Murs

Now that seasoned, underground hip-hop fixture, MURS, has broken into mainstream territory by signing with Warner Bros. Records, he fancies himself a presidential candidate. Enter his latest album, Murs for President. Consistent with the constant calls for change heard by politicians competing for the title, MURS is banking on the change he's trying to bring to the debauchery-wrought hip-hop scene to win votes; or at least sell records.

With a straight-forward and somewhat flat delivery, MURS uses an old-school approach to spread his positive message around the global rap community. By simplifying the beats and using a direct, rigid vocal style, MURS provides a roots-based alternative to all the frills, bells and whistles that have synthesized the modern rap scene. Adding flavor to the disc is the strong Mo-Town vibe that rides underneath the mix; a strong Four Tops influence can be felt on several tracks. Aside from that, Murs For President is a fairly smooth, unbending ride that offers little variety where flow is concerned. Will.I.Am, Tyler Woods and Snoop Dogg ("Lookin' Fly," "Love And Appreciate II" and "Time Is Now" respectively) lend their own distinct styles to the disc, as well as a bit of mainstream credibility to MURS himself.

Despite the slight "after-school-special" feel that MURS's sometimes overly (and somewhat generically) upbeat lyrics give the album, Murs For President is a fairly solid display of no-frills rap. Given the fact that most artists in the genre are more concerned about the sizzle than the steak, MURS might just be what the style needs to save it from itself.

—Ryan Ogle
09.25.08

With a major-label contract on the line (not to mention that presumptive presidential nomination), Murs was obviously ready to put his best foot forward -- and yes, Murs for President is just as ambitious as the title indicates. With a parade of tracks -- message tracks, lovers tracks, just-hanging tracks, back-in-the-day tracks, treat-her-like-a-queen tracks, political-outrage tracks, comeback tracks (subtitled "Half a Million Dollars and 18 Months Later"), life-on-the-road tracks -- Murs apparently wants to be all things to all rap fans (not a bad quality in someone hungry for higher office). Such a variety of themes isn't new for the underground's most ambitious rapper; it's only appropriate for one of the best tale-spinners in hip-hop, a West Coaster who once looked up to fellow storytellers E-40 and Ice Cube. And by including a fair share of tracks produced by 9th Wonder, it's reasonable for fans to hope that Murs would be able to bring along everything that made him a critical part of the rap underground on his trip to the mainstream. But it's clear from listening that all the rough spots (read: interesting eccentricities) that made Murs so special in the past have been polished right out of this major-label product. Guest spots for new labelmate will.i.am and Snoop Dogg do little to further the album, and the productions, with a few each from 9th Wonder and DJ Quik associates, don't do much to captivate listeners either. As with politics from the past to the present, Murs for President is energy without subtlety, clearly lacking a sense of humor as well as the back-and-forth interplay of Murs' best records -- what you could call shades of gray, as opposed to black and white. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide