![keith murray enigma album keith murray enigma album](https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/185061142532_/The-Erick-Sermon-Compilation-Album-Insomnia-1996-Sealed.jpg)
Turnin’ all you fly emcees back into maggots” So when I walk down the street there’ll be no second guessingīack burnin’ all day but your still fireproof like an ashtray You gettin’ knocked out the box no matter who you areĪs my vocals send your brain up in the fetal position
![keith murray enigma album keith murray enigma album](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7130qvoD-BL._SL1500_.jpg)
You better practice if you want to challenge this Punches phony emcees dead in their esophagus Perhaps the only beat that’s smoother is the album’s lead single, “The Rhyme,” which also happens to feature some of Murray’s most impressive rhyming on “Enigma.” The soft, gliding synths and heavy drums are the perfect backdrop for his ferocious flow, as he kicks the second verse: “What a Feeling” is one of the most complete instrumentals on the album, with soft jazzy pianos keys in the background and a perfectly orchestrated bassline that plods along the track. And despite the fact that the beats grow somewhat repetitive by the end, there are still a number of quality tracks worth mentioning, such as the head-bobbing, almost hypnotic “World Be Free,” with its punchy snare and rolling bassline. The simplistic nature of the production, though, is by no means a negative, as it allows Murray’s always entertaining rhymes to be the focal point of the album.
![keith murray enigma album keith murray enigma album](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M5cAAOSwlpNhF69w/s-l300.jpg)
In a similar vein, the easygoing trumpet sample from Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” sets the stage for more of Murray’s wordplay on “Whut’s Happinin’,” as he raps “And don’t miss the crispiest nigga in the nucleus/ With futuristic linguistics/ Ballistics be twisted like physics.”Īs the album progresses, it becomes more and more clear that the production is lacking when it comes to variety, as most songs closely follow the blueprint for mid-90s New York hip-hop, complete with boom-bap drums, deep basslines, and sampled piano keys, trumpets, and horns. It’s clear right off the bat that Keith Murray has something to prove on “Enigma,” as he wastes no time attacking anyone who disses him or threatens his crew on “Call My Name.” Over sinister piano keys, a hard-hitting drum loop, and a bassline that sends chills down the spine, Murray spits three menacing verses to match the gritty vibe of the beat, with lines such as “I think the devil’s in this beat, fuckin’ with my speech/ Makin’ me do his dirty work, makin’ niggas kill each other on the streets.” “Manifique (Original Rules)” has a more laid-back feel, with jazzy synths setting the mood, but Murray doesn’t stray far from his aggressive style of rhyming. Indeed, “Enigma” seems to have slipped through the cracks on RapReviews, as well, and I felt it was appropriate to write a review and attempt to revive interest in this classic album. Although his 1994 debut “The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World” remains his most commercially successful work, perhaps his most slept on release is his sophomore album that dropped two years later. Those who are familiar with the Def Squad affiliate, though, know that Keith Murray has one of the most distinct and recognizable flows of the era, with his unrelenting, in-your-face delivery that grabs hold of the listener and makes it difficult to ignore his lyrical prowess. Among casual hip-hop fans, Keith Murray often gets lost in the shuffle of the mid-90’s New York hip-hop scene, stuck behind some of his more well-known collaborators such as Redman and EPMD.