To a nation of teenagers and kids in their early twenties, September means only one thing: Back to School. And after a long summer basking in the sun, and hugging the block like quarter water, it’s time for students to get to stomping in a fresh purr of Air Force Ones. And for Murphy Lee it’s no different.
The self-proclaimed “School Boy,” is leaving the safe confines of St. Lunatic High and enrolling at the University of Derrty Entertainment. Where he hopes to major in Solo Superstardom. With a supportive dean in Nelly, he has already been published, penning verses on hits like “Batter Up,” and the summer smash, “Shake Ya Tailfeather.” AllHipHop.com caught up with Murphy Lee at the student lounge and asked him to expound on the theories of Murphy’s Law, his debut album set to hit stores soon.
AllHiphop.com. Can you talk about the album? How is it different than an Ali album, or a Nelly album?
Murphy Lee: It’s just a lot of me. That’s how I separate myself, by being myself. So it automatically separates you.
AllHipHop.com: So what are you talking about on the album”?
Murphy Lee: I bring up a lot of females, of course. I hit every point that could be brought up. Everything’s been said, I just say it a different way. Hot tracks, though. It’s a whole album, it’s not just a single, not just a couple singles, it’s a whole album. Manny Fresh did a beat, Jazze Pha did a beat, and Jermaine Dupri did two beats. It’s crazy. Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ Jon is on there. Diddy on there, “Shake Ya Tailfeather” is on my album.
AllHipHop.com: I know you were recently at the VMAs, and all the chicks were done up, can you give me a ranking of Mya, Beyonce, and Christina Aguilerra? How would you rank them in order?
Murphy Lee: Mya, Beyonce, and then Christina. Just them three?
AllHipHop.com: Well, um, we could talk about more; there were a lot looking good.
Murphy Lee: I bet you would want to talk about more. [Laughs]
AllHipHop.com: So you like Mya the best?
Murphy Lee: Yeah, she was right.
AllHipHop.com: What type of chicks do you like?
Murphy Lee: Smart and sexy, at the same time.
AllHipHop.com: I wanted to ask you, typically with groups, it seems fans want to anoint one member the superstar. And when other members of the group come out, they have a hard time breaking away from that. Like they’ll say, that’s Nelly’s boy, or that’s Eminem’s boy. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Murphy Lee: You just gotta get some spins, and sell some records. Then that will get off of you.
AllHipHop.com: Your verse from “Welcome to Atlanta,” the remix, you blazed that one. Did you have a solo album planned before that? Or after the reaction from that, was the idea put in place?
Murphy Lee: I always had a solo plan, but I was waiting for the buzz first. And anything we do is a Lunatic project. We got a Nelly album; it’s a Lunatic project. We got an Ali album; it’s a lunatic project. So, I was just waiting for the timing.
AllHipHop.com: With that verse, did you go into it trying to get people fiending for the solo? Or is it all the same when you write?
Murphy Lee: Um, I don’t know?
AllHipHop.com: Cause with that track, you were with heavyweights like J.D. and Snoop. And when I heard that verse, I think you outshined all them.
Murphy Lee: I didn’t get the chance to hear anybody’s verse before I did mine. I just went in there and did me. And that was like a beat that every time it comes on, you probably rap your own verse. For the remix they kept the same beat, and I was like, ‘it’s on.’
AllHipHop.com: In your career, you’ve had the chance to work with Snoop, Diddy, J.D., you boy Nelly. Is there anybody else that you’re looking forward to getting on a track with?
Murphy Lee: Outkast, Meth and Redman, Ole’ Dirty Bastard.
AllHipHop.com: So you kinda like big personalities?
Murphy Lee: Yeah, different s###. Trick Daddy, too.
AllHipHop.com: This is your solo debut, but you got a lot of experience. You’ve did tours, and videos, is there anything new your looking forward to as a solo artist.
Murphy Lee: I kinda want to get into the acting thing. I wanna get on a sitcom or something. Pull a Will Smith off or something. Fresh Prince of St. Louis, or something.
AllHipHop.com: What kinda things are you looking forward to doing besides rapping or acting? Are there any entrepreneurial type plans in store for you?
Murphy Lee: Yeah, I’m trying to get into everything. From restaurants, to laundry mats, to grocery stores, to shoe stores, to clothes stores, to everything. I got my own potato chip company, man. We trying to do that.
AllHipHop.com: Word? What kinda chips are they going to be?
Murphy Lee: They some hot chips. It’s from St. Louis, and we trying to bring it to the world.
AllHipHop.com: Can you explain what St. Louis is like to those who have never been there?
Murphy Lee: It’s small, but big at the same time, just a small New York. A lot of things going on in St. Louis right now, so it’s moving fast. Right now, it’s like as far as entertainment, it’s not big right now, but it’s growing.