Although Escape is Whodini's second album, even avid fans of the group see it as their breakout. The group had worked with producer Thomas Dolby and German record producer Conny Plank on their self-titled debut album, but Escape is where everything came together.

It was the album where Whodini found not only the look that would define them, but they found their sound as well. That sound was a combination of the template of the drum machine-based production of the time, topped with the sophisticated musicianship of the late, great multi-instrumentalist and producer Larry Smith.

Jalil of Whodini told The Foundation that upon connecting with Larry and listening to potential tracks, "5 Minutes of Funk" was one of the very first that they worked on. "It was just the beat originally," he recalled. "We added some stuff together, the bassline was something I was just humming and he put the Funk on it with the mini moog. It was part rock guitar, and part bassline. When we went to Europe to lay the track he left the mini moog in New York, and I was real pissed. They couldn’t duplicate the sound of the mini moog. We were forced to go with the Jazz Fender Bass, which I like the sound of."

"5 Minutes of Funk" eventually became the lead single from Escape along with "Friends," The smash hit single received heavy daytime airplay and charted on urban music charts along with Ashford & Simpson, The Dazz Band and The Whispers, a rare feat for even a major label rap group at the time. "Friends" and "5 Minutes of Funk" played a pivotal role in both the anticipation and success of Escape.

"Freaks Come Out At Night," "Big Mouth," and the title track are highlights on an album that dealt with themes that were mature, but easy for the youth to relate to, combined with music that resonated with the streets and mature audiences as well. The multi-generational appeal of Whodini was established on Escape and continued throughout the group's recording career.