On July 22, 1997, a group called Company Flow, composed of Bigg Jus, Mr. Len, and a then-unknown El-P, released their debut and only official studio album, Funcrusher Plus.
Named after the group’s debut EP, the album features the underground hit 8 Steps To Perfection, as well as it’s B-side, Vital Nerve.
Some of the more popular tracks on the album other than the two mentioned are Bad Touch Example, Population Control, Definitive, The Fire In Which You Burn, and a song that is so personal and deep it would give any listener chills no matter how many times they listen to it. The song? Last Good Sleep, a story about El-P’s abusive stepfather.
Every track on the album was produced by El-P, except for Lune TNS, produced by Bigg Jus, Lencorcism, produced by Mr. Len, Funcrush Scratch, also produced by Mr. Len, and Last Good Sleep, produced by Mr. Len as well, though El-P does receive a co-production credit for that song.
As well as 8 Steps, another single from the album was released, called Blind, though it wasn’t as popular as the massive underground hit previously released by the trio.
Funcrusher Plus was met with critical acclaim upon release, mostly for it’s production and lyricism. Sadly, it would be Company Flow’s only official album. Their next album, 1999’s Little Johnny From The Hospitul, would not feature any rapping and would instead be an instrumental album.
Company Flow last performed live as a group in 2012.