Higgedy happy anniversary to diggedy Das EFX. Introduced to world as part of EPMD’s trailblazing Hit Squad crew 25 years ago, Das erupted on the national hip-hop scene with little to no warning. The duo from Brooklyn and New Jersey made maximum impact, rising with unparalleled force from the sewer to the most elite zip code in Beverly Hills.

Skoob and Crazy Drayz had the storybook start to their career. While attending Virginia State as students in the early 90s, they were discovered during a talent show by EPMD, one of rap’s premiere groups of all time and especially at that time. Eric Sermon and Parish Smith were hotter than Russell Westbrook on a consecutive game triple double streak. On April 7 of 1992, Das released their debut LP Dead Serious and not only went platinum, but their “iggedy” style became so influential, many of their peers unapologetically bit it and eventually watered it down so much, Das would abandon it–to their detriment–for a long while.

Drayz and the Books-In-Reverse were more than just a uber credible rap style gimmick though. Their sound was underground; it wasn’t gutta, it was sewer. But despite the stern come across of their album title, Das was hardcore but fun, really humorous with their pop culture references. They could be in the middle of some hellacious bars then start Lion-O’s “Thundercat” call and summon.

Yesterday (April 6) at New York’s B.B. King’s, Das EFX celebrated 25 years to day of their debut LP dropping with a anniversary concert. DJ Scratch and AZ opened up separately for the duo and towards the end of their set, the group would bring out Lost Boyz’s Mr. Cheeks and Large Professor.

Das themselves opened up with “Straight From The Sewer,” “East Coast” and arguably their best song ever “Mic Checka.”

“It’s been a long time, y’all look good,” Drayz said. They then went into a classic b-side cut “Hard Like A Criminal” where the two role-play as party-goers who get into conflict and Skoob actually shoots his rhyme partner on record.

It didn’t take too long for Das to diggedy dig into their catalog and search elsewhere for gems to perform for their audience. “Freak It” from Straight Up Sewaside came early on in the set list as well.

“I don’t know what album that was from,” Drayz admitted. “As you can see, we ain’t sticking to the whole Dead Serious thing.” They also jumped into Hold It Down‘s “Real Hip-Hop” but did give light to Dead Serious‘ “Loosi” and “Jussamen.”

Derek Lynch from the production duo Solid Scheme who help craft most of Das’ first opus played hype man to the random for the entire show. Of course, the concert’s finale was “They Want EFX,” the same record Dave Chappelle rapped on Chappelle’s Show and Brian Austin Greene rhymed along to on 90210, forever cementing Das in the pop culture lexicon. This got the biggest reaction from the crowd and most energetic performance from Das of the night.

Before they left the stage, Skoob told the crowd he and his rap accomplice hope to go for another 25 years.