Artist: Keith Murray
Title: "Herb Is Pumpin'"
Producer: Erick Sermon
Album: The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World (1994)Although "Get Lifted" gets far more accolades, and deservedly so, a lot of heads forget that Def Squad (does that crew even still exist at this point?) member Keith Murray's debut album, The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World, actually came equipped with a handful of weed songs, as that is Murray's intoxicant of choice. Or at least it was: I have no idea whatever happened to this guy, other than his guest appearance on that Kool Keith album a few years back.
While "Get Lifted" is obviously the superior weed track (and one that I love dearly), it falters just a tiny bit for me by having been released in the same year that Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Gin & Juice" dropped as a single: both tracks sample from the same source material (George McCrae's "I Get Lifted"), and Snoop's track is just better. "Herb Is Pumpin'" had no such expectations inadvertently thrust upon it, and, as such, exists solely for Murray to helpfully explain how bonkers his mind can be whenever he's baked as shit, aided and abetted by Erick Sermon's elevated heart rate of a beat (I believe the word I used in my original review was "bananas"), which, weirdly, sounds more like a cocaine high than anything weed-related, but that's a minor quibble. "Herb Is Pumpin'" is oftentimes overlooked: because it appears on the album immediately following the heavily-acclaimed-but-overrated-as-shit title track, it's entirely probable that a lot of hip hop heads found the tonal shift jarring and skipped ahead to "Straight Loonie" or even "Get Lifted" itself. But it is worthy of a wider audience.
Do you agree or disagree with this selection? Discuss below.
-Max
RELATED POST:
Keith Murray - The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World (Review)
Drums on this track are insane: bananas, if you will.
ReplyDeleteI don't really care for this mixtape right now, as a side yes, but in lieu of actual reviews? Nahhhh. TPAB
ReplyDelete1) Let's look at it this way. Would you rather see these little mini-posts, or long waits in between reviews as I go on hiatus?
Delete2) I'm fully aware that Kendrick's album dropped a week early.
I'm sorry if I came off sulkily, I merely meant do you intend to use these mixtape tracks as substitutes for actual reviews?
DeleteI'm a fan of this Max-inspired mix tape but I have an suggestion: is it possible you can leave a source where people can hear your selections when you post them (YouTube link, Audio Castle, etc.) because I won't lie, I never heard this track before
ReplyDeleteIf you're referring to a playlist like with Spotify, I'm considering it. But if you're merely not able to view the video at the very top of the post, that's why I put the album info underneath.
DeleteThis series is a work in progress, and I appreciate the feedback.
oh wow. yeah, the YouTube link didn't appear the first time (filter blocks at work can be quite annoying) but an actual mixtape/playlist via Spotify would be a GREAT idea!
DeleteQuestion: would you select any instrumental based tracks as well?
i actually might like herb is pumping better than get lifted, but i'm not super crazy about either. they're both solid (keith is always entertaining if kind of goofy), but i think erick sermon was really starting to lose his touch around this era (plus those awful pete rock style ad libs he does in the background. if i have to hear him say "word 'em up" one more time i'm going to stab somebody's mother in the eyeball).
ReplyDeleteI'd have to think the opposite regarding Sermon's production, actually. To me, he mostly made gold in 93-97.
DeleteAs for Murray, I've warmed up to his rhymes in recent years. I particularly enjoy his collaboration with UGK & Lord Jamar, Live Wires Connect.
I dunno, I'm all for minimalism but most of E double's production from this era just sounds to me like a random drum sample and a random bass line and nothing else. it always felt like there was nothing to his beats. i miss the rich, thick funk from the first four EPMD albums and the first redman album.
DeleteFavorite Keith Murray song. Excellent choice - Sermon's beat is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked the Keith Murray/Erick Sermon combo in the 90s. Yes, even It's A Beautiful Thing.
ReplyDeleteNice! I'm not too familiar with Keith Murray's career (except for a few featurings and the Def Squad LP), but this really made me want to give The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World a spin!
ReplyDeleteJesus H Christ, what a boring ass beat.
ReplyDeleteThe most beautifullest thing in this world is a cool album, I liked Redman's intro on 'How's that, but ENIGMA is my shit.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with that Keith Murray/Fredro Starr battle?
Please review To Pimp A Butterfly - it slacking g
ReplyDeleteMax you need to review Kendricks new album, its been getting universal acclaim and I'd like to read your thoughts on it also, it fits with your Westcoast albums theme, furthermore why don't you review Kendricks whole catalogue: The Kendrick Lamar EP, Overly Dedicated and Section 80.
ReplyDeleteTo Pimp A Butterfly is a brilliant album, yeah its pro black and there are no radio friendly tunes on it but so what! Its a cohesive album that will be hailed as a classic in due time
ReplyDeleteLove your reviews Max, been reading for about 4-5 years now, but gotta agree with people above on more Kendrick, even though I know you hate when people make album requests in the comment section. This new album needs your take on it
ReplyDeleteHit Squad has been slept on ever since the 00s hit. It's to know that SOMEONE in bloggerland still gives a fuck. For the record, this album is a classic and Enigma is even more so. Obviously, that means that I approve of this choice.
ReplyDeleteI cannot agree with you more. Damn shame that EPMD broke up, because the Hit Squad had that Wu-Tang potential before Wu-Tang. They need to be paid more props than what they're getting. SO much more.
DeleteThis track is actually the b-side to his debut single. I'm thinking anyone who copped it had a proper month to burn this song into his brain.
ReplyDelete