While the underground scene in Los Angeles doesn’t garner as much attention as New York or Atlanta don’t get it twisted, it’s there and it’s thriving. When thinking of Cali hip-hop people automatically have thoughts of Eazy-E, N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, The Game, and of course, Dr. Dre. But the fact is there is a whole other level of hip-hop existing is L.A. where artists like the hugely popular Murs stake their claim.

With music that expresses his views and his honestly, not to mention his extreme lyrical abilities, Murs has been building up a cult like following of fans for years. Regarded as the most prevalent underground rapper in Los Angeles, Murs has not only had extreme solo success but has also released full-length collaboration albums such as the Living Legends projects.

Before long the independent praise and hard work landed Murs his first major label deal with Warner Brothers where he released his latest album Murs For President.

Sixshot.Com’s Jon Michael sat down with Murs to discuss Barack Obama winning the election, the independent hip-hop scene in Los Angeles, and why he’s still in love with hip-hop.

Sixshot.Com: All right Murs, the first thing I wanted to touch on was the whole “Murs For President” campaign. How did that come about?

Murs: It actually started about three years ago. I was tossing around some album titles. I was on tour at the time and I was saying I’m going to run for city council. Then it was like I’m going to run for mayor or governor. Then I was like, “I’m going to run for president”. Fuck it; I’ll be the president of hip-hop. That’s kind of how it all started. We actually planned on releasing the album on Election Day prior to this.

Sixshot.Com: Speaking of presidential campaigns, are you happy with the results of the election?

Murs: Man I’m ecstatic, you know? It’s crazy to actually see it happen. It’s one thing to see Barack in the race but to see him win is truly incredible.

Sixshot.Com: I kind of feel like you’re the main representative for underground hip-hop in Los Angeles. Would you agree with that?

Murs: Yeah, I would definitely agree with that.

Sixshot.Com: What is it about you as an artist that makes you stand out amongst such a large group of people, that group being underground hip-hop artists in Los Angeles?

Murs: Let’s see, underground hip-hop. Well I’ve been doing it a lot longer and smarted than a lot of the other guys out there.

Sixshot.Com: When you say smarter in what ways do you mean? It’s very true that some artists last and some definitely don’t.

Murs: Well for starters I’m smart enough to know that nothing good comes without hard work and sacrifice. I’m also not in it to be a superstar, which a lot of guys can’t accept. It’s like they need that status. As an underground artist you’re not going to have a real good manager and a big time publicist.I have a lot of those things now but before I didn’t so I had to handle it all on my own. You can’t be foolin’ around all the time and worrying about how much pussy you get. You have to make some sacrifices. I don’t think a lot of my contemporaries have or are willing to make those sacrifices.

Sixshot.Com: That actually brings me to my next question. Was that path to superstardom ever an option for you?

Murs: Nah man, you know, it’s just not in me. I’m just not that type of guy.

Sixshot.Com: Very true but you have reached a level of success that most don’t. You’re signed to a major label now. Has that been a good look for you so far?

Murs: Yeah, I guess. I mean it’s definitely been a different look. I can tell you that for sure.

Sixshot.Com: How so?

Murs: Well one thing that’s different is that there was a lot more money around to create this record.

Sixshot.Com: Do you feel that more money to make the record equals a better record?

Murs: Yeah man I would definitely say so. Look at it like this. If you’re going to build a car you’re going to want to have the best parts.

Sixshot.Com: Given the bigger budget, what were you able to do with this album that you couldn’t do with your past work?

Murs: I was able to mix it properly and work with different producers. Also when I say different I don’t mean better. When you don’t have the money you’re not able to work with as many producers. There are great producers who don’t cost any money and there are great producers who do cost some money. If you don’t have the money you won’t be able to work with certain producers.

Sixshot.Com: How have your fans been responding to the album?

Murs: Um, it’s pretty good I guess. They like some songs. This album wasn’t really about how my old fans respond. It was more about how the new fans respond. That was the main focus this time around. As far as this album goes it wasn’t really a big deviation from my previous album so my fans that have been there are going to like it.

Sixshot.Com: So do you think you were able to bring in some new fans with this album?

Murs: I don’t know man. You’re going to have to ask Warner Brothers, that’s their job.

Sixshot.Com: Do you think they succeeded?

Murs: Well according to them they’re not finished. They’re still in the process so I don’t know. I can’t judge yet. Ask me like seventeen months from now. They have an eighteen month plan or something like that.

Sixshot.Com: I also wanted to ask you about some of the collaborations you’ve done throughout your career. You’ve done quite a few and not just songs, we’re talking about full length albums. Is that something that you really enjoy?

Murs: Yeah I love it. I love creating with other people. I see myself; actually I romanticize myself as a real civilized and versatile artist. It’s always a great experience because you can learn from the people you’re working with. I learned from the Living Legends project. I learned from all the projects I’ve ever done. I don’t know whether or not they took the time to learn from me but I learned some things every time. That’s on them.

It’s a great challenge and you can go into the situation either humbling yourself and ready to learn something or just going in and doing a record. If I’m going to do a record with 9th Wonder or another producer I’m going to go in there and learn something because that enhances the experience and that’s why I love it. I respect people who are always ready to learn something.

Sixshot.Com: All right Murs so what are your feelings about today’s hip-hop overall?

Murs: I love it. It’s different. It’s very different but it’s like any other relationship you could have. If you’re with your wife you’re always going to love her but you’re not going to be fucking her the same way you were twenty years ago or when you’re hitting seventy. It’s just a situation where that love transforms.

Sixshot.Com: So would you say it’s transformed for the better or for the worse?

Murs: That’s like asking a man who loves his wife if he likes his wife better now than when he first married her twenty years ago. It’s kind of disrespectful. If I had divorced hip-hop then I could comment on the relationship and say this and that, you know what I’m saying? I’m in love with hip-hop. I’m going to stay with hip-hop. Relationships are always going to change. If they don’t change you’re bound to cheat on her.

Sixshot.Com: Would you say that your lyrics are the most important part of the music to you?

Murs: I don’t make beats and I don’t play an instrument so that’s really all I got is to rap. That’s what hip-hop is, lyrics.

Sixshot.Com: That’s the truth. Why do you think you have such a loyal fan base that still loves what you’re doing to this day?

Murs: I don’t know man. It might be the time I made a song about a cat and they were going through something with their cat at the time. That might have made them love me ever since. You know I can’t even speculate on that. I’d like to think it has something to do with my honesty though but who knows? Some people might like my voice and some people might like my hair.

Sixshot.Com: All right Murs, the album is in stores now. Is there anything else we should be checking for?

Murs: Look for me to come to your city to rap. Get the record. Go to a show. Get drunk and get a cute girl and enjoy yourself. Let me sell you this record and let me sell you this movement. I can rekindle your flame with hip-hop, make you love hip-hop.