Murs (rapper)

For the Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS), see Multi-Use Radio Service.
Murs

Murs (right) and 9th Wonder performing at Paid Dues in 2008.
Background information
Birth name Nicholas Carter
Born (1978-03-16) March 16, 1978
Origin South Central, Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active 1996-present
Labels Strange Music, Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers Entertainment, DD172, BluRoc, Duck Down, EMI, Veritech
Associated acts Living Legends, Atmosphere, 3 Melancholy Gypsys, Felt, Dee-1, 9th Wonder, The White Mandingos, Curtiss King, Fashawn, Tech N9ne, ¡Mayday!
Website www.mursworld.com

Nick Carter (born March 16, 1978), better known by his stage name Murs, is an American rapper. His name is an acronym (or backronym) that he himself has created multiple meanings for such as "Making the Universe Recognize and Submit" or "Making Underground Raw Shit."[1]

Murs is a former member of hip hop groups such as Living Legends along with Luckyiam, Sunspot Jonz, The Grouch, Scarub, Eligh, Aesop, Bicasso and Arata,[2] and current member of 3 Melancholy Gypsys along with Scarub and Eligh,[3] Felt along with Slug,[4] and Melrose along with Terrace Martin.[5] He is also a lead vocalist of The Invincibles along with Whole Wheat Bread.[6]

On June 11, 2013, Murs released an album as lead vocalist of a band called The White Mandingos. The album is titled The Ghetto is Tryna Kill Me.[7]

Career

Murs formed 3 Melancholy Gypsys with fellow Alexander Hamilton High School classmates Scarub and Eligh.[8] The group became friends with Mystik Journeymen, and joined them in the Living Legends collective in 1996.[9] His solo debut album, F'Real, was released on Veritech in 1997.[10]

Alongside Slug, Murs has been part of the group Felt since 2002.[11] The End of the Beginning, his debut album on Definitive Jux, was released in 2003.[12] Murs released Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition, an album entirely produced by 9th Wonder, in 2004.[13] Taking a more thoughtful approach than gangster rappers, it prompted Andy Gill of The Independent to say "eschewing bogus glamour for emotional realism, Murs manages to say more about the corrosive cancer of hip-hop's gun culture than all the thousands of column inches lavished on 50 Cent's bullet wounds".[14] After another collaborative album with 9th Wonder, Murray's Revenge, in 2006,[15] Murs signed a contract with Warner Bros., his debut album for the label being Murs for President.[16] It was preceded by Sweet Lord which was given away free to fans.[17]

Murs released Varsity Blues 2, a follow-up to his Varsity Blues EP, with production duties handled by Aesop Rock, Terrace Martin and Droop-E in 2011.[18] He released This Generation, a collaborative album with Fashawn, in 2012.[19]

Murs was invited by Sacha Jenkins, a hip hop journalist, to join the group The White Mandingos, a collaboration between Jenkins and Bad Brains bassist Daryl Jenifer.[20] They released their first album, The Ghetto is Tryna Kill Me, on June 11, 2013 under the Fat Beats record label.[21] Murs has stated that the recording is a loose concept album about a man from "the hood" who struggles to maintain his identity while recording as a rock artist. The band members have acknowledged that the album is partially based on their own experiences.[7]

On February 7, 2014, it was announced via Tech N9ne's Facebook page that Murs was signed to his record label Strange Music.[22]

Personal life

Murs and his wife Kate have two adopted children.[23] He is an advocate for gay rights; the video for his song "Animal Style" features his character kissing another man.[24][25]

Discography

Solo albums

Year Title Peak chart positions
U.S.[26] U.S. Rap[27] U.S. Ind[28]
1997 F'Real
  • Label: Veritech
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — * —
1999 Good Music
  • Label: Veritech (999)
  • Format: CD
 — * —
2000 Murs Rules the World
  • Label: LLCrew
  • Format: CD
 — * —
2001 Murs Is My Best Friend
  • Label: LLCrew
  • Format: CD
 — * —
2003 The End of the Beginning
  • Released: February 25, 2003
  • Label: Definitive Jux (48)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — * 27
2008 Murs for President
  • Released: September 30, 2008
  • Label: Warner Bros. (176828)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 45 11 —
2011 Love & Rockets, Volume 1: The Transformation
  • Released: October 11, 2011
  • Label: DD172/BLUROC
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — —
2012 Yumiko: Curse of the Merch Girl
  • Released: July 17, 2012
  • Label: Devil's Due Entertainment/Murs 3:16
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — —
2015 Have a Nice Life
  • Released: May 18, 2015
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 94 6 12

Collaborative albums

Year Title Peak chart positions
U.S.[26] U.S. R&B[29] U.S. Rap[27] U.S. Ind[28]
2001 Pals (with the Netherworlds)
  • Released: October 10, 2001
  • Label: Basement
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — * —
2004 Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition (with 9th Wonder)
  • Released: March 23, 2004
  • Label: Definitive Jux (80)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — 87 — 16
2006 Murray's Revenge (with 9th Wonder)
  • Released: March 21, 2006
  • Label: Record Collection
  • Format: CD, CD/DVD, LP, digital download
 166 70 — 15
2008 Sweet Lord (with 9th Wonder)
  • Released: July 23, 2008
  • Label: Record Collection
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — — —
2010 Fornever (with 9th Wonder)
  • Released: April 13, 2010
  • Label: SMC (0425)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — — —
2011 Melrose (with Terrace Martin)
  • Released: February 8, 2011
  • Label: Murs 316
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — — —
2012 This Generation (with Fashawn)
  • Released: September 25, 2012
  • Label: Duck Down Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 164 — — —
2012 The Final Adventure (with 9th Wonder)
  • Released: November 13, 2012[30]
  • Label: Jamla Records
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 — — — —
2013 The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me (with The White Mandingos)
  • Released: June 11, 2013
  • Label: Fat Beats Records
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 — — — —
2014 ¡MURSDAY! (with ¡MAYDAY! as ¡MURSDAY!)
  • Released: June 10, 2014
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 45 — 4 12
2015 Brighter Daze (with 9th Wonder)
  • Released: December 31, 2015
  • Label: Jamla Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — — —

EPs

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US Sales US R&B Sales
2003 "Def Cover" — — The End of the Beginning
"God's Work" 64[31] —
"Risky Business" / "Brotherly Love" — 73[32]
2005 "Bad Man!" / "3:16" — — Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition
2005 "H-U-S-T-L-E" / "Bartender" — —
2007 "Better Than the Best" — — Murs for President
2008 "Can It Be (Half a Million Dollars and 18 Months Later)" — —
"Me and This Jawn" — —
"Time Is Now" (featuring Snoop Dogg) — —

Mixtapes

Compilations

DVDs

Guest appearances

Video game appearances

References

  1. ↑ "LAist Interview: MURS". LAist. October 7, 2008.
  2. ↑ Eric K. Arnold (April 1, 2005). "The Living Legends' Hip-Hop Masterpiece". XLR8R.
  3. ↑ Anna Almendrala (May 18, 2012). "LACMA Hip Hop Concerts: Murs Of 3MG Kicks Off Summer Series (VIDEO, PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post.
  4. ↑ Adam Figman (November 30, 2009). "Felt - Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez". URB.
  5. ↑ "Murs & Terrace Martin: On Melrose (Music Video)". Baller Status. January 5, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Murs & Whole Wheat Bread Are The Invincibles (Free EP + Video)". Okay Player. July 6, 2012.
  7. 1 2 Frannie Kelley (August 13, 2013). "The White Mandingos: Music That Defies Definition". National Public Radio.
  8. ↑ "LACMA: Through The Mic featuring Murs and 3MG". The 5th Element Magazine. May 31, 2012.
  9. ↑ Bradley Torreano. "MURS Biography". Allmusic.
  10. ↑ Luke Fox (November 2011). "Murs - Interviews". Exclaim!.
  11. ↑ Tom Breihanon (September 3, 2009). "Aesop Rock, Atmosphere's Slug, and Murs Team for Felt 3". Pitchfork Media.
  12. ↑ Matt Kallman (April 23, 2003). "Murs: The End of the Beginning". Pitchfork Media.
  13. ↑ Rollie Pemberton (March 15, 2004). "Murs: Murs 3:16 - The 9th Edition". Pitchfork Media.
  14. ↑ Gill, Andy (9 April 2004). "Album: Murs". The Independent.
  15. ↑ Peter Macia (March 21, 2006). "Murs: Murray's Revenge". Pitchfork Media.
  16. ↑ Michael Denslow (October 15, 2008). "Album Review: Murs – Murs For President". Consequence of Sound.
  17. ↑ Omar Mouallem (September 2008). "Murs & 9th Wonder - Sweet Lord". Exclaim!.
  18. ↑ Jake Paine (April 13, 2011). "Murs Releases Sequel "Varsity Blues 2," Production By Aesop Rock, Droop-E". Hip Hop DX.
  19. ↑ Luke Fox (September 24, 2012). "Murs & Fashawn - This Generation". Exclaim!.
  20. ↑ Jay Balfour (July 5, 2013). "The White Mandingos Analyze Adam Yauch's Role In Their Formation". Hip Hop DX.
  21. ↑ Jake Crates (March 4, 2013). "Murs and New Group “The White Mandingos” Announce New Concept Album". All Hip Hop.
  22. ↑ Rys, Dan (2014-02-07). "Murs Signs With Tech N9ne's Strange Music - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  23. ↑ Baker, Soren (May 17, 2013). "Murs Adopted Two Kids To "Help Change Someone's Life" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHopDX". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  24. ↑ Grindley, Lucas (July 14, 2012). "Rapper Murs Kisses Another Man to Call Out Hip Hop Homophobes | Advocate.com". The Advocate. Here Media. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  25. ↑ Burra, Kevin; Wong, Curtis M (September 16, 2012). "Murs' 'Animal Style' Video: Rapper Supports Gay Rights, Kisses A Man In New Clip (GRAPHIC)". The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Murs: Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  27. 1 2 "Murs: Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  28. 1 2 "Murs: Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Murs: Chart History: R&B Albums". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  30. ↑ Jeffries, David (November 13, 2012). "The Final Adventure - 9th Wonder, Murs : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Billboard chart search" (XML). Billboard.com. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Billboard chart search" (XML). Billboard.com. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  33. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-01-23). "Murs & Curtiss King "Shut Your Trap" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Album Stream | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  34. ↑ "EA unveils NBA Live 07 tracks". GameSpot.com. September 25, 2006. Retrieved February 1, 2013.

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