Album Review:Murs And 9th Wonder-Fornever

Posted On: April 6, 2010
Posted By: odeisel
Comments: 1

By Odeisel

Murs and 9^th Wonder have a history of delivering high quality albums together. Their catalog is amazingly consistent, comprising of compact 10 track albums that are self-contained and thematic. It stands as no surprise that their latest opus, Fornever, is another banger What’s different is the definitive West Coast flavor of this collaboration. While Murs is always proud to rep the West, this album is an overt nod to the Leftside.

The title track finds Murs trading bars with Kurupt. The basic track, while dope, allows both rappers to snap off. Kurupt sounds as precise as he has in years. When not hampered by the tough talk that occasionally drags down his rhymes, Young Gotti is still a highly capable lyricist.

9^th turns the heat up on “The Lick.” The active track features the aggressive VeRBS delivering flavor. Wonder keeps the beat moving by inserting mini breaks mid verse that keep it interesting as the song is short on actual breaks. Murs always brings a reality to his rhymes that gives you a clear narrative.

In the tradition of “D.S.W.G. (Dark Skinned White Girls)” Murs drops another ode to random races of women with “Asian Girl.” The novelty is cool but it’s perhaps the weakest song on the disk. They bring it back center with the soul sample driven “Let Me Talk.” MURS goes in on his woman bashing girlfriend who has a penchant for arguing and cutting him off in a game of tough love. Suga Free changes the pace with an off-kilter conversational flow and comical rhymes that bring a frat house feel to the track.

Murs’ trademark cathartic humor is on full bore with “Cigarettes and Liquor.” He notes and consequences of smoking and drinking against the excuses for consumption. He notes that everyone knows the dangers of both so don’t cry when cancer or other deadly/dangerous results happen from partaking in these two demons.

“Vikky Veil” was a semi autobiographical tale of Murs and his relationship with a porn star that used her “skills” to milk him for money and had him wrapped around her fingers. She turned his entire life around and took him out of his zone with fake promises of love. The song serves as a cautionary tale about letting your dick run your life. Internet porn addicts take heed.

The robust reformulation of “I Used To Luv H.E.R. (Again)” is a true bright spot on the album, with a a few alterations by Murs that really bring the song forward to contemporary times. His tone mutes the holier-than-thou aspect of the original that offended many outside of New York. “Tatted all up with 808 and hearbreaks/nails is too pretty to be digging in the crates.” Take that how you want it.

Sick Jacken & Uncle Chucc drop by on “The Problem Is…” Organs and bongos bring in the track with strings and keys lifting the composition. Murs goes in on this one and 9^th Wonder delivers the best production on the album. The song addresses many of the hoods ills without glorification or preachiness; a fairly tough task. Jacken notes “How we got access to ammo for any size of gat/but we can’t get a decent school for us to knowledge at?”

“West Coast Cinderella” conjures the spirit of Roger with a talk-box powered voice interspersed hood adaptation of the classic Cinderella tale. Kurupt returns to the final curtain call on”Live From Roscoes.” The buttery smooth beat with horns and a thick bassline power this song about dreams of riches and success. Murs jumps on the second verse and muscles it to a close; his verse describing a day at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles.

The formula works so there’s nothing to fix, but the West Coast flavor is what separates this album from their previous collaborations. On display is Murs’ sense of humor, his narrative powers and his ability to be conscious without sounding soft. Another win in the books for the dynamic duo.

Subscribe To Planet Ill