master. It takes the right mix of dedication, artistry and
public interest to make your way back into the game. But
rapper Keith Murray isn't taking the challenge lightly.
His "glorious return" is not designed to please the
MTV machine nor will it follow the hip hop format that
guarantees radio rotation. The fact is that he doesn't
underestimate the integrity of his audience and believes
that where there is true artistry fans will always follow.
become an artist. Just listening to the records, rap from
early in the day, Run DMC to Rock Candy to EPMD.
education or you can choose to get in trouble. It was
death, violence and drugs. It was the fact that you could
be a success or you could be a jailbird. It was all on me.
still play a role in your work?
was out there making a living. My current work is inspired
by my recent experiences. In spite of negative situations;
stay positive, stay on the right track, come back out and
just be heard. Because people were saying that I was
finished, I wasn't going to make another record. Now I
got a record that is the number two most played on urban
radio in the country. It was all that inspiration. I knew
I could do the game and I never in my heart thought I
couldn't. All that drove me to work harder.
artists today?
that you can't do something when you can. What you put
in is what you get out. If you're half assed you're going to
get out a half assed work.
about you?
other people's feelings, stuff like that. I'm a monster but
that's the furthest from the truth. I'm actually a nice guy.
if you could change anything about your life would
you take the opportunity?
you were in prison where you also began writing your
2003 record "He's Keith Murray". How did music play
a role in your sentence?
free. If your mind is free then you're free.
crossover success because of singles like "Candy
Bar" featuring Patti Austin and "Yeah, Yeah U Know
It" with members of the Def Squad, how did the
release of this record impact your career and future
as a musician?
that it was being made wasn't the way I go about making
my personal albums. It stopped being mine at one point.
I didn't really like the album to tell you the truth. But it
was critically acclaimed surprising to me. The business
interferes with the artistry.
wanted it to?
and did what we wanted to do. Made the music we make
and we feel good about in our heart and soul. Not making
it, being hyped about it then going into the office and
they're like; "Well it's alright." Alright!? Are you crazy!?
This shit is brilliant!
a "comeback." What do you expect to accomplish at
this point in your life musically?
mother fuckers know he can still do it, he got it. Without
the politics that man still got it, that man is nice. It's above
average. I'm getting attention now because there's just
straight artistry going on. People pay attention to that.
a cultural movement. How did that impact your voice
as an artist?
sincere. The culture was really about doing good for
the art, for the music. It made you want to be original. It
made you want to express yourself in a unique manner
and be different. You had to bring something to the game
that was different. Every artist of that era was different
there were no two alike. Now the game is people in it for
the money. Everybody wants to make rap records at the
expense of the culture.
more pop isn't it?
to artistry?
fear of real hip hop. Because everything is so touchy feely
and my album is aggressive because now everything is
radio, MTV formatted songs. My album brings equilibrium
back to this shit. They try to get you on the format. Make
the album like this and like that so they can sell it to young
kids and stuff forgetting about the people that really want
to hear some shit.
to be?
sitting in the studio going through records seeing where I
came from, where I'm at and where I want to go.
your latest record?
fact that it is pure unadulterated hip hop.
For more info on Keith Murray visit www.myspace.com/
keithmurray