Make 'Em Say Hmm

04/07/1999 8:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Billy Johnson Jr

People are quick to stereotype rappers from the South, believing that behind the drawls, gold-capped teeth and slow-pounding beats lie basic playeristic lyrics.

Don't apply this cliché to C-Murder, the little brother of Master P who hasn't yet received his own MTV limelight. The synergy of erratic rap styles and knocking drums on No Limit Records' staple hits "Make 'Em Say Uh" and "It Ain't My Fault" don't best define this humble and soft-spoken rapper.

The bulk of C-Murder's 1998 album Life Or Death and this year's Bossalinie rest in remorseful accounts of survival tactics. On Bossalinie's "Lord Help Us," C rhymes: "Why can't I put this gun up and use my Bible for protection?"

"The type of approach that is important to me," C-Murder begins, "is educating a lot of people who ain't been where I've been. They can listen to my album instead of trying to go do some of the stuff and ruining their whole life. I don't like to glorify a lot of stuff. I just try to give people the better picture."

C has always viewed rap as a vehicle for responsibly addressing issues pertaining to the black community. "I would think, 'Why didn't they do this, it could have been better?'" he says, citing the many rappers who've chosen to sensationalize negative subjects.

C ranks Scarface and Tupac high on his list of artists capable of using grim subject matter as fodder for educational songs. Tupac's influence on C is especially evident. C's relaxed, husky voice and the high level of emotion in his raps warrant constant comparisons to "Brenda's Got A Baby"/ "Dear Mama"-style Tupac.

"I've basically taken a lot of my styles and approaches from Tupac," C explains. "I've always looked up to rappers who expressed themselves and made their audience feel what they were saying. To me that's the most effective rap in the world."

To this end, C-Murder takes time to visit schools to talk to impressionable kids. "Everybody in my family graduated from high school," C says, explaining that education is his first area of emphasis. "[Kids] just need somebody on another level to run it down to them: 'You need the education, and focus on getting a diploma first. Listen to your parents, and respect your elders.'"

Master P laid forth plenty good examples for C, and C took notes. C is close to taking on a few projects of his own. Releasing two solo albums, guest-rapping on several No Limit releases and co-starring in an upcoming No Limit film Hot Boyz (which C says will have more universal appeal than other efforts) have all been good preparation. Now he's fielding outside movie offers and preparing to get his own clothing line off the ground.

While most artists' aspirations are merely fancy laundry lists of dreams that never materialize, No Limit affiliates possess an unstoppable drive that enables them to accomplish much more than their peers. Other rappers must be jealous that No Limit all-stars Master P, Mystikal, Mia X, C-Murder, Snoop Dogg, Silkk Tha Shocker, Mr. Serv-On and Kane & Abel have all released at least two albums in the last three years. Sure, the fact that Master P is less likely to hold up his core artists' releases over label politics is a factor. But C-Murder says he and his fellow tank members are simply dedicated to pleasing their fans.

"We basically are at the fan level," says C, explaining why No Limit releases albums on schedule instead of repeatedly delaying them. "We care about our fans and know how it is to have that keep happening. We're real serious about the street dates."

It's funny how such a simple logic can produce such major results.