There hangs an exquisite watercolor painting of boxer Mike Tyson in his prime. He is draped in championship belts, that menacing look in his eyes, the signature gold tooth barely visible beneath his steely profile. The greens, reds, yellows, and blues give life to the portrait against the whitewashed wall. It is a sharp, if not overly self-evident, reminder that champions are not made overnight. In the adjacent room hangs similar paintings—one of all-star San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and another of Hall-of-Fame linebacker Lawrence “LT” Taylor. A boxing ring sits center floor. The crowd of neon du jour twenty-somethings eagerly awaits the arrival of their champion. He is late.
Last Friday, to a crowd of 75 onlookers, Los Angeles rhymesayer, and venerable underground rapper, MURS hosted a listening party for his forthcoming collaboration album with producer 9th Wonder, aptly titled Fornever. The event, held at And Still, was hosted by Fuzzy Fantabulous and saw appearances by Krondon from Strong Arm Steady and DJ Rhettmatic, of the world famous Beat Junkies DJ Crew. Murs, dressed in a gray hoodie, dark gray corduroys, red and white Nikes, his requisite mane flopped to the side, was flanked by family and friends as he greeted the crowd. 9th Wonder was not in attendance. The duo, who first began working together in 2004 with Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition, have produced an album every two years since their jaw-dropping debut—2006’s Murray’s Revenge and 2008’s Sweet Lord followed amiably. Fornever marks the enigmatic duo’s fourth pairing, and it is, as time has shown, a special occasion when these two get together.
Backed by 9th’s lush, sinewy soul samples, MURS unleashed a foray of new, and equally abiding, hits unto the rapt crowd. Fornever, a 10-track effort, as is tradition on every one of their albums together, included a bouncy and abrasive tune featuring fellow Los Angeles alum Kurupt and an introspective ode titled “I Used to Love H.E.R. Again.” “I’m a big Common fan,” MURS says of the song that was originally featured on Common’s 1994’s Resurrection, “so I decided to re-do it.” At some point toward the end of the night, after select tracks have been played, the deejay switches into “The Pain,” perhaps the most stirring song from 3:16. It was a subtle reminder of how far MURS has come in his storied career—that cantankerous spirit, that wild passion. And while it is uncertain if his newest effort will be just as formidable as the previous, he will continue to do what he loves, supported, as always, by family and friends. There is a line on “The Pain” where he spits: “I’m not trying to jib, I’m just speaking from the heart.” As always: MURS endures, MURS abides. He is their champion.
For photos from the listening party click here.
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