At a local diner in the center of New York, a crowd fills up what seems to be every table in the establishment. They are there to catch a glimpse of a music legend celebrating his birthday with friends. Unnoticed as a future innovator of rhyme, a young man sits comfortably at the far end of the table - his chance to square up against Goliath nearer than expected. Suddenly, the icon rises, calls forth the young man, and challenges him to a test of whits. In dauntless form, the young man approaches the head of the table - the filled seats leading towards the master serve as a panel of critics who prepare to see a skewed result. The master stands at the front of the table, halfway enthused as if to be let down by his challenge. He starts, laying down a pattern of bars that remind his peers why he sits in the chair behind him. Flustered but focused, the young man stares into the eyes of his idol. He hesitates, then releases a mouthful of spontaneous flow - metaphors so fierce that Shakespeare himself would find it difficult to deciphering the meaning.  When the adolescent concludes, the icon smirks and sits down allowing just enough time for the jury to dub him the winner before his bottom touches the seat. Unscathed, the young man turns and walks back to his seat. As the meal and conversations continue, he looks toward the front of the table to see his icon locking sight with him as well. The master smiles slightly, then nods to the young man as if to represent his approval of the exchanged words. The young man smiles back, wondering if he will become the emcee fierce enough to hold the burning torch that has been passed.

This was the dream-like scenario (of which the legend was Big Daddy Kane) that hip hop icon Keith Murray credits as his emergence into hip hop. Beginning his career as DJ Do Damage, it was unknown to many how far the young emcee out of Long Island would go. Murray earned his chance to be a hip hop regular after laying down art on Erick Sermon's No Pressure album. Over the years, Keith Murray has been labeled as one of the most prolific lyricists in the game, period. Releasing numerous albums as a solo artist and member of Def Squad (rap trio consisting of Murray, Erick Sermon, and Redman), Murray has quite a few projects under his belt. With hits like Love L.O.D. and Candi Bar, Murray can be considered an innovator who adapts with the times.

Yo! Raps took time to speak with the emcee as he prepares for a handful of new projects. Keith Murray gladly discusses his memorable freestyle battle, the new era in music, and his current projects as an independent artist. Don't worry, we were able to raise the white flag for Keith - no need for unnecessary bouts.

So Keith, Yo! Raps is delighted to have a chance to catch up with you.

No doubt man I'm glad to be of service.

You got your first real chance to rhyme against legend Big Daddy Kane. I bet you were nervous.

Well, truthfully it wasn't a battle...more like an exchange of flows. And my uncle Born True, god bless the dead, he was the bodyguard for Big Daddy Kane so he would have me and my cousins around.  So we was at a diner for [Kane] birthday and my uncle - you know - he was the one always taking me round Brooklyn and what not, battling everybody in the projects. So naturally, we at the dinner table and he [Kane] call me out; I ended up going to the front of the table where Kane was at and exchanged some flows. I mean, it was like an event to compare the whits and stuff [laughs]. Yea, I guess you could say I was nervous initially...I did my piece though!

You are from Long Island right?

Yea.

Do you feel like you representing Long Island in today's game is a challenge, especially knowing that a lot of emcees are representing the likes of Queens, Brooklyn, Harlem, etc?

Definitely. But for real people forget that I'm all around. I'm from Crown Heights Brooklyn also. I lived on border lines you know? Like Roosevelt and Nasaw County. Back in the day I was always all over the place. Road the train by myself as a kid and met people in all different burrows.

You've been around since the early 90's. Do you feel like - with the changes in hip hop today - you have to step your game up or come stronger with your lyrics to appeal to the newer fans?

Well, I feel I just have to be consistent - have fun you know? I am just going to do what I've always done. Fans who loved The Most Beautifullest Thing In The World, Enigma - you know, Keith Murray fans gonna still hear me in my music.

For people who don't know Keith Murray, what do you think they will find out about you in your music today and even your older stuff?

They gonna know I am a creative, innovative, original lyricist. Like no other.

Special Delivery and Candi Bar are still in my iPod as personal favorites. Do you feel, as you look at the material you are making now - versus your earlier years - that your style has changed or matured?

Yea definitely. Candi Bar is one I'll credit to Def Jam [laughs]. I did do that with the movie star over there. Everytime I do a show - Candi Bar come on and people go crazy! But I mean, my style has evolved more or less than changed completely. I experienced things in life that have altered the way I look at things. The stuff I seen as a young cat ain't like what I see now as a vet so...it's evolved for the better.

You're doing some independent work, what made you decide to stay close knit with production, for now, instead of going to a big label for branding?

Man I was with Jive and then Def Jam for the longest. Like when I first left them [Jive] to go to Def Jam, it was like they weren't matching my popularity with my sales, you know? Like the team was lazy - Def Jam was better initially. They were eager to get me - signed up $2 million to express it [laughs]. Only thing is...initially, I thought I'd be at Def Jam to this day but they got some issues right now man. In hindsight it's probably political, like I really don't think they were paying me much attention like they first expressed. I mean, I'm serious when it comes to my music so me being neglected of assistance because of label issues is not a good look, you know? I can keep it close knit and know my team is here for me. I think if artists get left without help they can bug out - I think it would mess my head up creatively.

So you think labels tend to forget about their artists as people who still need a bit of guidance when promoting and getting the content out?

Yea man. Like we performers/entertainers - whatever, but we need some mothafucking attention man [chuckles]. Nobody can do it on their own. Like I said man they [Def Jam] got me there; once I got there things were different. I mean, the producers were top notch, I worked with some great emcees; things were just different.

Indeed, Def Jam has been having some issues with their people though. That much is true. I'm sure you've heard recent news on their drama with artists and label heads...

Yea but I don't really pay no mind. No disrespect to Def Jam because everybody got their own issues. The people who signed me ain't even there no more so the problems I had then aren't necessarily what's going on now.

You've been in the game for over a decade and still going strong. How do you feel about the new era in hip hop?

I like it [chuckles]. It ain't too much rap out here that I can't do. I mean I ain't buying a bunch of stuff but I listen to it on the radio or on my Mac. I mean, I see where it's going...for real history only repeating itself. It ain't nothing new that I ain't already seen in hip hop over the last...10 - damn [laughs] - 20 years.

Well I know some people who call themselves "real" hip hop fans can't get down with the whole Bird Walk or Stanky Leg movement. Some even think it's been simplified with basic hooks or choruses. What's your take, being a student of the genre?

That's our culture! You remember back in the day - Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D, Cool G Raps, you know? Kane had Scoop and Scrap; MC Lyte had Frick and Frat. Everybody had dancers, shit I was a dancer! Look at some of my old videos and stuff my footwork is damn right! I ain't ashamed - I be the first cat at the wedding reception on the floor getting busy. Now niggas wanna be like, "Aww he tryna dance now" - I been getting busy [laughs]! That's why I'm accepted all around the world, you feel me? I know Redman and Erick Sermon ain't got no problem with busting a step!

I'd like to see that [laughs].

That's where hip hop came from man - dancing. Niggas act like cats don't dance but it's always been here.

Do you think the younger artists should take a refresher course from some of the vets?

We showed them. They should already know. I mean, hip hop fans can sometimes forget that what we doing now been around for a while. They got shorter attention spans so you really got to get to the point in your music with this generation.

So who might we catch Keith Murray listening to in the car?

My little brother D Murray. Um, I got my man Redman - I like Jeezy, Nas, T.I., Jay, Luda, Cassidy, Ghostface, you know? It's everywhere on the net so. I mean, for real the most recent album I bought was Eminem [laughs] - I work out to that.

Some of your tracks released this year are all over the internet. Can you give Yo! Raps readers a scoop on what's to come?

I got the Keith Murray in the works as well as my brother [D Murray]. I just finished the Keith Murray and Canibus album - The Undergods: In Gods We Trust, Crush Microphones To Dust; so that's finished up. Erick [Sermon] up in Seattle in Rob Lang's Studio prepping some stuff. Yo, people need to know we working hard on some real content. This ain't no shitty studio - in Rob's high end studio putting in work. Don't misinterpret - this shit gonna blow your head off! You know I ain't gonna say no homo because I ain't no homo so I ain't gotta say it [chuckles] but it's gonna blow your face off.

I think people will be impressed. Okay, we got some other questions for you Keith..

Yea, do what you gotta do - we in here man. I'm chilling with Mary right now man [laughs].

Cool, so here we go...In five words or less, describe Keith Murray's rhymes...

Keith Murray is the mic-cyphercist!

Autotune. With it or against it?

I mean, live and let live. I never used it - don't even know what the thing look like [laughs]. I know Roger Troutman and Teddy Riley did it first. T-Pain do it well now though. I really don't know it and don't have the desire to use it but...rock on baby! Anything for hip hop they can do they thing.

Keith Murray has a movie...what's the title?

Keith Murray: Life and Times through Beats and Rhymes

For all of the true Keith Murray fans: Why are you the Best in your profession?

...because I been all around the world - what battle me? Take the autograph home and give it to your family!

Anything else you would like to say to your fans and Yo! Raps readers?

Yea man I appreciate all my fans man. They have held me down through all my tests in life. Since the internet came out a lot of people got into this posting hate sites and all that type of drama - it's madness man. For anybody man. Good thing is my fans hold me down, they give me the strength - put the battery in my back to keep going. I never stop, it's stupid to hear people get on cats like Jay and them other artists. Talking about "He too old, they too old." Man if you are an artist you take yourself out the game. Nobody can tell you when to stop man. Shit 90 years old, I'm still rhyming [laughs]. You can't put an age in hop hop.

Very True.

It's like tell U2 to stop. Tell Rolling Stones or Aerosmith to stop. It's a shame them rock fans be begging they favorite bands to stay around - hip hop fans sometimes try to get they fix then move on. It's crazy...

How can fans reach out to you?

Most definitely. They can reach me on my MySpace. It's myspace.com/keithmurray - as for those who want to see me, all inquiries can go to my manager TobiasePerry@gmail.com. He gonna be mad I gave it but fuck it, I love to come out for my people.

In true fashion, Keith Murray leaves Yo! Raps readers and fans with something to look forward to.

Hell yea, shout out to Redman and Erick Sermon.

- By Jovan Bland