MURS
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| MURS | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nick Carter |
| Also known as | Patch Cannon |
| Born | March 16, 1978 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Hip Hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 1997 – Present |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros. Records Definitive Jux Record Collection |
| Associated acts | Living Legends, Felt, 9th Wonder, The Netherworlds, 3 Melancholy Gypsys |
| Website | www.murs316.net |
- This article is about the rapper. The acronym MURS is also used for Multi-Use Radio Service.
MURS (aka Patch Cannon) (born Nick Carter on March 16, 1978 in Los Angeles, California) is a West Coast underground rapper. He is signed to the independent label Record Collection and is a member of the rap groups Living Legends, Felt, the 3 Melancholy Gypsys, and previously the "elusive" Log Cabin crew. The name 'MURS' is an acronym for Making Underground Raw Shit. He hails from the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mid-City.
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[edit] Career
MURS has released several solo records: F'Real (1997), Good Music (1999), MURS Rules the World (2000), MURS is My Best Friend, Varsity Blues, The End of the Beginning (2003), MURS 3:16-The 9th Edition (2004), and Murray's Revenge (2006). He has collaborated with many artists including Shock G, Humpty Hump (of Digital Underground), Slug, Whole Wheat Bread, El-P, Aesop Rock, Cip-One, RJD2, Hieroglyphics, Little Brother & 9th Wonder, E-40, John Cena, Mr. Lif, Jean Grae, Freestyle Fellowship, DJ Z-Trip, Chingo Bling, Shing02 and many more. Plus he has just recently appeared on L.A. metal/hardcore band Terror's new album Always The Hard Way (2006).
His track "L.A." from his most recent album Murray's Revenge, is set to appear in the soundtrack of the latest incarnation of the popular EA made NBA Basketball series, NBA Live 2007.[1] His track Dreadlocks was also featured on the NFL Madden 08. Aside from music, MURS is also a host of Current TV. MURS also was featured on The Breakdown, an online hip hop network.
MURS recently released Felt, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet with Slug and the DVD/CD combo Walk Like A Man. He also released a follow-up album to Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition with producer 9th Wonder entitled Murray's Revenge which was released on March 21, 2006. Murray's Revenge features appearances by Big Pooh of Little Brother and Joe Scudda of the Justus League.
MURS is now signed to Warner Bros. Records, and managed by Stampede Management. His seventh solo album titled MURS for President is set be released in 2008.[citation needed] The track "Dreadlocks" is featured in the latest EA-made NFL Football game, Madden NFL 2008.
[edit] Album reviews
The March 22, 2006, review of Murray's Revenge in Pitchforkmedia, hailed MURS for his unique sound, awarding him a 7 out of 10 rating.
Murs may not inspire myspace shrines like Slug or blog jack-offs like Ghostface, but he's once again made a record that should not alienate fans of either. Maybe that makes him the Broken Social Scene of hip-hop, I don't know, but with the kind of production from 9th Wonder that seems to improve when removed from the comforts of Little Brother, Murray's Revenge is one of the better gang-unrelated and Dre-unaffiliated records to come from the West Coast since Murs' last one.[2]
And the March 16, 2004, again on Pitchforkmedia, MURS was awarded an 8.1 for Murs 3:16 - The 9th Edition, explaining:
In what could stand to be a strong year for independent hip-hop, Murs could easily sneak into a few lists with his 9th Edition.[3]
A year earlier, Pitchforkmedia awarded MURS a 7.7, for The End of the Beginning, expounding, "Still, the album does have its missteps. "Transitionz Az a Ridah" is Murs' ode to skateboarding, rapped over the ambient sounds of a skate park. Creative? Sure. Hella good? Nope." However, the reviewer also clarifies his opinion with, "Nonetheless, the album becomes a good starting point for any newbie to Murs' discography. Completely positive and straightforward, he has created the soundtrack for any 9-5er hoping for some hip-hop salvation from a schedule that doesn't permit time for the density of other Def Jux releases."[4]
[edit] Group collaborations
- 3 Melancholy Gypsys ( 3MG ) - 3MG was formed with fellow high school classmates Scarub (vocals) and Eligh (vocals/producing). All three would later go on to join the underground group know as the Living Legends. MURS doesn't see a reprise of 3MG. In the HipHopHeadz interview, he said, "Except for Slug, I don't see myself working with anybody in the near-future. I want to be in control. I want to do what I want to do. Every project I've been a part of, I feel like I was never been able to do what I wanted to do. I want 150% creative control, even though I know that's not a real percentage, but I have to get this out of my system. Then we can talk about a new 3MG album."[5]
- Living Legends - LL consists of Sunspot Jonz, Luckyiam, The Grouch, Scarub, Eligh, AESOP, Bicasso, Arata and MURS. They joined forces in 1996, while several members were still living in Oakland, CA. The members eventually migrated south to Los Angeles, CA. Although still a member, MURS no longer tours or works with the group although he appeared with them this summer on the Paid Dues Tour.[6] He denies there is any friction in the group, and attributes the lack of firsthand involvement to them being "together for ten years and everybody is creating their own thing."[7]
- Felt - A hip hop duo formed by MURS and rapper Slug (Atmosphere). As Felt they have released two albums and toured together to support the albums.
- The Netherworlds - A hip hop group consisting of MURS, producer Anacron, and rapper Himself.
- The Invincible(s) - A hip hop / rock group formed by MURS and Whole Wheat Bread debuted at the 2008 Coachella music.[8]
In 2007, MURS was featured on "The Breakdown", a show on [9] where he discussed his LP with 9th Wonder, a new movie, the start of a Hip Hop Festival Tour, his start in hip hop, as well as other topics.
[edit] Influences
The bulk of the lyrics relate directly to MURS' personal experiences. In this vein, MURS lampoons the pigeonholes that MCs are known to fall into. He describes his music as "Sitcom Rap," because he's "able to take elements from everyday life and make it entertaining."[10] He often worries that his lyrics are "going over people's heads."[11]
MURS is a firm believer in bringing all races together through his music, and "pro-black rappers are doing it wrong. If you're dissing white people and 80% of the crowd is white, then you probably shouldn't do it because it's just disrespectful and you're making money off of shock value."[12]
Women are a common theme for MURS. He seeks inspiration from his real life. In an interview for HipHopHeadz, he said, "I guess that's one of the benefits to having this crazy life. I get to meet all types of girls and my friends get to meet all types of girls.[13]
Along with his "friends," MURS' biggest influences include E-40, Jay-Z and Sublime.[14] While most musicians are anti-filesharing, MURS is not one of them. He doesn't want his fans to "feel bad if you downloaded the album. I really don't give a fuck. Hopefully you can take something away from what I said and find something to laugh about. That'd be great."[15]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1997 - F'Real
- 1999 - Good Music
- 2000 - Murs Rules the World
- 2001 - Murs Is My Best Friend
- 2002 - Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci (with Slug)
- 2003 - The End of the Beginning
- 2004 - Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition (with 9th Wonder)
- 2005 - Grand Caravan to the Rim of the World (with 3 Melancholy Gypsys)
- 2005 - Felt, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet (with Slug)
- 2006 - Murray's Revenge (with 9th Wonder)
- 2008 - Murs for President
- 2008 - Sweet Lord (with 9th Wonder)
[edit] Merchandise
Murs merchandise can be purchased by at http://store.warnerbrosrecordsstore.com.
[edit] Compilations
- 2005 - Walk Like A Man - Various
- 2005 - The Genocide in Sudan - Various
[edit] EPs
- 1996 - Bac for No Good Reason EP (with 3 Melancholy Gypsys)
- 1996 - Comurshul EP (with 3 Melancholy Gypsys)
- 1999 - 3:16 the EP
- 2000 - Do More + Yeah EP
- 2002 - Varsity Blues EP
[edit] Featurings
- 2008 - "Busy P - To Protect And Entertain (appears on Ed Rec Volume III)
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6157849.html
- ^ Murs & 9th Wonder: Murray's Revenge: Pitchfork Record Review
- ^ Murs: Murs 3:16 - The 9th Edition: Pitchfork Record Review
- ^ Murs: The End of the Beginning: Pitchfork Record Review
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
- ^ Punknews.org - Whole Wheat Bread and Murs form the Invincible(s)
- ^ http://www.itshiphop.tv ItsHipHop.tv
- ^ Definitive Jux | Murs
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
- ^ Definitive Jux | Murs
- ^ Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz
[edit] External links
- ONLOQ.com Video Interview
- AllHipHop.com Interview
- HipHopGame.com Interview
- Synthesis Magazine interview with Slug and Murs
- Biography of Murs at Current TV
- XXL Interview
- "Murray's Revenge" Review
- MURS Myspace Homepage
- MURS podcast interview from Synthesis (magazine)
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