MURS

Infobox musical artist |
Name = MURS


Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Nick Carter
Born = birth date and age|1978|3|16
Died =
Origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = Rapper
Years_active = 1997 – Present
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Definitive Jux
Record Collection
Associated_acts = Living Legends, Felt, 9th Wonder, The Netherworlds, 3 Melancholy Gypsys
URL = [http://www.mursmusic.com/ www.mursmusic.com/]
Notable_instruments =

:"This article is about the rapper. The acronym MURS is also used for Multi-Use Radio Service."

MURS (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.

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), Murray's Revenge (2006), and Murs For President (2008). He has collaborated with many artists including Will.I.Am, Shock G, Humpty Hump (of Digital Underground), Slug, Whole Wheat Bread, Snoop Dogg, 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, The Game and many more. He also appeared on L.A. metal/hardcore band Terror's album Always The Hard Way (2006).

His track "L.A." from his album "Murray's Revenge", appeared in the soundtrack of the popular EA made NBA Basketball series, NBA Live 2007. [ [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6157849.html EA unveils NBA Live 07 tracks - PlayStation 3 News at GameSpot ] ] 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 [http://onloq.com/channels/the-breakdown/52/ The Breakdown] , an online hip hop network.

MURS released with Slug and the DVD/CD combo Walk Like a Man. He also released a follow-up album to with producer 9th Wonder entitled "Murray's Revenge" which was released on March 21, 2006.

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 Sept 30th 2008. The album, featuring tracks, "Can it Be" and "Me and This Jawn," is now available for preorder at [http://mursmusic.com/preorder mursmusic.com/preorder]

The track "Dreadlocks" is featured in the EA-made NFL Football game, Madden NFL 2008.

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." [http://my.opera.com/hiphopheadz/blog/show.dml/198648 Murs Interview - HipHopHeads - by HipHopHeadz ] ]

*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. 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."

*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. [ [http://www.punknews.org/article/28924 Punknews.org - Whole Wheat Bread and Murs form the Invincible(s)] ]

In 2007, MURS was featured on [http://www.itshiphop.tv/shows/thebreakdown/2/6 "The Breakdown"] , a show on [http://www.itshiphop.tv ItsHipHop.tv] 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.

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." [ [http://www.definitivejux.net/jukies/murs/ Definitive Jux | Murs ] ] He often worries that his lyrics are "going over people's heads."

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."

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.

Along with his "friends," MURS' biggest influences include E-40, Jay-Z and Sublime. [ [http://www.definitivejux.net/jukies/murs/. Definitive Jux | Murs ] ] 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."

Discography

Albums

*1997 - "F'Real"
*1999 - "Good Music"
*2000 - "Murs Rules the World"
*2001 - "Murs Is My Best Friend"
*2002 - "" (with Slug)
*2003 - "The End of the Beginning"
*2004 - "" (with 9th Wonder)
*2005 - "Grand Caravan to the Rim of the World" (with 3 Melancholy Gypsys)
*2005 - "" (with Slug)
*2006 - "Murray's Revenge" (with 9th Wonder)
*2007 - ""
*2008 - "Sweet Lord (with 9th Wonder)
*2008 - "Murs for President

Compilations

*2005 - "Walk Like a Man" - Various
*2005 - "The Genocide in Sudan" - Various

EPs

*1996 - "Bac for No Good Reason EP" (with 3 Melancholy Gypsys)
*1996 - "Comurshul EP" (with 3 Melancholy Gypsys)
*1999 - ""
*2000 - "Do More + Yeah EP"
*2002 - "Varsity Blues EP"

Featurings

*2008 - "Busy P" - To Protect And Entertain (appears on Ed Rec Volume III & Pedrophilia EP)

References

External links

* [http://www.mursmusic.com/ Official website]
*
* [http://onloq.com/channels/the-breakdown/52/ ONLOQ.com Video Interview]
* [http://synthesisradio.net/2006/09/05/murs-september-2006/ MURS podcast interview] from Synthesis (magazine)