ENGUMAZ: Both originating from Brooklyn, they teamed up while in college at Virginia State University. After coming in second place at a talent contest judged by EPMD, Parrish Smith of EPMD signed the duo to their label. Joining EPMD's burgeoning Hit Squad group of rappers. they quickly rose to the forefront of the hardcore rap scene. Their first offering, Dead Serious, cut right to the chase, introducing a new style of rap with fast lyrics often interspersing the word "diggety" throughout their rhymes. Dead Serious eventually went platinum. Their second release, Straight Up Sewaside, appeared the following year, followed by 1995's Hold It Down. The group was derailed by the popularity of their own style, which was often copied by others, making the originators less potent.