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Despite nearly a decade of consistent releases, Los Angeles rapper Murs is still only “underground successful” despite inking an ill-fated deal with Warner Brothers. His albums sell well enough to make a living, but it’s not like your average knuckle-dragger at the club, sipping on prescription Patron, has any clue who he is. But those who know Murs, know that he’s always at his best when producer 9^th Wonder is manning the boards.

Murs - photo via mixtapemixtape.com

And so we find ourselves with their fourth collaborative album, Fornever. And while their first release project, Murs 3:16: The 9^th Edition set the bar perhaps a bit too high, the new album still delivers exactly what you’d expect from the duo. It’s easy to see that the two work well together — Murs’ albums produced by 9^th are where he really shines, particularly compared to the aforementioned Warner Brothers fumble. The soulful, sample-heavy beats, blending equal parts Motown and g-funk, serve as the perfect chilled-out, head-bobbing compliment to Murs’ honest, straightforward and everyday-insightful rhymes.

For example, “The Lick” might not break any new ground lyrically — hip hop has certainly spent plenty of time dwelling on the subject of drinking on the corner and hitting the bodega — nonetheless, it’s hard not to catch some of the infectious good times imbued in the track thanks to 9^th Wonder’s, erm, wonderful beat.

Fornever sees MURS sticking to simple storytelling — sharing little pieces of his day-to-day existence in each song. The songs are forthcoming, relatable, and punctuated with plenty of humor. If you’re one of those confused kids who expect Michael-Bay-league adrenaline shots to the mainline, this probably isn’t your album. But if you look for the same things in hip hop that you listen to any good music for, Fornever is an easygoing, feel-good way to spend 40 minutes.