Rapper

Murs, a veteran underground rapper and member of Living Legends crew recently gave us a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles to talk about everything from his crew and his new album to what he thinks of the Reno hip-hop scene—and Reno in general. Living Legends will be performing March 8 at the New Oasis in Sparks. $25 at the door. Starts at 7 p.m. (www.lateniteproductions.com for more info.)

Thanks for sitting down with the Reno News & Review. How’s it going?

It’s going all right. I’m just working.

You recently left Living Legends, and now you are touring with them? How has the tour been?

I never left Living Legends. We’re not on tour yet. We’re all pretty excited about the tour, though. It starts March 6. No one guy is bigger than the crew. It’s just me doing my part.

Will this be your first time in Reno?

I’ve been to Reno many times.

How do you like it?

I like it. I like the people. The city’s kind of weird. But I love the people.

Reno has been in a slump lately, so to speak, as far as local hip-hop acts go. Does that happen in L.A. often? How do we fix it?

I don’t know. You have to look at the population … there’s a couple kids with indie hip-hop … those kids are sometimes a little elitist, and they don’t let everybody in. The scene kind of dies. It’s up to the younger kids to carry on the tradition. It’s about sharing it with the younger kids. If you’re not gonna share it with everybody, at least share it with your little brother or something. I think that’s the best way to get in, get the younger kids involved—let them know there is more to hip-hop than 50 cent.

Living Legends coming to Reno is big for the hip-hop scene here because it is the first all-ages show here in a long time.

I didn’t even know it was an all-ages show. I think that’s dope! It’s real important that you can bring your 12-year-old brother, show him that it’s not all about guns and drugs. It’s fun. It’s safe. … All come out and celebrate hip-hop. If you come out, you’re gonna see the best live hip-hop act in the world right now. In a safe environment and all-ages. You can’t beat that.

What are you working on these days?

I got a live DVD coming out. I got a compilation coming out. Paid Dues tour. Most importantly, I got a new album out, Murs for President, which should be out this summer.

How is the new album?

Hopefully it’ll be fun. And hopefully you’ll learn something … and hopefully it’ll be something you can relate to. Just promoting [being] positive, peace and love. … A positive black male image in the media.