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Back
from the bing and freshly booted from Def Jam, Eric Sermon’s
no-need-for-a-rap-name and certified mic ripper, Keith Murray
is in full effect and bringing the heat to the streets with
his latest release “He’s Keith Murray.” And what a relief, in
a summer season with few, if any, certified hip hop bangers
dropping, it’s a relief to get your hands on something like
this. Backed by beats from Jazze Pha, Just Blaze, Eric
Sermon, Khalil, and Tone & Poke, Murray is on a lyrical
rampage … sad to say, but it looks like the time on the inside
done did him some good. On his last album some folks weren’t
really feelin’ Murray, and in some ways that might have been
because he’s one third of the Erick Sermon’s Def Squad, and
let’s face it, between Redman’s rhymes and E-Double’s work on
the boards, it’s almost understandable that he got lost in the
shuffle.
Unfortunately, it looks like it may happen again. Murray was
dropped from Def Jam recently, why isnt’ exactly clear, but
he’s gone. And that’s a damn shame because He’s Keith Murray
is his best effort yet. With the right promotion and a little
bit of luck, this is the album that could have put him over
the top.
The first single “Candi Bar,” an ode to ghetto love, finds a
nice balance between the club and the streets. With Khalil on
the boards, Murray breaks down a scrumptious honey and by the
end, you’ll damn near want to eat her up too.
“Yeah, Yeah, You Know It” is another track that should be
burning up the charts. The Just Blaze produced, up-tempo neck
breaker finds the Def Squad back together rippin’ ish up like
only the three of them can. For the record, between Red and
Murray’s lyrical skills, and the Green Eyed Bandit’s instantly
recognizable flow, I think Def Squad is one of the most
underrated crews in the game. Straight fuego baby.
Other tracks to check are “Child of the Streets (Man Child),”
“Sucka Free,” where Murray invites you to “Meet the villain
with a thousand faces/I’ll stab you up in a thousand places/I
might get you with a blade or a rap/cause there’s always more
than one way to skin a rat;” the Busta Rhymes/Kell Vicious
collabo “On Smash” is dope as hell too. Busta brings like
only he can.
Overall this should be on your list of albums to cop, dope
lyrics and beats – the perfect antidote to most of the junk
they’re dropping on Hot 93. Occasionally the production takes
a nap (see “Christina” and “Say Goodnite”) but Murray’s vocal
acrobatics help keep them from killing the vibe.
*****(Four stars)
bear@seaspotmediagroup.com
Ratings
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What the #%&* is that?
-
Don’t quit your day job.
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It’s aight, but…
-Hot
album, go cop it.
-Classic,
‘nuff said.
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