Keith Murray: Alright. What's going on brother?

Where are you located right now?

Keith Murray: Long Island.

Why'd you decide to name the new album Intellectual Violence?

Keith Murray: First and foremost this is a mixtape album. I named it Intellectual Violence because violence is not a good thing, but if you use it intellectually it can be. My music is aggressive and thought provoking at the same time. I thought Intellectual Violence would be appropriate. 

Is it a throwback to your line on the "Who Shot Ya Remix"?

Keith Murray: Basically.

Who are some of the guests and producers you worked with?

Keith Murray: I worked with my man Kel and I got E on the chorus.

Tell us a little about the tracks "Pen Life" and "Don't Hate Me Cause I'm Beautiful."

Keith Murray: "Pen Life" is a behind the scenes with intricate situations that I had to personally deal with eye to eye. The whole psychological outlook of the whole system and what it is, along with what I had to go through mentally and physically to get through this time here. "Don't hate Me Cause I'm Beautiful" is an ode to the people who feel good about themselves. It's a keep your head up song that addresses haters. Whatever they have to say; their attitudes and characteristics.

Creatively, how does this album stand out from your past work? How would you rank it compared to your other albums?

Keith Murray: This album right here is more electrifying because these are the songs that were supposed to be on Rap-Murr-Phobia but didn't make it. I was in the studio and was like you know what, I'm going to make a hard tape. A mixtape. It just so happened that I took the songs that had a mixtape feel and took them off. So I decided I wanted to press it up and give it to my fans. Then I had this company named Traffic that said they'll put the mixtape out because when they heard it they asked if it was an album. I was like nah this is a mixtape I'm giving to my core audience.  So they said they'd distribute it if I took off the beats that weren't original. So I took the beats that weren't original beats and formatted it with skits and changed some songs. So it was like a puzzle and a project put together with ingenuity. When you hear it it's not just a song, space then song.

How much does it differ from the Intellectual Violence mixtape which was circulating last year?

Keith Murray: I'm glad you asked that. It has different songs and I added some new stuff. I kept the title because I felt this mixtape needs to be heard. Having a distribution company put it out and doing interviews - I know the people that will love it will get it. It's a mixtape because it's in a mixtape form and was put out on the street using the mixtape channels. When you bump it in your car it's industry standard album quality.

So you pretty much took it and bumped it up a notch.

Keith Murray: Exactly.

It says there are over 20 tracks. Are there a lot of skits and what made you go with such a packed album?

Keith Murray: There's about 13-16 songs, there's a few skits. The skits are from movies and they pertain to the songs. So when you hear it, it flows together. Like how mixtapes used to be made where you have your scratching and you do your echoes and shit like that? It's like that but the songs are in a song form. It's really different from the average mixtape where people do all the songs over known beats and stuff like that. I was able to do what I wanted to do. It was much looser, less controlled and I really went bonkers.

Nice. Personally I find those less constricting projects more entertaining when you can feel the artists' looseness.

Keith Murray: Exactly. Uncut is what I like to call it.

You mentioned its going to be released by Traffic but you also have your own label called Legion of Doom Records.

Keith Murray: Yeah L.O.D. I'm releasing under the imprint Legion of Doom records.

How do you feel when doing it independently as opposed to with a major?

Keith Murray: The way the industry is now man, I'm a major artist and I've always been on a major. A major is where I would essentially want to be. As far as independent you make more on the back-end and on a major you get more accolades. My little brother; I'm producing his album so we'll go to a major with him. But for the folk that understand the independent game and get out there and do what they got to do, it's rewarding.

Are you schooling your brother on the whole aspect of being able to own your own material when you do it independently?

Keith Murray: Most definitely. I think he needs that major push. You need the majors to set up your shows, ring tones, etc. It's so hard to get a major deal now. I think once we set him on the right track to getting that I think he'll be real good.

Do you have any tour plans?

Keith Murray: I got some spot dates now and I'm overseas a lot. The shows should be picking up in the states soon. You'll see me rocking some shows definitely.

Will there be any videos with the album?

Keith Murray: Yeah most definitely. We're getting that together now. We'll get some on youtube too cause that's where it's at.

You've always had a very distinct style, both with lyrics and delivery. What were the biggest factors in developing your style?

Keith Murray: Just listening to everything that's out there and making sure I sound different than them. I'm big on originality and sounding different. Just knowing what's out there and putting myself in that position. Whether my record comes on or it's a show it's different than anything that's out there.

Being that you're a real lyricist, did you ever find it hard to balance with trying to sell records?

Keith Murray: Not really. I look at it like what am I making a record for? I can make a record about anything. If I go the direction where I have to make a record that sounds like this or that so people like it that's wack. I just get in the groove of the beat and move around the way the beat tells me to move

Since you've been around the block does that make it easier for you to push your own vision?

Keith Murray: Yes, most definitely and I have a lot of young talented guys around me. 

What's the Def Squad up to these days? Do you guys still work together often?

Keith Murray: Yeah. Def Squad is still together. The album is pushed back. Def Squad definitely talks. We just got to get the time to get it done and get it done right and get it on the right label that's going to give it the exposure that it deserves.

You killed the booth in Rap City last year; did you get a lot of positive responses from that?

Keith Murray: Yeah. That's what the Intellectual Violence is. It's that. Those are rhymes from that. I got to freestyle and it was cool but that's what Keith Murray is right there.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Keith Murray: I just want the fans to know this is a mixtape album. Shit is fire! So when you hear it you're going to love it. Up and down.