After experiencing his live performance at Rock the Bells (READ MY REVIEW HERE), my respect for Murs has grown beyond belief. Look pass his crazy hair if you can and into the introspective lyrics and dope flow and you get one of the best west coast emcee of the modern hip hop era. Personally, I’ve never been a huge west coast fan in general. Sure, I think pre-Common beef Ice Cube is one of the best to ever touch a microphone and every member of the Pharcyde is worthy of a mention as well, but an MC like Murs doesn’t fit any coast category. His partner, 9th Wonder, is of course from North Carolina and represents a very rare soul-based production style in contemporary hip hop. Together they form “Calilina” duo Murs and 9th Wonder and on July 22nd they dropped their third album (via free download), Sweet Lord.
Even though The 9th Edition and Murray’s Revenge still get constant spins, the fresh sound is definitely necessary. More so than the past efforts by Murs and 9th, Sweet Lord is extra comedic and uplifting. The “Intro” demands the repeat button. It could possibly be the best track on the album and it is the perfect way to start off your day, your drive, and of course, this album. “Nina Ross” further demonstrates Murs’ ability to vividly and creatively tell a story. It starts off as a typical bar/club pick up then turns into a great track of continuity from “Freak These Tales.” Although I have found 9th production as of late to be a little slack, he proves me wrong on this album especially with “And I Love It”, which may be the best beat on the album.
9th continues to really make the trunk rattle on “Push”, while Murs acts as the dopest motivational speaker you’ve ever heard. The signature soul sound these two demonstrated on their previous efforts is not lost. “Marry Me” and “Murs Inatra” are laced with soulful sounds and thought provoking emceeing to satisfy the Murs/9th purist.
Certainly genuine and heartfelt both in the lyrics and the beat, Murs and 9th Wonder deliver some great work that appeals to new fans of the duo, as well as the loyal fans from 3:16. The questions of comparison have already come up and while all three albums are great, this is not on the level of the past 2 efforts. There is maybe one skippable track on this album, “Love the Way”, and even that deserves a bunch of listens because it is ridiculously sweet. It is not that the songs on this album ‘suck’, but more so that the songs on their other two albums are on a higher level. Another complaint will be length, but as Murs says on the “Intro”: “They say it’s too short, they don’t want it to end/ but it wouldn’t be perfect if it wasn’t a ten”
This shouldn’t decrease a love and appreciation for the duo because it seems that 9th brings some of his best work these days when he is linked up with the Cali native and it seems that Murs too brings his A-game. Murs for President is certainly on the radar for all fans now, and this should definitely hold all Murs and 9th Wonder fans down until then. And just this once, I’ll let my ‘no downloading’ policy go.
Download Now
Overall score: 78/100
Standout Tracks:
Intro
And I Love It
Marry Me
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30 Comments
SWEET LORD PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS, BUT IT’S STILL A BANGER NONE THE LESS. YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH 9TH AND MURS AND I’M DEFINITELY LOVIN’ THE WAY THAT 9TH WENT LEFT FIELD ON THE PRODUCTION TIP.
nice review kev…
i dunno, i dont think i liked the album as much as u! its grown on me, but i think Murs is saving the good verses for his LP, while 9th’s beats were better in Revenge and were more focused on Buck’s album earlier this year.
its better than 98% of the hip hop out there, but not feeling it as much as their previous efforts.
hope Murs For President and The Wonder Years will be muuuch better
Thanks for the feedback Drew, big ups.
Thanks for the comment Jason. I gotta disagree though with a lot of what you said. First and foremost: This entry was written by Sean Deez and posted on July 26, 2008 at 8:21 pm and filed under Music Reviews.
Kev is the don juan no doubt, but the Sean Deez ain’t no slouch either.
This album was compiled around the same time the Buck was, so there aren’t many differences. If anything, blame the ear for beats…but if you ask me, Murs probably got the better of the bunch. Murs for President I believe is also complete, so he had nothing to save for.. he still went all out. Specially on the story telling tip.
DON’T FUCKIN RAVE ABOUT THE ALBUM THEN GIVE IT A 78
This album is simply amazing! I gotta disagree with everyone who says it’s not at good as their previous 2 efforts. 3:16 & Murray’s Revenge are both on constant play and now I can add a new one to that list. Murs & 9th have a chemistry that’s similar to Peanut Butter & Jelly. If I can’t have Phonte & Pooh on a 9th beat, then I’ll take Murs any day.
With all that said, I think 9th definitely gives his best work to Murs and although I’ve felt 9th’s work lately has been a little “blah”, 9th really stepped it up with this album.
What up Jason! Yeah, Deez has been filling in on the review front lately… call me a lazy blogger, but he does great work and I back this review up 100%.
Whoa, I just caught TEHSPECK’s comment… dude, chill out! Obviously you’re not up on Deez’s review style…. he’s a tough critic. 78 is actually really good, considering most of his reviews are a 69.
Peace, thanks for the KEVlar vest homie.
Yeah Kev, at this rate, I think Deez Steez has your name on it too.
TEHSPECK… I don’t want you to get fumbled up on my numbers. a 78 is actually a really good score. Consider many things, that Murray’s Revenge and 3:16 were both 85-86 territory for me. The fact that there’s one blip in the radar takes away a lot. And the subject matter isn’t as strong, they obviously don’t have a Walk Like A Man or DSWG type of joint on this, but its totally different. I couldn’t give it an “A” rating because I think its just below it.
Understandably so, this was also an album that was simply just put out there.
tehspeck stop wilding, Sean Deez knows what the fuk he’s doing/saying lol.
Deez, great review, this album is totally uplifting i agree, 9th wonder came correct. I LOVE ‘and I love it” and both Free and Push..cuz I like motivational music. And murs story telling is dope!
my bad sean lol
i heard 3:16 and revenge were recorded at the same time? u can tell this album is different from the first two offerings
I think it’s a very dope album. I do think it’s more light-hearted than the other 2. I did disagree with Buck getting the lesser of the beats. I think the Formula was a near classic. Off the subject, that 9th and Pooh joint is ill, but i thought they weren’t doing any music together anymore
“I think the Formula was a near classic.”
wowzers
and well Little Brother still have mad beats from 9th Wonder, so don’t be surprised if you hear Pooh and Tigga on 9th beats for the next few years.
When i say near classic, I mean modern day circa Aquemini(who in my opinion wasn’t one), not as compared to Illmatic, Only Built for Cuban Linx, etc. Little Brother will always sound better as a trio rather than a duo with outside producers. The Minstrel show is a classic along the line of Illmatic, etc
“When i say near classic, I mean modern day circa Aquemini(who in my opinion wasn’t one”
-Wow, you don’t consider Aquemini a classic, but you consider The Minstrel Show?
I’m one of the biggest Little Brother fans in the world, but I think Pooh and Tigga would be the first ones to tell you that is an absurd comparison.
“Little Brother will always sound better as a trio rather than a duo with outside producers”
-Perhaps, thats what they said about De La Soul when Prince Paul left, but if you ask me “Stakes is High” is their best album. But only time will tell.
Sean you sure do bring the emotions out of grown men with your reviews! LOL.
I’ve been sleeping on Murs…I’m awake now. He almost sounds better over 9th’s production than Pooh and Phonte (I said almost).
I’m fine with the length of the CD….leaves you wanting more IMO.
Aguemini had some dope joints, but it was a few tracks taht could be skipped. I think the minstrel show is flawless from front to end, no tracks skipped. Stakes is High was dope, but not over 3 Feet and i would even say not as dope as De La Soul Is Dead
i thought 9th did a better job on here than on the previous 2 (which were superb too). i think that his beats, although carrying that same 9th signature are more varied in their approach now, thus making for a more varied sound on this album tham on the other 2.
i’ve always preferred atliens to aquemini (& they are both superb too). in the same way that ive always preferred midnight marauders to low end (have i just opened up a can of worms?)
I think of course, the opinions are all over the place.
Trapp, I’m still surprised about that. Funny enough, I think critically, Aquemini got the most success from the earlier Outkast albums, but of course Stankonia got the Grammy nom’s. Yeah, you could make the argument for De La Is Dead
No Frillz, I hear you on MM, check the review. But I can’t say the same about 9th. I think production on the first two is more or less what make them so much better.
i dunno.. but it’s nice to see like minded people who can talk about this without resorting to cussin’.
i remember when the minstrel show 1st came out & supposed fans were turning their backs because 9ths sound wasn’t the same as it was on the listening (what a stupid arguement).
anyway…i digress. de la soul is dead then 3 feet high (again personal choice)
i also think Atliens was a better album. I was thoroughly dissapointed in stankonia. I will put 9th in my top 5 of best producers out now. He’s always stated that the MC’s choose the beats to rock to and they like the soulful beats. Bronze Nazareth, also top 5 now, is a underrated mc and producer
got around 2 listen 2 this, this is excellent, rhymes, flow top class, beats hot. very impressed. can anyone recommend the next thing for me 2 listen 2?
Keith i would recommend the new Kidz In The Hall, Sha Stimuli-Hotter than July mixtape, 9th Wonder and Buckshot-The Forumula
cheers, quick question - is the kidz in the hall album similar 2 the 1st album? if not whats different about it. thoght the 1st one was ok, perhaps a 7 out of 10.
I liked the new Kidz In the Hall a lot. Check out my review on it… http://kevinnottingham.com/myblog/2008/05/12/the-in-crowd-album-review/
For releases this year, I also recommend Nicolay & Kay - TIME:LINE, Trav Williams - The Trickle Down (http://kevinnottingham.com/myblog/2008/05/13/download-trav-williams-the-trickle-down/), and eMC’s The Show (highly recommended). check out the albums in the What I’m bumpin section in the sidebar.
This album has some of 9th’s best work in a minute and Murs is on point like always. There is just one thing, in every review I’ve read regarding this album, how come no one talks about the track Free? That shit is a fuckin heatrock and one of the best on the album.
I waited and waited for this album to come up, then 9th and Murs go and release it under the radar! I missed a full two weeks of listening on it. Oh well.
As for all y’all comments about who saved what for who–The Formula beats, Murs’s lyrics on …For President, etc; This album was made two years ago, pretty much right after ‘Revenge’ was released. If you don’t believe me check out Murs and 9th’s website: http://www.mursand9thwonder.com.
So…that should end that dispute.
As for 9th’s recent work, I agree that he seems to have slipped a tad. Maybe he is spreading himself too thin? He has so many projects popping up all the time. But, he may be like Prince and have an entire vault full of gems that he can distribute arbitrarily. I am not saying he is full, I am just saying he should be a little bit more picky in what he eats?
Although The Formula was real, for sure. I cannot knock that album at all. Charlie Murphy in the video kills me! “You should have ducked down, bitch! You need to cut that pony-tail, too, you’re lookin’ effeminate”.
I know i’m mad late to post on this but from then till now this album is still banging out heavy. “And i love it” is my favorite 9th and murs track ever.
This album just bangs. The other two albums were incredible in they own right but in my opinion this album bangs harder. It combines the first twos best moments and throws some curves. I fuck with his drum programming on this joint too.
I would love to see a felt record with Murs, slug and 9th. I think that would be sick.
Good looking out for hooking up the download for this.
26 comments? Dope!
bold statement Tokyo, by saying this is better than 3:16 and Murray’s revenge, thats a bold statement. No way I can support it, because I do feel that it lacks some of the passion that those first 2 lp’s have
Yo Deez i feel you. I still got mad love for the first two albums. I defineatley respect your opnion but that’s just the way i feel about this album personally.
3:16 is incredible and Murray’s revenge was a masterpiece. 9th brought the heat as always. walk like a man was flipped ill with the 3 beats and cats could damn near cry off the samples for pain, love and affection and this is for.
Murs touched on a lot of subjects on both as well. Pain, dreamchasers and d.s.w.g. were mad deep while joints like the trevor story had the kid spazzing out laughing, but this joint is just on another level to me.
The little things like the way they had the false start on “and i love it” then brought the beat beat back just hit me on some shit. It was kinda reminicent of old pharcyde joints where the vibe was just spontaneous.
Murs did his thing especially on push. The story on nina ross was wild fly and he brought an ill vibe troughout.
Plus i think 9th came with his usual ill ear for soul while switching up his drum sounds alot more which gave it a fresh sound like you said in the review. Even the way he layered the samples on top of each other on free showed elevation.
Yo it’s peace that your standing up for the other joints cause they still bang. I aint gonna try and convince anyone to change they mind about which joint is their favorite ( i learned that from years of aguements bout is low end theory better than midnight marauders LOL ) but i still feel the way i feel bout it.
Keep up the great reviews.
One
btw outta curiousity do you think murs and slug would sound good together over 9th’s beats?
Big ups TC
I personally think that because Ant is so much more musically diverse than 9th Wonder, it would be a risk for Slug to go on a 9th track. Not saying that it couldn’t work, I personally think that’ll be the next step if the Felt trend continues.
I am hard pressed to say that Slug wouldn’t sound great over “And I Love It” or “Nina Ross”, because he really would
word.
Ant has such airtight chemistry with slug that your right about the risk element with pairing felt with 9th. It might might turn out classic or it might not. It would be cool to see how such an album would turn out. With everybody’s track records expectations for it would be mad high.
Your on point too about Ant’s musical diversity. He’s an incredible producer and his beats bleed emotions perfectly and he always keeps heads guessing what sound he’s gonna come with next when an atmosphere joint drops.