Murs For President - Murs

Orizio

I'm sure I'm not the only Murs fan here, so what do ye think of his new album?

All of a sudden, after years with conscious rap increasingly marginalised and mocked, everyone is putting out politics themed Hip-Hop albums. Its one of the knock on effects of the US having its first presidential canditate with an African heritage, and has prodcued a sudden politcal awakening from some of Hip-Hop’s most popular MC’s like Nas and Young Jeezy, plus a plethora of songs aimed at Obama, like Nas’ Black President. Whether or not its a good thing, it seems like the rap world is jumping on the Obama bandwagon and talking about issues once largely ignored beyond committed MC’s like Boots RIley and Chuck D. And so we have Mur’s major label debut, entitled ‘Murs For President’, which on the surface at least seems to follow the latest political trend in Hip-Hop. Murs, an LA artist who has worked with a number of Hip-Hop stalwarts like Slug and most successfully 9th Wonder, is renowned for having an ‘everyman’ quality to his rhymes, a honest and earnest style that rejectss the pretensions of indie MCs and thuggery of commercial rappers. But will this ability to appeal to all ala Masta Ace be kept intact with Murs on a major label and with a new focus on political themes?

Maybe whats most suprising about ‘Murs For President’ is how little has changed. Considering Murs has gone to a major label, a change of sound or style might be expected but it seems largely like Murs has been given free rein to do what he wants, and a quick listen shows the album vibe to be what you expect, the familarity helped by the fact that 9th Wonder dominates behind the boards. For example tracks like ‘I’m Innocent’, ‘Love And Appreicate II’ and ‘Can It Be’ would fit in perfectly on any 9th/Murs collab album. At the same time, there is some nods to a more commercial sound, most notably on the will.i.am produced, and pretty nasty, ‘Lookin’ Fly’, which is a more then acceptable crack at getting Murs plays in clubs.The piano driven ‘Time Is Now’ with the gospel vocals on the hook is the kind of positive easy pop that radios love (Snoop nearly ruins it, but you can just zone his bull**** out and concentrate on the gorgeously smooth beat). There is even a nod back to a G-Funk vibe with ‘Think You Know Me’ and the R’n'B of ‘Sooo Comfortable’ throws a little more variety into the mix. Although this is very much a Murs album with the same simple soulful 9th beats, at the same time there is more commercial sound to some of the album’s production that is largely successful.

Link.

Boom_Bap

You're not the only Murs fan....new album is dope although not entirely happy with WillIAm and Snoop on the record. I dont think the sound that they bring compliments Murs and as you say, Snoop nearly ruins it. Not slating Snoop here....just doesnt fit right.

Other than that it's a thoroughly enjoyable record and its probably one that will be in my regular rotation for a while to come.

Orizio

Snoop's just **** these days really. No other way to put it.

I think I might be the only one to actually like that will.i.am track.

ghostface ste

Halfway through my first listen and really good so far. Not looking forward to the snoop and william tracks tho. Full review later.

Orizio

If your halfway through the album you should have already heard the will.i.am track. He only produces one track, he doesn't feature.

I mean seriously, dude's a nice producer...

ghostface ste

ooopppssss..... generally i dont have much time for will.i.am but have to admit that track was 'fly'. Really good beat, like the violins (i think its violins anyway) through the track. Snoop should just retire and go off somewhere, he adds nothing to the album

Orizio

Right, he is on the new Devin The Dude and offers nothing there either. Really just mumbles his way through verses now.

Boom_Bap

Does he spell out the S-n-double O P like he does on every other song? Cant remember if he does it on the Murs track?

ghostface ste

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Does he spell out the S-n-double O P like he does on every other song? Cant remember if he does it on the Murs track?

No sadly he just goes with the snoop d o double g on this track.

Listened to the album a few time now and very very good overall. Having said that there are 3 tracks that are really poor on the album - the snoop one, me and this jawn (whats a jawn???) and also soo comfortable. I really do not get how soo comfortable even made this album cos it fits in with nothing and is poor in every way. These 3 songs could have been left off and you'd be left with really tight 12 song album. Hope this does well commercially for Murs and he'll be back with more.

Orizio

I agree that a few tracks should have been cut, but I defintely wouldn't have cut Sooo Comfortable.

All Hip-Hop albums are too long really.