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Murs

Murs for President

He is the only rapper with his own music festival. Each album he releases sells more than its predecessor. He toured the world without having a major record deal. So, theres a reason why independent rap stalwart Murs decided to name his major label debut album Murs For President. Murs wants to be raps leader and spokesperson, the artist who helps give rap a credible face to fans, the media and critics. After all, the Los Angeles rapper is articulate and well read. He doesnt use drugs and his platform consists of peace, love, unity and having fun. Let me speak for hip-hop. Im the one guy who is qualified to represent us to the masses -- which are obviously tired of us because hip-hop often cant sell records. It can only sell ringtones. Its become a mockery of itself. Its become club music. For us to lead back into the marketplace and to be a respected art form, I feel that Im the most qualified person. Its time for hip-hop to have a change. From front to back, the eclectic, genre-bending, politically charged, musically adventurous Murs For President illustrates a change of direction for rap. The vibrant, optimistic Can It Be marks Murs return to music, and his dedication to make a change for the better with his words and through his influence on others. The bouncy, horn-propelled Looking Fly finds Murs paying homage to his forward-thinking fashion sense, while Science breaks down blacks history in the United States and how it is tied to hip-hops evolution. As he has done on his earlier albums -- which include such acclaimed releases as Murrays Revenge and Murs 3:16 The 9th Edition -- Murs examines his own love life on several Murs For President cuts. The angst-filled Part Of Me documents the immediate, often turbulent time when a relationship dissolves, while the soulful Breakin Up details the mixed feelings people have once they have some distance from what had been a long-term relationship. For Murs, it is important to make credible relationship songs because so few exist in rap. For young black males, being in love has such a negative connotation, he explains. Usually, your mother has been screwed over by some guy. The first time you get hurt by a girl, you use that as your reason to mistreat women for the next 20, 30 years of your life. Im trying to hold up the mirror to myself. Indeed, part of Murs background is the reality that he was raised in the gang-infested streets of Los Angeles. Thus, hes a product of and fan of gangster rap. Murs pays homage to his citys love for heavy funk on Comfortable, which features hardcore rap crooner Kokane and documents Murs cruising throughout Southern Californias streets in his 96 Cadillac. Then, on the heavy You Think You Know Me, Murs raps from the perspective of a Crip, a Blood and a Cholo, showing that gangbangers often have more to their lives than their street affiliations. I know a lot of great men who, at first glance, you might be scared to death of, or you might not want to give a job to, he says. But, theyre trustworthy. Theyre loyal to a fault. If you show them a little bit of love and trust and let their family grow, then theyre going to be loyal. Being that Murs had the time and resources to record an album on a major label, he wanted Murs For President to explore all aspects of his personality. Thus, he worked with a variety of artists and producers, from Snoop Dogg to punk band Whole Wheat Bread to will.i.am to DJ Premier and DJ Quik. This one is for all the marbles, Murs reveals. If this dont go, it dont go. This is it for me. Im almost 30. Ive been doing this forever and if I dont know how to do it by now and I cant make a platinum record, Ive failed. If I cant get a Grammy, sell a million records and initiate some type of change in the culture and the music that I love, then its time for me to step aside. Murs is so passionate about his music and his place in the rap pantheon because hes one of raps best independent success stories. As a member of the Living Legends, Murs learned the art of independent self-promotion by selling cassette tapes of his music out of his car and touring with Living Legends in Europe and Japan. Given his underground status, Murs also embraced the power of the Internet long before most artists realized the power of the burgeoning medium. When rappers were screaming dont download, I was screaming, Do it, because that was the only reason people would know my music in Texas and I could go do a show there and that would get me paid, Murs explains. I needed them to go to the show so they could buy the T-shirt and get on my mailing list so I could build something. Theres not many rappers who have built their fanbase like that. Through the Internet, touring and his flurry of independent releases with Living Legends, with producer extraordinaire 9th Wonder, as one-half of Felt (with Atmospheres Slug) and as a solo artist, Murs has become one of raps best success stories. His Paid Dues makes him the only rapper to own his own music festival. But for Murs, the success of Murs For President will dictate his legacy. My whole life, Ive been trying to be Ice Cube, Murs says. The little stuff that Ive got that people trip off of, Im not even tripping off of because Shaquille ONeal has a platinum plaque and I dont -- and I call myself a rapper. That hurts my feelings when I wake up in the morning. Thats what Im here to get. Im making a decision to leave Planet Underground Hip-Hop. Im jumping off right now. Whoever wants to come with me, come with me. And be sure to vote Murs For President.
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