Fornever

Album Review

After the paranoid tendencies of Murray’s Revenge and the lackluster, politically charged Murs for President, Murs teamed up with his old pal, 9th Wonder, for a spirited full-length that harks back to the days of 3:16: The 9th Edition. Maybe it’s because it was recorded in L.A., on Murs’ home coast, or due to the fact that the two have a brotherly chemistry that lends itself to wisecracking good times, but Murs sounds reinvigorated and — for the first time in a while — glad to be where he is as a rapper. Instead of wasting time boasting or targeting adversaries, Murs concentrates solely on storytelling. The rhymes on Fornever are frank, funny, and relatable, with each of the ten songs revolving around a specific subject; be it convenience store shopping (“The Lick”), fighting hangovers at an office job (“Cigarettes and Liquor”), lust for Asian females (“Asian Girl”), or the old time favorite, drama-filled relationships. His girlfriend won’t let him watch football and forces him to sleep on the couch in “Let Me Talk,” he faces issues while dating a porn star in “Viki Veil,” and in the album’s strongest track, “Used to Love Her (Again),” he talks about his greatest heartbreak; the steady devolution of his all-time deepest love, hip-hop. The album has all the makings of a hip-hop classic: it's lofty with an easygoing, nod-nodding vibe; it's concise, consistent; and 9th Wonder's production is a top-notch blend of Motown soul and Native Tongue boom-bap. Fornever is one of those rare, late-career triumphs. There are no weak tracks and it’s entertaining throughout; every bit as much as Murs’ best early outings.