» EXCLUSIVE: 21 & Under With…Keith Murray ABORT Magazine™

EXCLUSIVE: 21 & Under With…Keith Murray

March 2nd, 2011 Filed under: 21 & Under With..., Exclusive! by Editor in Chief

With his 8th studio album about to be released, Long Island, NY rapper Keith Murray is set to bring his latest brand of sharp-tongued lyricism to the Hip-Hop masses. Murray, a member of the elite Def Squad trio that includes Redman and EPMD’s Erick Sermon, has been in the studio putting the finishing touches on his latest opus: The Beauty Of It All.

ABORT Magazine’s E.S. Day caught up with Keith for a quick 21 & Under session to discuss the new album, Hip-Hop, Haiti and more.

E.S. Day: Def Squad reunion: Are you still in touch with Redman and Erick Sermon – any updates?

Keith Murray: Yes I’m in touch with Erick and Red, I live down the street from Erick right now and I talk to Red on the phone and text once a week. We’re talking about doing a new D.S. album but we have to get in the studio and do it. Our lives have taking different paths right now, but it’s in the mind so I hope it will happen.

ABORT: Your recent trip to Mozambique has to be an eye-opening experience, what prompted you to do that at that time as opposed to earlier?

KM: Yes, my trip to Mozambique has been an eye-opener. I went there because the opportunity came to me at the time. I did 2 shows and went to visit orphan kids and kids with HIV who nobody goes to see. I walked around the town to the stores and the people knew who I was and took pictures, so I was thankful to see they knew me.

ABORT: How come the Hip-Hop community has rarely done anything for HIV/AIDS and why is there still such an ignorant attitude towards it? (And by the way props to you for taking a stand)

KM: I feel the Hip-Hop community is doing all it can at the time for awareness, but a lot of people don’t want to talk about it because its a scary thing and its real so they don’t want to talk about it, but its a lot of other things killing people as well.

ABORT: Do you think certain artists are in fact profiting off the situation in Haiti via shows and royalty donations that are (apparently) going toward the cause? As we have already seen/heard about benefit shows where the money went right into the promoters pockets?

KM: With the Haiti situation I don’t thing artists are lining their pockets. I think they’re really trying to help, but the government over there is in control and from the looks of things they’re the real problem why the people are not being helped. As far as the promoters taking the money, that’s just not right and they will have to answer to God for that.

ABORT: New album: when and who is on board as far as producers?

KM: My new album is called THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL.I named it that to give myself room to touch many different topics. The good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful in life, with all types of cutting edge sounds and unconventional formats. As far as producers I got the RZA, a producer from Boston named The Sultan, a producer from over seas named M-Phazes and Erick Sermon. Right now its half way done (at time of interview – Ed)I got the RZA rapping on there, Redman and my younger brother D.Murray so far.

ABORT: Last great Canadian artist you listened to?

KM: The last great Canadian artist I listened to was The Rascalz. We had the same beat for my song “Candi Bar”. I didn’t know they had the beat when Kevin from Def Jam at the time gave it to me, but I like them.

ABORT: How did you and Canibus come together for the Undergods project?

KM: I got with Canibus from a friend we both know by the name of M80.

ABORT: Any other outside ventures or collabos coming up?

KM: My outside ventures include a custom set of headphones and movie parts in the works.

ABORT: How is the European response so far on these dates, have you found Europe appreciates Keith Murray more than North America?

KM: My European dates are going well they all know and love Keith Murray. As far as Europe appreciating me more than America I feel it’s the same love. They all like what I’ve done and what I’m doing.

ABORT: Next up and coming MC to break out in your hometown (unsigned), your recommendation?

KM: the next emcee to break out from my hometown is my younger brother D FISH GREASE MURRAY not because he’s my brother, but because he’s a talented rapper and has a way with words.

ABORT: Thanks for your time Keith.

KM: Thanks for your time; people can hit me at Facebook, Twitter and MySpace under the name Keith Murray. Peace.

myspace.com/keithmurray

By E.S. Day

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