Hit Squad emerged as a pivotal East Coast hip hop collective in the 1990s, founded by EPMD's Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. The group brought together influential rap talents including Redman, Das EFX, and K-Solo, establishing themselves as key players in the era's dynamic hip hop production and collaborative sound. Their work exemplified the East Coast's signature production style and helped define the collective model within hip hop.
Following EPMD's initial breakup in 1993, the collective evolved with Sermon transitioning to lead Def Squad while Smith continued developing the Hit Squad brand. The group's legacy remains rooted in their contributions to 1990s East Coast hip hop production and their influence on the collaborative artist collective format that would shape electronic and hip hop music for decades to come.
