Murs Albums (7)
'Walk Like a Man'
Release Date 6/28/2005
Tracks 16
Label Legendary Music
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What The Critics Say
Murs' "Walk Like a Man," one of the standout tracks from Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition, eulogized a dead friend and commented on the futility of revenge. He also shot a half-hour film, basically a series of brief vignettes that begin with a pair of friends (played by Murs and Damien Wigfall) dreaming of making a living from their beats and rhymes. When Wigfall's character is gunned down after a confrontation with a jealous boyfriend, Murs' character has to decide how to channel his thirst for vengeance: with violence or with music. The DVD portion also includes a behind-the-scenes commentary, commentary from Murs himself, and the videos for three of his previous singles: "Bad Man," "H-U-S-T-L-E" (starring John Cena), and "Risky Business" (starring Shock G). A CD included in the program also isn't quite a soundtrack, but a series of exclusive tracks from Atmosphere, Blueprint, I Self Divine, and Murs himself. The film is rudimentary but effective (considering its budget), and the soundtrack is excellent -- most of the exclusives are high caliber, especially Blueprint's "Dead Presidents" and a remix of Murs' "H-U-S-T-L-E" featuring E-40, Chingo Bling, and John Cena. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Murs for President'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 15
Label Warner Bros.
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What The Critics Say
With a major-label contract on the line (not to mention that presumptive presidential nomination), Murs was obviously ready to put his best foot forward -- and yes, Murs for President is just as ambitious as the title indicates. With a parade of tracks -- message tracks, lovers tracks, just-hanging tracks, back-in-the-day tracks, treat-her-like-a-queen tracks, political-outrage tracks, comeback tracks (subtitled "Half a Million Dollars and 18 Months Later"), life-on-the-road tracks -- Murs apparently wants to be all things to all rap fans (not a bad quality in someone hungry for higher office). Such a variety of themes isn't new for the underground's most ambitious rapper; it's only appropriate for one of the best tale-spinners in hip-hop, a West Coaster who once looked up to fellow storytellers E-40 and Ice Cube. And by including a fair share of tracks produced by 9th Wonder, it's reasonable for fans to hope that Murs would be able to bring along everything that made him a critical part of the rap underground on his trip to the mainstream. But it's clear from listening that all the rough spots (read: interesting eccentricities) that made Murs so special in the past have been polished right out of this major-label product. Guest spots for new labelmate will.i.am and Snoop Dogg do little to further the album, and the productions, with a few each from 9th Wonder and DJ Quik associates, don't do much to captivate listeners either. As with politics from the past to the present, Murs for President is energy without subtlety, clearly lacking a sense of humor as well as the back-and-forth interplay of Murs' best records -- what you could call shades of gray, as opposed to black and white. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Murray's Revenge'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 10
Label Record Collection
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What The Critics Say
In the underground hip-hop realm there are two basic camps: the one that breaks away from mainstream rap in both style and content, and the other, whose themes and production techniques are closer to its more popular sister, but which also proudly embraces (or at least acknowledges) its independent status. Murs is one of the few artists who fall between the two groups. In Murray's Revenge, like in his 2004 release, Murs 3:16, his even-paced delivery shies away from ten-cent words and his songs often deal with the standard rap subjects -- a hard life, women, and his own talent -- but he is also unafraid to dispel some social constructs that many of his peers only help to perpetuate. In "Dreamchaser" he explains that the draw to gang life is because of a lack of positive opportunity ("We all chase money 'cause we scared to chase dreams"), and he discusses the difficulties of not fitting cleanly into racial stereotypes in "D.S.W.G. (Dark Skinned White Girls)," an issue that's fairly common in contemporary, diverse America. When Murs does slide into talking about himself and his skills -- a topic no true MC can avoid -- he's such a good storyteller that his boasting isn't boring, and he's also willing to admit the bad decisions he's made, creating a real sincerity in his rhymes. Some of the songs are meant to be didactic, but he's usually subtle enough to convey his message without being preachy ("For if a soul is avenged through the deeds of a friend/Then success has always been the best form of revenge"). It's not all seriousness, though; Murs has always been one for a chuckle, and there are some humorous tracks (the aptly named "Silly Girl," for example), but there's enough quality, content, and warm West Coast soul samples (courtesy of producer 9th Wonder) in Murray's Revenge to make it a good album that should please fans of any type of hip-hop. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
'Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition'
Release Date 3/23/2004
Tracks 10
Label Definitive Jux
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What The Critics Say
Virtually alone among contemporary rappers, Murs tells a straightforward story with every rap, and listeners looking for more to love following one of the most acclaimed rap records of 2003 (The End of the Beginning) will be glad to find ten more tracks of equal value on Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition. At some point during a hectic 2003 that saw him doing close to 200 shows, Murs decamped to North Carolina to join producer 9th Wonder (Little Brother) for that rare thing in post-gangsta rap -- a dedicated rapper/producer session. While he claims he's "more Coldplay than Ice-T," this is a gangsta record through and through, though one from the viewpoint of a common-man hustler who walks the grocery store parking lots ("H-U-S-T-L-E"), spits raps about not being able to pick up any women ("The Pain"), and drops a deft two-minute tale ("Trevor an' Them") about witnessing the most inept heist of all time. 9th Wonder's productions are the perfect balance for Murs' raps, spreading the '70s sweet soul samples all over the record and keeping the beats simple and chunky. Despite a few of his trademark entertaining tracks, Murs is dead serious on this record, eulogizing a friend on "Walk Like a Man" and laying out his sexual exploits (with far too many details) on "Freak These Tales." It's that balance of frankness and occasional humor that makes 3:16: The 9th Edition every bit the informed record that its predecessor was. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'The End of the Beginning'
Release Date 2/25/2003
Tracks 18
Label DeFinitive Jux
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
A ten-year hip-hop veteran, Murs doesn't want to be called an up-and-comer anymore, and he proves his maturity with one of the most refreshing rap records in years, an excellent debut for Definitive Jux named The End of the Beginning. 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. What immediately impresses about the album is the ample variety of moods and material: "The Night Before..." is a streets-is-watching nightmare with a vicious chorus ("Last night I almost got shot on my block/Not the block where I live at/The block where I chill at"), but a few tracks later, Murs is inviting Digital Underground's Shock-G over to his pad for "Risky Business," and looking on in disbelief as Shock's alter ego, Humpty Hump, wreaks more carnage than The Cat in the Hat (sample: "Yo, is your Dad's Rolls blue?/Cuz I got bad news..."). "Transitions az a Ridah" has him remembering good times on a skateboard and ordering a moment of silence for all his favorite spots, while Aesop Rock stops by for the deliriously stoned "Happy Pillz." Whether he's ordering past-their-prime rappers off the mic ("Please Leave") or stressing over how much his favorite action figures cost ("BT$"), Murs is the most entertaining, least affected rapper since Biz Markie, and with the skills of Ice Cube it's clear that unlike the Biz, he's no novelty act. As usual, he says it best, on "The Night Before...": "Now some claim gangsta rap's to see an end of the streets, but it's use is an excuse to pretend over beats/So I'm-a lend my speech to all within my reach to tell what really goes on, from sales to the streets." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
