MURS = NEXT
by Divalina of SMASH..
http://smashyaoutofthegame.blogspot.com/
Making Underground Real Shit. Lemme tell ya I got an immediate soft spot for acronyms, since I have my own media company called DOME (aka urban slang meaning
"brain") and also an acronym meaning Domain Of Music Evolution. So, I'm feeling MURS on his use of dimensional language. And the most exciting
part is, this is not the only thing about him that's completely next level.
First heard about this artist the same way you hear about all great music: word-of-mouth in the form of a passionate recommendation and a few mp3's from a trustworthy musichead homie. Still, only been about a year now that dude hit my overcrowded radar, so I'm part of this "new audience" he will successfully attract via the major label debut MURS For President that just dropped this past September. Despite the fact that he's been grinding in the underground since the mid-90's and has respectfully cultivated both universal critical acclaim and a well-established and incredibly loyal following (as clearly evidenced by the crowd at the El Rey Theatre on 12/11) over the last 12 or more albums released since 1997. I mean, slapping myself in the face right now for sleeping, LOL. These are the times when I miss Julio G and DJ Melo-D or Revolution in my life and mix like yo this joint is the business. Ya gotta respect the DJ, Always. But right now I'm on another page with music; hip-hop has for the most part lost me, my favorite new artist is a badass named Esperanza Spaulding who plays the upright bass.
You can always tell by the live show what's really goin on with an artist. It's the defining factor, every time. So after thoroughly people-watching this authentically progressive (and quite fine) audience that kanye would kinda die for, packed to capacity at the El Rey and connecting down to every word fists pumped in the air whole time, damn. Sure seemed like we were witnessing the arrival of somebody major. Like, whole paradigm shift major. And ya know, Maxwell's crowd had the exact same energy for his L.A. date at the Shrine Auditorium November 1st. Cuz Maxwell got that with his fans too, a true emotional connection that creates this unity through the music. I heart both Maxwell and MURS for their ability to do this, but what is most telling is their genuine humility towards their fans for the love. I remember Maxwell saying, " Wow, I haven't had an album out in five years, and you know the haters tried to hate….still I go on tour, and we sell every place out. I can't even begin to thank you." MURS on a similar vibe; saying repeatedly how much he appreciated the support.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is a two-way street.
What does it take to be the voice of a generation? We can certainly appreciate how this particular one speaks to his audience in an intelligent, thoughtful, humorous and positive way. Some of the best moments during his live show were hearing the stories before the songs- especially the one he told before launching into The OJ Song. I believe that one ended with him singing Alanis Morrisette's classic breakup jam, You Oughta Know at the top of his lungs....and I'm really not kidding. He made me laugh out loud several times. Meanwhile the underlying intelligence to it all is obvious, while armed with an album title that embodies a powerful statement considering the political atmosphere of the times and demonstrates an uncanny confidence in knowing what he ultimately represents: choice of the people. It's in total alignment with the energy and hope of his generation that's for sure. This is a group of people on the planet to change things, and quickly. What a relief. Reminds me of the emotions watching everyone vote for Obama: omg THANK GOD he's here!! Leaders um...please step up. Like, NOW!!!!! Much like Obama, there is a underlying spirit of progress. MURS? BEEN in it to change it. And man, actually might be able to in such extraordinary times, ya know? So pay attention. The future is now.
And finally, can't let it go unsaid that dude proudly reps THE. WEST. COAST. WHUT!
"I got to travel the world because of you," he said with humble adorableness to his loyal crowd at the El Rey. "Thank you. Thank you for takin' mixtapes around and telling people, 'this is how we do it in L.A.'". And with that Xzibit bounced to the stage, the place erupting in a frenzy. What an authentically Cali moment for carrying forward the love of real hip-hop, and rocking it west coast style! Loved it. Now more than ever it is important to know our history. I deeply appreciate that MURS reminds the younger generation in songs like The Science, the hip hop music you have come to know does not resemble its original form at all and oh, here's why. That's the teacher laying out the lesson plan like how KRS used to do it. Word.
In a recent interview with ARTISTdirect.com, when asked about his call for change and reform in society as a whole, MURS responded, "I think that's the general consensus of the mass consciousness. I think it's the shared mindset for the entire planet. Not too many people are happy with the way our society is going and hopefully I'm talking about the same things on my album that people talk about at home."
The majority of hip-hop and thus the authentic black culture it sprung from became (via the perfect storm of radio deregulation along with the corporate acquisitions of record companies during the nineties) an over exploited, manipulated, dumbed-down and downsized version of its true artistic roots. This music genre overwhelmingly transformed from a multidimensional creative movement used for social commentary, to a ten-second ring tone typically about either greed or drugs pimped out for profit margins. All in the space of less than ten years. Being at a high level and watching it all go down, fought the law and the law won, child. Heartbreaking. I took it personal. Why is our prevailing human mindset to poison our own climate in every way possible from our physical space to the clutter in our minds? It's a mystery.
When asked on sixshot.com if hip-hop had gotten better or worse, MURS had this to say: "That's like asking a man who loves his wife if he likes his wife better now than when he first married her twenty years ago. It's kind of disrespectful. If I had divorced hip-hop then I could comment on the relationship and say this and that, you know what I'm saying? I'm in love with hip-hop. I'm going to stay with hip-hop. Relationships are always going to change. If they don't change you're bound to cheat on her."
Still, the most interesting part of the show was the speech about downloading. It left me standing there with my mouth open. But then again, I'm an orphan of the "Music Industry". And this dude is on quite another page. So let me listen then.
After giving a brief analogy using Star Wars as a metaphor for how the audience revolted against the labels kinda like how it went down in a galaxy far, far away when The Empire Strikes Back (comedy) MURS shouts to the crowd, "How many of you have the internet?" You hear the room cheer loudly. "How many used it to steal my songs?" To even more cheers. Then the clincher: "Riiiiiight on! Go take it! I don't give a fuuuck!" And even went a step further, talking about an album he had made entirely for free and gave the destination online to go grab it.
Seriously I was like, WTF.
Either this cat understands in a way we do not for how his own business model fits into the new world of music piracy, or he is not serious at making a living at this. I'm not mad at anybody who isn't in it to get superpaid, so that's not what I'm sayin. I'm sayin, you have to value your art. Your copyrights are your real estate, your music is your intellectual property it came out ur brain and you deserve to be compensated for that talent, and just don't EVER give your land away, dog. Nah.
Which leads me to the total head-scratcher of the situation, and that's the Major Label Decision by MURS. Does he need one? This is officially my case study. And the most interesting question of all is why our man chose Warner Brothers from the limited universe of conglomerates available. Wonder who signed him. Letting that label set the stage for a true takeover is risky considering the particular climate in not only the music industry in general, but this company specifically right now. They've been struggling to break ANY new artists, for years. Errybody in the game can tell you that. And are the wackness with urban artists, too. They insist on 360 deals. And then there's the subject of Lyor Cohn. Enough said. But it's a mystery that I would like to get to the bottom of , trust. As we passionately ramp up the campaigning on MURS for President. The next major force in hip-hop, hands down.
So letcha soul glow!
Return to Davey D's Hip Hop Corner
First heard about this artist the same way you hear about all great music: word-of-mouth in the form of a passionate recommendation and a few mp3's from a trustworthy musichead homie. Still, only been about a year now that dude hit my overcrowded radar, so I'm part of this "new audience" he will successfully attract via the major label debut MURS For President that just dropped this past September. Despite the fact that he's been grinding in the underground since the mid-90's and has respectfully cultivated both universal critical acclaim and a well-established and incredibly loyal following (as clearly evidenced by the crowd at the El Rey Theatre on 12/11) over the last 12 or more albums released since 1997. I mean, slapping myself in the face right now for sleeping, LOL. These are the times when I miss Julio G and DJ Melo-D or Revolution in my life and mix like yo this joint is the business. Ya gotta respect the DJ, Always. But right now I'm on another page with music; hip-hop has for the most part lost me, my favorite new artist is a badass named Esperanza Spaulding who plays the upright bass.
You can always tell by the live show what's really goin on with an artist. It's the defining factor, every time. So after thoroughly people-watching this authentically progressive (and quite fine) audience that kanye would kinda die for, packed to capacity at the El Rey and connecting down to every word fists pumped in the air whole time, damn. Sure seemed like we were witnessing the arrival of somebody major. Like, whole paradigm shift major. And ya know, Maxwell's crowd had the exact same energy for his L.A. date at the Shrine Auditorium November 1st. Cuz Maxwell got that with his fans too, a true emotional connection that creates this unity through the music. I heart both Maxwell and MURS for their ability to do this, but what is most telling is their genuine humility towards their fans for the love. I remember Maxwell saying, " Wow, I haven't had an album out in five years, and you know the haters tried to hate….still I go on tour, and we sell every place out. I can't even begin to thank you." MURS on a similar vibe; saying repeatedly how much he appreciated the support.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is a two-way street.
What does it take to be the voice of a generation? We can certainly appreciate how this particular one speaks to his audience in an intelligent, thoughtful, humorous and positive way. Some of the best moments during his live show were hearing the stories before the songs- especially the one he told before launching into The OJ Song. I believe that one ended with him singing Alanis Morrisette's classic breakup jam, You Oughta Know at the top of his lungs....and I'm really not kidding. He made me laugh out loud several times. Meanwhile the underlying intelligence to it all is obvious, while armed with an album title that embodies a powerful statement considering the political atmosphere of the times and demonstrates an uncanny confidence in knowing what he ultimately represents: choice of the people. It's in total alignment with the energy and hope of his generation that's for sure. This is a group of people on the planet to change things, and quickly. What a relief. Reminds me of the emotions watching everyone vote for Obama: omg THANK GOD he's here!! Leaders um...please step up. Like, NOW!!!!! Much like Obama, there is a underlying spirit of progress. MURS? BEEN in it to change it. And man, actually might be able to in such extraordinary times, ya know? So pay attention. The future is now.
And finally, can't let it go unsaid that dude proudly reps THE. WEST. COAST. WHUT!
"I got to travel the world because of you," he said with humble adorableness to his loyal crowd at the El Rey. "Thank you. Thank you for takin' mixtapes around and telling people, 'this is how we do it in L.A.'". And with that Xzibit bounced to the stage, the place erupting in a frenzy. What an authentically Cali moment for carrying forward the love of real hip-hop, and rocking it west coast style! Loved it. Now more than ever it is important to know our history. I deeply appreciate that MURS reminds the younger generation in songs like The Science, the hip hop music you have come to know does not resemble its original form at all and oh, here's why. That's the teacher laying out the lesson plan like how KRS used to do it. Word.
In a recent interview with ARTISTdirect.com, when asked about his call for change and reform in society as a whole, MURS responded, "I think that's the general consensus of the mass consciousness. I think it's the shared mindset for the entire planet. Not too many people are happy with the way our society is going and hopefully I'm talking about the same things on my album that people talk about at home."
The majority of hip-hop and thus the authentic black culture it sprung from became (via the perfect storm of radio deregulation along with the corporate acquisitions of record companies during the nineties) an over exploited, manipulated, dumbed-down and downsized version of its true artistic roots. This music genre overwhelmingly transformed from a multidimensional creative movement used for social commentary, to a ten-second ring tone typically about either greed or drugs pimped out for profit margins. All in the space of less than ten years. Being at a high level and watching it all go down, fought the law and the law won, child. Heartbreaking. I took it personal. Why is our prevailing human mindset to poison our own climate in every way possible from our physical space to the clutter in our minds? It's a mystery.
When asked on sixshot.com if hip-hop had gotten better or worse, MURS had this to say: "That's like asking a man who loves his wife if he likes his wife better now than when he first married her twenty years ago. It's kind of disrespectful. If I had divorced hip-hop then I could comment on the relationship and say this and that, you know what I'm saying? I'm in love with hip-hop. I'm going to stay with hip-hop. Relationships are always going to change. If they don't change you're bound to cheat on her."
Still, the most interesting part of the show was the speech about downloading. It left me standing there with my mouth open. But then again, I'm an orphan of the "Music Industry". And this dude is on quite another page. So let me listen then.
After giving a brief analogy using Star Wars as a metaphor for how the audience revolted against the labels kinda like how it went down in a galaxy far, far away when The Empire Strikes Back (comedy) MURS shouts to the crowd, "How many of you have the internet?" You hear the room cheer loudly. "How many used it to steal my songs?" To even more cheers. Then the clincher: "Riiiiiight on! Go take it! I don't give a fuuuck!" And even went a step further, talking about an album he had made entirely for free and gave the destination online to go grab it.
Seriously I was like, WTF.
Either this cat understands in a way we do not for how his own business model fits into the new world of music piracy, or he is not serious at making a living at this. I'm not mad at anybody who isn't in it to get superpaid, so that's not what I'm sayin. I'm sayin, you have to value your art. Your copyrights are your real estate, your music is your intellectual property it came out ur brain and you deserve to be compensated for that talent, and just don't EVER give your land away, dog. Nah.
Which leads me to the total head-scratcher of the situation, and that's the Major Label Decision by MURS. Does he need one? This is officially my case study. And the most interesting question of all is why our man chose Warner Brothers from the limited universe of conglomerates available. Wonder who signed him. Letting that label set the stage for a true takeover is risky considering the particular climate in not only the music industry in general, but this company specifically right now. They've been struggling to break ANY new artists, for years. Errybody in the game can tell you that. And are the wackness with urban artists, too. They insist on 360 deals. And then there's the subject of Lyor Cohn. Enough said. But it's a mystery that I would like to get to the bottom of , trust. As we passionately ramp up the campaigning on MURS for President. The next major force in hip-hop, hands down.
So letcha soul glow!
Return to Davey D's Hip Hop Corner
