spunkybean - What The Kids Like: Murs (Oct 1)

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What The Kids Like: Murs (Oct 1)

Written by Kevin Miller

Wednesday, 01 October 2008 14:00

Rap music. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's the best genre of music there is right now. Unfortunately, it's also the worst, with garbage like this and this (notice a pattern?). But malarkey like that doesn't represent the whole genre of hip hop.

I know, I know. I sound like a broken record or whatever that is. I don't know, I don't really know what a "record" is anyway. But anyway, I know I sound like a broken whatever. I say rap music is great, blah blah blah. And sure, you're fifty years old, so you grew up in the heyday of rap: NWA, Run DMC, etc etc. But are you caught up on the new artists? Yes, I know Ice Cube released a new CD -- I was supposed to review it. But I didn't because I was too busy listening to other rap.

I've dedicated a whole article to Atmosphere already, so I can't write about them again. But I can write about one of my new favorites: Murs. Murs is a rapper from L.A. who has been around in the underground scene for a long time. He started out in a group called 3 Melancholy Gypsies, which was pretty good. Then that group joined others to form the Living Legends. Both groups have released some great albums, but Murs has stopped working with both in order to focus on his solo career.

Murs has released some great records on his own. His most recent, Murs For President, was released a few days ago. It's not his best work, so I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point. Sure, it's good, but it's far from great.

I would probably recommend that you start with 2003's The End of the Beginning. John Bush, in his review at allmusic.com, says "he proves his maturity with one of the most refreshing rap records in years... Murs has an old-school flow that recalls Ice Cube, and unlike many in underground rap, he's not only got a clever delivery but a lot to say". You know how Lil Wayne constantly claims to be the best rapper alive? He's wrong. I'm not saying Murs is the best rapper alive, but I am saying that he's a tad bit better than Lil Wayne. Murs has the ability to rap so we can understand what he is saying. Lil Wayne doesn't. Soulja Boy doesn't, kind of. It's just mumbling. Murs is intelligible. Now, he's not the fastest rapper there is, but fast doesn't always equal great. It's impressive when someone can rap extremely fast, but it's also impressive when someone can rap at regular speed with great lyrics. And that's what Murs does.

But it's not all about lyrics. The beats are great too. Murs has collaborated with producer 9th Wonder a few times and whenever they get together the music is explosive. The beats complement the lyrics, the lyrics complement the beats. It's phenomenal rap music.

But back to The End of the Beginning. Take the song "Got Damned?" for example. The opening verse of the song is one of my favorites on the whole album:

One of a kind so there's nobody like me

And I guess that's the reason that nobody likes me

Or is it that I don't like anybody else?

Can't quite figure it out so I keep to myself

Too street for the sheltered underground fan

Too intelligent for play on your FM band

So I thought to crossover, but I left them plans

My resolve's to do me and do the best I can

And yes I am, aware that most of my fans are white

But I love em all, scope em, and open 'em when I write

Some may chastise, from the side, crack jokes

Say I'm not black cause I rep with white folks

Man please!

I hear the hate in your voice when you say it

So I'm a keep making music for whoever wants to play it

If I don't go gold then my people say I flopped

But if I go triple platinum then I'm not hip-hop.

Or there is "Transitions az a Ridah", a song about skateboarding:

Now I heard that heaven is a half-pipe

Well that's only half right

You don't have to skate vert to find your heaven on this earth

You can skate a parking lot and see it all for what it's worth

Heel flip 12 stairs and still receive your share

Hardware to the wood no risers at all

On the low life skate before the bling was involved

Now they got platinum chains to match their rings

Understand I'm not hatin' I'm just saying that it's strange

That Hosoi's locked up, Tony Hawk's got a game

And though everything has changed I still love it the same

Sixteen years later still doing my thing

This goes all to my riders who don't gang bang.

The chorus is great too; very similar to something out of a Saul Williams song. So Murs is versatile. He can say something meaningful, as he does in quite a few songs, or he can say something that's just plain fun. His song "BT$", for example, means Big Time Spender. It's about how he loves spending money, even though he doesn't have tons of it. And what does he spend his money on? Clothes, Star Wars Episode Two action figures, you know, the typical rap culture stuff.

Murs doesn't stick to one topic or theme for his raps. Some songs are love songs (and great love songs to be honest). Some are "message" songs. Some are about barbershops, some are about dark skinned white girls. Some serious, some fun. He's serious, fun, and in my eyes, one of the best rappers out right now. Just forget about Murs for President. That CD really didn't do anything for me. It's a step down compared to most of his releases.

So put away the Sugarhill Gang or Boogie Down Productions and pick up some new rap that blows most 80s rap away. Yes, you can still listen to the Beastie Boys and Eric B. and Rakim, but the new school of rap is in session and can teach you a thing or two. Trust me. It's for the better.