Whole club just shot up… we had to make a statement.” – Erick Sermon (26:19–26:51)

4. Def Jam, EPMD & The Golden Era

• True Stories of the Come-Up:
  • The reality of driving a busted Camaro to drop off demos, leading to their signing at Sleeping Bag Records (28:34).
  • Being swept onto the Run-DMC tour bus and realizing their explosion with “You Gots to Chill” (30:27).
  • Bleek: “When them records came out, bro, those was the type of records that made me say, damn, I want to do this shit.” (31:41)
• Last Out the Gate: Sermon describes benefitting from learning from established greats (MC Lyte, Rakim, KRS, etc.) before EPMD broke (34:40–36:23).
• Long Island’s Hidden Influence: Sermon lists the output (Rakim, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Keith Murray)—all from LI (36:24).
• Image and Culture: Rappers once emulated street/fashion culture, which has since flipped:

  “Y’all looked… like drug dealers. …Before rappers came, the look was from the street.” – Erick Sermon (38:14)

5. Transition to Production & Building a Roster

• From MC/Group to Producer:
  • The EPMD breakup as a "gift and a curse” that opened new doors creatively and professionally (62:00).
  • Moved to Atlanta, worked with Dallas Austin (Rowdy Records), produced for Illegal and others, got a big Atlanta embrace (43:43–45:43).
  • Produced for a spectrum of R&B and hip-hop talent (Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo, Jodeci, etc.) (62:00–62:41).
• Mentoring & Missing Out on Big Names:
  • Sermon's roster: Redman, Keith Murray, Da Youngsta’s, Das EFX, K-Solo, Dave Hollister, and more (54:55–56:29).
  • Nearly signed Wu-Tang, Game, Luda, Rick Ross, even considered Notorious B.I.G.:

    “Rick Ross slept on my basement floor... Notorious B.I.G was brought to me at a barbershop in Brooklyn. I did not listen to him...” (57:34)

6. Producer Life & The Business of Sampling

• Stories of Sample Chasing & Beat Deals:
  • Sermon on the Just Blaze “React” beat and a $60K check (64:38).
  • Humorous gripes—he deserves $10K back from Just Blaze for the sample (65:11).
  • Sermon: “You’re not me.” (62:59)
• Producer-to-Producer Mentorship: He details passing down knowledge to Rockwilder and the DJ Twins, inspiring the next gen (63:19).
  • Bleek tries producing but admits: “I couldn’t get past the... tick on the MPC.” (62:55–63:50)

7. Generational Bridge & New Projects

• Dynamic Duos: Upcoming compilation featuring classic and modern hip-hop group collabs—Sermon details the challenge of clearing Biggie, Tupac, Nate Dogg, and others (77:18–78:59).
• Bridging Old & New: Volume 2 will feature more cross-generational pairings, pushing new artists in the spotlight (79:46–80:11).

8. Reflections, Character & Motivation

• Humble Legend: Sermon repeatedly deflects praise, referencing his mother’s selfless nature.

  “I just want people to know... I did a lot of shit for free. I gave half my money away.” (82:13)

• On Respect Over Loyalty:

  “Respect, you gotta own that… Loyalty can be faked.” – Erick Sermon (69:06)

• On Living in the Moment: Sermon admits not seeing his own legend status because he’s “living in it” (87:40).

9. Advice to the Next Generation

• Be Independent & Stay Authentic:

  “Try to own as much as you possibly can… and keep it 100 percent you… write about your own story.” (69:41–70:50)

• Handling Fame and the Hood Mentality: Honest chat on recognizing when you’re a liability or need to step back to not jeopardize the team (71:14).

10. What’s Next: Business Ventures & Community Effort

• Docuseries and Competition: “88 Fresh” documentary on Starz; “Beats and Bars” on Netflix—a national creative competition/mentorship show with Sway and Nails (88:44).
• Def Rugs: Custom rug business run by his sister, with clientele across sports and hip-hop (89:36).
• Unique Autosports: Car customization with partner Will; business expansion (90:15).
• Upcoming Boogie Nights Project: Showcasing underground/NY acts curated/produced by Sermon (91:10).
• Publishing Game Plan: Build a catalog and use new publishing as negotiable capital while holding the classic catalog (92:05–92:31).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Relevance and Opportunity:
  “Just ‘cause people call you a legend don’t mean they gonna want you at their table.” – Erick Sermon (05:03)
• On the Perils of Selling Out:
  “If you got a million, $400,000 is not yours.” – Erick Sermon (07:52)
• On Generational Wealth and Ownership:
  “Passing down the catalog… they can’t blow it because it come forever.” – Memphis Bleek (12:31)
• On The Breakup That Became a Blessing:
  “The breakup… was a gift and a curse, too, because once I broke up, I was able to become what I become.” – Erick Sermon (62:00)
• Advice for Young Artists:
  “Be independent, try to own as much as you possibly can so you can navigate… and keep it 100 percent you.” – Erick Sermon (69:41)
• On Respect:
  “Respect, you gotta own that.” – Erick Sermon (69:18)
• On Living in It:
  “You know why you can’t see it? ‘Cause you living in it.” – Memphis Bleek (87:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:47 – Introduction; legend status, relevance, and industry relationships
• 06:42–13:00 – The catalog debate: selling versus holding, generational wealth
• 15:07 – Sermon’s Brooklyn/Long Island roots, growing up stories
• 18:30, 26:19 – The “Benz Box” robbery and retaliation story
• 28:34 – Early EPMD/Def Jam/Run DMC tour anecdotes
• 43:43 – Move to ATL, launching solo and producer/exec career
• 54:55 – Hit Squad, roster building, missed signings (Wu-Tang, BIG, Game, Luda, Ross)
• 62:00 – Breakup as pivotal business moment/new career pathways
• 69:41 – Sermon’s advice for new artists: independence, authenticity, ownership
• 77:18–80:11 – Dynamic Duos album and philosophy
• 88:44 – TV/streaming projects (“88 Fresh”, “Beats and Bars”), Def Rugs, Unique Autosports
• 92:12–92:31 – Publishing/business game plan for artists

Conclusion: Sermon’s Place & Spirit

Erick Sermon emerges as a living bridge—between eras, between “the street” and the business, and between artists past and present. He balances humility and bravado, dropping both wild stories and deep game on creative longevity and enterprise. The episode is a blueprint for navigating hip-hop—how to hold your ground, expand your game, survive the trauma, and “keep it 100% you.”

For more on Erick Sermon, his new projects, and upcoming Dynamic Duos album, follow him and Memphis Bleek online, and watch for “Beats and Bars” and “88 Fresh” in 2026.

“You want this n**** to stop ‘cause he still eating?… No, you step your game up. Get in the ring.”
– Erick Sermon (81:43)