Coming out of the Living Legends crew, Murs could have easily been looked at as just another face in the crowd of seven other emcees, but his knack for show-stealing verses – even in the early Mystik Journeymen days – always somehow set him apart. He caught the ear of El-P, who invited him to join the Definitive Jux roster for two albums, and also teamed up with Slug of Atmosphere for another pair of records (as Felt). If that weren’t enough, he also being co-signed by Little Brother super-producer 9th Wonder, who joins him a second time for Murray’s Revenge. 

     Picking up where the duo’s 3:16 – The 9th Edition left off, 9th and Murs make beautiful music together once again, using the 10 tracks, rhymes by Murs, beats by 9th formula.  The raucous horns and wobbly Moog synth of “Murray’s Law” serves as the perfect introduction, as Murs delivers his brand of trademark braggadocio and shit-talking. The fun continues on “Barbershop”, where he and Big Pooh of Little Brother trade caps, seemingly both in the barber chairs, draped over with faces full of shaving cream. 

    9th’s production helps animate Murs more introspective tracks, such as “Yesterday, Today”, and the incredible “Dreamchaser”, both of which find him in the usual position of chopping soul samples into unbelievably dope beats. “L.A” is a love-letter to Murs’ hometown, defying all previous notions of what the beat for a song about Los Angeles should sound like. Here, 9th freaks an ill harmonica sample, while Murs paints a portrait of the city. 

     Murs also takes time out to speak to the ladies on a trio of tracks, each of which of showcase different aspects of his personality.  “Silly Girl” is probably the best executed, as Murs takes the roll of the careless player, over 9th’s retro production. “Love and Appreciate”, rather, finds Murs in a dead-end relationship, with a wandering eye, perhaps for “Dark Skinned White Girls”, a song which speaks about racial identity. 

     There’s really not much to say here, except that Murs and 9th have delivered an easy win with Murray’s Revenge. You almost know what to expect here if you have heard either artist on any other project, and while this record won’t necessarily change the world, it’s one of the most solid releases to drop thus far in ’06