Keith Murray: After 3 Yrs. In Jail

[STILLDRE IS THE GODFATHER]

Keith Murray: After 3 Yrs. In Jail
Tuesday - April 29, 2003
Article By: Albert McCluster III ()
Since his debut in 1994 on Hostile from Eric Sermon’s Double or Nothing, Keith Murray, the mad matador of metaphor, has enthralled audiences with his gymnastic wordplay. After a 1998 jail conviction for assault and a 3 year bid....Keith has beeen waiting to put his foot in the ass of Hip Hop. The new millennium masses got their first taste of the emancipated Keith Murray on FUBU’s “Fatty Girl” alongside label mates Ludacris and LL Cool J.

When you say the name Keith Murray most will think of the man known as the "lyrical lexicon"...the "UMPH" of the Def Squad. Because of his creativity, charisma, public troubles and admitted recklessness, Murray has established himself as one of the most interesting and paradoxical figures in Hip-Hop history.

His show stealing performances gave birth to catchy new slang like "badunkadunk" and proves that with the right exposure and no matter the bad press, Keith’s star has continued to shine. Now, freshly out of the joint and an almost deadly car crash in North Carolina...Mr. Murray is now ready to show his new label Def Jam why "He's Keith Murray".

So...what you been up to?
KM: I have a lot to be thankful for first of all..could have died in March...but, we were blessed. Driver lost control of the van that me and LOD (Legion Of Doom) were riding in...fuckin thing flipped about two times. I wound up looking directly at the broken windshield of the van...if it wasn't for that seatbelt, Fam...I wouldn't be here now...so take this as a Public Service Announcement from me advocating seatbelts. Other than that little mishap...I been on the road...promoting the release of my new single with Redman and Eric (Sermon)...it comes out on April 14th and it's called "Yeah, Yeah You Know It" and prepping for the album release on April 29th.

Why did you choose the title He's Keith Murray?
KM: This album is about me....it's a mirror image of my life. I'm constantly on a daily roller-coaster ride as far as my emotions go. This album is my brainchild and it's been a long time coming. I've been through a lot of shit and controversy...This album will set the record straight about who Keith Murray is.

You spent 3 years in lockup...when you got out...were there people their for you. I know Eric Sermon was with you when you turned yourself in...
KM: Yeah..and he was there when I got out..that's Fam, Mac.

Ok..but, was the industry there for you...the labels? How did that time period help and hurt you?
KM: Well, it didn't hurt me. It only helped me because there is no telling where I would have been and what I would have been doing in the streets. I was a ringleader of random violence and not concentrating on the issues of life and gaining monetary advancement and moving with unity with others like men. So we were headed down the wrong dark path anyway. So I feel that prison was just a sign to make me slow down or even stop and think about where I came from, where I am, and where I want to be and how to get there. It took me out of the fast-paced life and made me get a grip and really analyze life from a distance before I got put back into it. It saved my life. I know a lot of people are like, 'Jail saved your life?!?' But they don't understand jail...I have never had a manager anyway...so as far as the labels I knew I could work my hand. Once I got out of course.. ‘cause I always was studying it as a business. As a young artist growing up in public, having to be out there as an artist, plus striving to get a grip on the understanding of the mechanisms of the business. I don't have a Puff Daddy. I don't have a Suge Knight. I don't have a Irv Gotti. I don't have those people so I have to be in the streets and do how I do, and learn how I learn and make the transition like that. And as you can see...I handle my bizness.

You're on Def Jam now...how'd the break with Jive go through?
KM: First, I got a lawyer...Larry Rudolph (Britney Spears). I managed to retain him to guard my interests before I turned myself in...people made a big issue of that, saying I was on the run and shit..I was taking care of my money and family. After my release I instructed him that I wanted to leave Jive. The execs over at Jive as usual looked at how much money I had made for them recently...and since i had been in the joint...there was nothing really, so they released me. Soon as I heard that, I fuckin flew to Def Jam and a bunch of other labels to see what the deal was. I knew Def Jam from my days with Def Squad. So I had a rapport with Kevin (Liles) and Lyor (Cohen). And we always had discussions about my career and we inked a deal. But, just because I'm on a label don't mean I agree with everything that goes on...I felt like the labels, especially Def Jam, have become satisfied with the state of Hip Hop. Hip-Hop has the same problems as Rock does, with the MP3's....

So..are you happy with Def Jam?
KM: I ain't never happy...sittin' in these meetings with execs at Def Jam...I try and have them on the same sheet of music.You never know, Mac. That is why I am talking to these niggas...Kevin and Lyor. The streets ask me all of the time, 'Yo, Keith, you gonna do it...?' I am like, 'Listen, I deliver a great product, it is up to the machine to work it properly.' To make sure mothafuckas are doing what they got to do and ain't playing games. Because you know it is a lot of games that are going to be played! Labels want to sell records off of hype more than hard work and dollar signs.

Who are you featuring on the album?
KM: I got E-Double, Trackmasterz, Just Blaze, Jazzy Pha, Clark Kent, Pete Rock and DJ Khalil. The second single is called "Candy Bar" and it is going to be a mix of "Most Beautifullest Thing In The World" and "Fatty Girl" so it is going to be some shit! A summertime rollin' noize violation cut!

You got Jamie Foxx on the new album...was up?
KM: I love Jamie...very talented brotha...cooler than a fan. He's like the album's MC. He's does a bunch of comedy skits in between the cuts.

When you started working on the album...what cuts did you say HAD to be included?
KM: "Christina"...."Sucka Free"...that song is about all those people that "think" they are in the game, but they don't really know anything about the culture and they in it to make money...whether they shit is hangin' or bangin'. A lot of suckas...I mean back up dancers are becoming rappers now...so, I'm saying that around Keith Murray is a "sucka free" zone. Most of those knuckleheads think Hip Hop started in 1995 and shit.

After all this time...what do your fans expect from Mr. Murray?
KM: Oh, that's easy...my fans expect high energy...the Lyrical Lexicon...they expect Keith fuckin Murray to rip shit up...and guess what..That's what I'm gonna give 'em. If I never make another album again, you gonna know me from this one.

A deadly combination of skill, wit and diverse instrumentation, "He’s Keith Murray" promises to bring nothing but the best he has to offer.


 
 
   


 

[Dip Set Movementarian 4 Life]

thanx for the post...

[OpTiCaL]

Thanks bro...

...real nice read...ahhh   good to see Keith Murray back,

he was blowin up big time before he went to jail!


pZ