Although Def Squad rapper Keith Murray remains in a Connecticut prison serving a three-year sentence for a 1996 assault conviction, a new solo album from Murray, entitled "It's A Beautiful Thing," was released to stores this week.
Like all good hip-hop albums, Murray's new record boasts a bevy of guest starts, including Red Man, Erick Sermon, Too Short, and L.L. Cool J and Canibus -- with the latter two having previously waged a lyrical fight with one another (see "L.L. And Canibus Weigh In On Lyrical Feud"). Last year, prior to his incarceration, Murray talked with MTV News about the new album, and said that working with the other artists, in particular the Def Squad during the Survival of the Illest tour, helped Murray focus on crafting the record rather than on his legal woes. "The Def Squad was a stepping stone just to help me get to where I wanted to be," Murray said, "And doin' the tour, you know, seein' people all around the world again, has made me realize where I need to be as a solo artist." "There was a lot of pressure off me with Erykah, Redman [and others] havin' to hold up their part," he added, "so now I see exactly where I need to be. What I need to write about, what I need to address, and how my fans perceive me better." [28.8 RealVideo] Aside from "It's a Beautiful Thing," Murray can also be heard on R. Kelly's current hit single, "Home Alone."
