The Spinzone

Courtesy of: Blogger News Network & HipHop-Elements.com.

by ArmenEkmekji on 17 August, 2007

After four years without an album, Keith Murray has released a new project intent on putting the hop back in hip. “Arachnophobia has to do with the fear of spiders, and Rapp-Murr-Phobia has to do with the fear of real hip-hop,” states Murray. With all of the fluff and corporate influence on many of today’s new artists, it’s fresh to know that an old cat can stay on top of the game with solid beats and experienced flows that paints the listener a picture from beginning to end. Solid beats would actually be an understatement as the legendary Erick Sermon takes the reigns as executive producer.

Rapp-Murr-Phobia gives fans something they’ve never seen before. Keith says he studied his history, listening to songs when he was at his best and those where he didn’t feel in the zone. After separating the positive from the negative, he delivered an album that bottles up all of his strengths and analyzes the world we live in. With the hit single featuring Tyrese, “Nobody do it better”, the album boasts “U Ain’t Nobody” featuring Redman and Death Squad, “Hustle On”, and “What it is” with Wu-Tang rhyme-master Method Man.

The only thing to note is that the album doesn’t start off as strong as I would have liked. It doesn’t grab the listeners
attention, with the bulk of bob-your-head songs bunched in the middle of the record. Nevertheless; hip-hop heads, you will enjoy Rap-Murr-Phobia. The rest of the nation has, as this release by Koch Records is creeping close to the Billboard Top 50.

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EPMD Preparing 'We Mean Business'; Dropping New Vinyl.

Rap group EPMD recently took advantage of technology by debuting their latest single "Blow" on the Internet, but the group has not forgotten their Hip-hop roots and has struck a deal with Unique Distribution to market and release 12 inch singles on the Def Squad/Hit Squad label.

The legendary Brentwood, Long Island rap group's single "Blow" hits stores on vinyl on August 13.

The track is the first single from the group's highly anticipated 7th album We Mean Business.

"DJ Premier said it's cool to do the cds and all that, but you gotta respect the vinyl' and Unique Distribution stepped their game up," Def Squad CEO Erick Sermon told AllHipHop.com. "I encourage a lot of rappers to release their own vinyl independent of the label situation, because you know who how labels do, if the first single aint poppin off right away, then bam it's a wrap for you."

Both Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith have run successful labels, which combined have brought forth legendary artists like Redman, Keith Murray, K-Solo, Das EFX, DJ Scratch, Hurricane G and others.

According to Smith, the group has been performing and touring to inspire their creativity as a unit, while working on We Mean Business, the group's first album in almost 10 years.

"We have a good group of soldiers around us," Smith told AllHipHop.com. "It's a combined effort, we're not rushing making music, we're going back through and listening to EPMD albums that keep that same element. You gotta listen to your corner, its just like in boxing, you're only as good as your corner. That's the difference between winning or getting knocked out."

"Blow" will be released under the group's vinyl deal with Unique Distribution, based in Westbury, New York.

Unique is one of the world's largest distributors of vinyl. The company recently inked a manufacturing deal with fellow independent giant, Koch Records.

"There are millions of people that still love underground Hip-Hop," Smith said of using vinyl as a business strategy. "It's not being embraced. If you want the Hip-Hop you love back, then support it. Overseas is how it still should be. MC's like Jeru the Damaja , DeLa Soul, they are loved as much as the mainstream over here, They still love to hear that snare and kick, that sample, those lyrics. Big up to Kayne, Common, Mos Def, and dudes like that, who are releasing that type of music, regardless of what's popular."

We Mean Business is due in stores in early 2008.

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