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DJ Murge - Search And Rescue
(Battle Axe)
The latest addition to the Battle Axe roster is DJ Murge, now presenting "Search And Rescue".
Vancouver's Battle Axe Records has grown over the past years to be one of the West's most creative platforms for indie hip-hop. Led by the widely acclaimed Swollen Members duo, Battle Axe has built a network involving many talented producers and emcees yet to be fully recognized by a wider audience. While having tied various beatsmiths for previous projects, both domestic (Rob The Viking, Nucleus, Kemo) and others (The Alchemist, Evidence, Joey Chavez), Battle Axe now presents their hope for a new dawn: DJ Murge.
Murge is a producer on the rise. But right from his first official Battle Axe 12-inch, "Up & Up" (with LMNO), we could detect nice-ness. For his debut LP "Search And Rescue", Murge is joined by vocal guests for every track and the focus is generally kept within the Battle Axe family. Abstract Rude makes the opening, Son Doobie makes his best song on his new found home on "Shake Em Down" and Madchild & Prevail also make one of their illest contributions lately with "Chewing Concrete". But Murge has also invited some other cats to spit on here, which is a good thing. Slug (of Atmosphere) and Eyedea are kickin' one of this album's most definite highlights on "Gotta Love Em" and promising Vancouver emcee Jeff Spec makes a nice contribution over a geisha-beat from Murge in "Got The Get".
But "Search And Resuce" is more than just dope emcees on dope beats. DJ Murge's style of producing introduces something that several Battle Axe releases have been lacking of - variation. Murge proves, with his beats on this album, that he's not only capable of combining rough tunes with smoother ones. He's also presenting a bunch of varied, original beats that really build a solid soundscheme, individually sewn up for the artists that's rhyming on them. Murge's "Intelligent" jam with Aesop (of Living Legends) is a clear example of how he's using his skills in an original way. And he's doing the same thing with "Silhouettes" (with Grouch & Bicasso). And compared to the progressive, illafied beat laced on "Student Of Life" (with Luckylam PSC), Murge can also go straight-forward as he shows in the dope "Drown In The Mainstream", on which Mystik Journeymen's Sunspot Jonz is really dope.
So there you have it. "Search And Rescue" is filled with high quality songs, everything between beats & vocals is held down. We should also notice that it's an elite squad of emcees that is rhyming over Murge's beats. That makes the experience even more complete. With it's 18 full length tracks, "Search And Rescue" has a little something for everybody. And besides the fact that we're left with a really dope album here - if not Battle Axe's most complete so far - it's also easy to come to the conclusion that DJ Murge is THE ONE who should take the Vancouver soundwaves to a next level - and at the same time extend the Battle Axe existance. "Search And Rescue" is the birth of a distinguished beatmaker, don't miss out on it.
- boom-bap.com
HHC: To most of urban Canada, the west coast or specifically British Colombia is known mostly for the work of two groups (Swollen Members and The Rascalz). How can a Canadian west-coast artist establish an individual identity and set themselves apart from the B.C. clichés?
Just B: Just do what you do, and people will notice if it's different. Basically, be original. People are going to group us with them anyway so there really no use doing anything except what you want to do.
HHC: Living in Toronto, I mostly hear about a hippy or skater style of rap coming out of the west coast of Canada. Is there a diverse hip-hop scene in B.C.? Are their gangster or bounce artists coming up over there?
B: There is everything out here. The hippy and skater rap is outnumbered 10-1 by gangsters, thugs, and other people influence by New York and L.A. If people don't know, that's because they haven't been in the heart of the culture out here. I know cats out here that do better with the east coast sound than most cats on the east coast.
DJ Murge: I think people will make what they feel define their personality or their identity. If you're comfortable making it, regardless of its style it will stand strong on any coast.
HHC: Some people would classify the Insides Out album"Until it Ends" as having a back packer sound. Do you agree with the classification? Certain artists welcome being called back packers while some do everything in their powers to not be labeled that. What do you think of the term?
B: I can see why that is. I'm just about making music. Call it what you want. I think the term is just another type of separation. True hip-hop is about unity, not fear.
M: I agree.
HHC: Canadian artists that we (Gladstone What) have previously interviewed tend to say that Toronto is Canada's screw faced capitol because of the crowd reaction or rather, lack of reaction to the scene happening around them while areas like Halifax or Vancouver have packed jams with enthused fans. What is the concert/tour circuit like in the west? How have Canadians been reacting to Eclipse Records?
M: No matter what coast I've been on, because I've played Toronto to Victoria and everywhere in between. I as an artist, feel that people will give a reaction to your show be it good or bad accordingly. As for Eclipse Records we haven't had a bad reaction yet. In fact it's our mission at the end of the day to push each other further each show and have a good time with everybody involved, especially the crowd.
HHC: Murge, I've read in your bio that you're quite the beat digger and that you've almost gone for broke a few times as a result. Listening to the beats on Insides Out brings truth the rumor of digging. What is the beat digging scene like there (record buying)?
M: Well my digging is not like the average digger. You see I'm not tryin' to find all the records that everyone already has. I really respect that culture, but my main focus is to look for records that I can use for making beats or for use in my often-eclectic djing sets. Rock to funk
HHC: What's your best dollar bin find?
M: My best find was when I was about 16 and I found Grandmaster Flash "The Message" for 50 cents. To some it may not be that big of a deal but it hasn't left my crate to this day so it's been my most prized.
HHC: Murge, you quit your 9 to 5 and decided to take a chance by putting your all into hip-hop full time and opening a recording studio. What was the driving force behind that decision and was it worth it? Are you eating and living off what you make?
M: Well, I'm the type of person who likes to go hard at my passion and when I realized how strongly I felt about producing and engineering I knew to give it everything I had time wise. I don't know if that answers your question but let me say that it wasn't and isn't easy. You sacrifice some comforts and stability. I am maintaining a comfortable life style now but as like anyone else it still has its rough times. I try to reinvest as much as possible back into my label and studio.
HHC: Give me the history of Eclipse records and who is on the label?
M: Eclipse started as a label under which Just B and myself could release our works. Not too long after its creation in 2000 we were hanging out and recording for "Until it Ends" and "Search and Rescue" Our friend Ishkan was there as well and we always enjoyed his recordings so we thought it would be a good idea to start an album with him to be released on Eclipse, which is now nearing completion. Watch out this guy is on FIRE!! So basically we have Just B, Ishkan, DJ Murge and some extended family that we record and tour with.
HHC: Are you comfortable with where you're at in terms of success? What is next for Eclipse records?
J: I am so happy with where I'm at musically and it only gets better from here. I think we are making quality music. That's good enough for me.
M: Basically we have made some good progress in the past year. - Hip Hop Canada Dot Com
Is it me or is the Living Legends crew the only crew that can get a rise out of a usually passive Seattle crowd?
Regardless of a two hour late start, the Grouch, Paciso and PSC got everyone at the all ages I-Spy show noddin' their heads and throwin' their hands up. This tour promoting DJ Murge's new Battle Axe compilation also featured Son Doobie of Funkdoobiest, who apparently got stuck on I-5 or hit too many red lights or something like that to cause the delay. Never the less Son rocked the mic for the whole set which included my favorite song "Bow Wow Wow" from his CD "Which Doobie U B?" Props and thanks should definitely go out to Stuck and Under the Needle for putting on this great show and I don't think I can say enough good things about DJ Murge who held it down with a cool head and dope jams during the unexpected delay. So check out the new Battle Axe compilation featuring DJ Murge titled "Search and Rescue." - Student Hip Hop Organization Of Washington Dot Com
Discography
Search And Rescue - CD and 2XLP (2002 - Eclipse/Battle Axe Records)
Search And Rescue Single One - 12" (2002 - Eclipse/BattleAxe Records)
Insides Out "Until It Ends" - CD - (2002 - Eclipse Records)
Ishkan "Murder Mouth" b/w "Boing" Feat. Moka Only 12" & CD Single - (2004 - Eclipse Records)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
DJ Murge is Eclipse Record's foremost producer and DJ. He is also the creative force behind Victoria's "Search Studios". He has grown from humble beginnings, listening to the music on the radio that would later shape his life, into a participant in hip hop culture. Having produced songs with the likes of Swollen Members, Moka Only, Buc Fifty, Abstract Rude, L.M.N.O., Son Doobie, Living Legends, Hobo Junction, Ishkan, Just B, Jeff Spec, Kirby Dominant, Slug, and Eyedea.
DJ Murge started DJing in 1996. A year later he started playing local clubs and on the local university radio station. Eventually he became interested in creating the type of music he was playing, and began working on his first beats in 1997. His first forays into recording were with Moka Only and a local Victoria BC rap group SOS. None of the four track songs made with Moka or the S.O.S. guys were released, but the seed was planted....
Soon after this, Murge hooked up with Victoria based MC, Just B. "We instantly clicked," stated Murge, referring to their musical connection. The two started working on tracks. Within no time, by the hand of fate, they ended up sharing an apartment and had jobs at the same vegetarian restaurant. Still very much a DJ as well as a producer, Murge realized that his record buying had gotten out of hand: "I was at work and received a call from Just B asking if I had paid the electric bill. It turns out he had come home to no power". After the power was restored, Murge started work on his first solo instrumental album aptly entitled "Many Moods". He dug through his parent's records and thrift shops to create this album, using it as means to examine himself in solitude. It became apparent that if he wanted to succeed in music, his undivided attention would be required.
Initially working a regular 9-5 job upon his return, Murge eventually decided to quit and open his recording studio Search Studios as a joint business venture with one of his close friends. "Basically, I was scrapping by day to day and (was) by no means financially stable, but I knew in order to succeed with music, it needed all my attention" recalls Murge. Just B, knowing how strong Murge's beats were, and how frustrated so many musicians had become with the mainstream music industry, suggested that Murge start a record label of his own to compliment the studio. He then further suggested releasing a compilation album featuring some of their favorite artists to draw attention to the label, and Murge as a producer.
The label Eclipse Records was born in the June 2001, and with the assistance of Oakland rapper Kirby Dominant, Murge began work on the labels first release the "Search And Rescue" compilation. He flew down to California and spent about two weeks with Kirby, and was introduced to most of the people who would later be featured on Search & Rescue. Since it's release in the summer of 2002 the album has received much praise from many corners of the globe, and has sold over 7000 copies worldwide.
Since then, Murge and Just B have recorded and released their debut album "Until It Ends", under the name of "Insides Out" through Eclipse Records in July 2003. This album consists of material the two had slowly compiled during the recording of Search And Rescue. "Until It Ends" has received a large amount of respect in the Canadian underground community.
As for these days, Murge has been busy in the studio working with Ishkan, Just B and many others. Keep your ears and eyes open for these hot new productions from the North-West....!
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