Murs & 9th Wonder

Los Angeles-based alternative rapper Murs is no stranger to North Carolina. He has recorded three albums with Durham-based producer 9th Wonder (formerly of Little Brother and well known for his work with Beyonce and Mary J. Blige).

For their fourth collaboration, "Fornever," Murs and 9th Wonder recorded on the rapper's home turf.

"Fornever" features both parties on the cover and is credited to Murs and 9th Wonder as a duo. "He does all the work. I just rap," says Murs.

"Fornever" is heavy on relationship-oriented tracks and female backing vocals. Murs says he's catching equal flak online and requests on tour for the song "Asian Girl," which began with 9th Wonder's catchy Chinese restaurant-sounding hook.

"Some Asian girls love it and make it their ring tone; some find it offensive."

Murs' rhyming is often part old school hip-hop and part folk storyteller.

`"A lot of people tell me that's my best work.... I love narratives," he says.

Among "Fornever's" topics are PMS, the downside of falling for a porn star, and boozing and smoking. But Murs, who often criticizes the rap community for perpetuating violence, touches on questionable behavior without glorifying it. "The end result is, there's a moral to every story," he says.

"I do it to remind you that you can get up every day and try to change."

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/22/1450354/rapper-murs-rhymes-have-a-message.html#ixzz0oiCE72mS