AMG Review of Fornever

Jason Lymangrover
All Music Guide

After the paranoid tendencies of Murray’s Revenge and the lackluster, politically charged Murs for President, Murs teamed up with his old pal, 9th Wonder, for a spirited full-length that harks back to the days of 3:16: The 9th Edition. Maybe it’s because it was recorded in L.A., on Murs’ home coast, or due to the fact that the two have a brotherly chemistry that lends itself to wisecracking good times, but Murs sounds reinvigorated and -- for the first time in a while -- glad to be where he is as a rapper. Instead of wasting time boasting or targeting adversaries, Murs concentrates solely on storytelling. The rhymes on Fornever are frank, funny, and relatable, with each of the ten songs revolving around a specific subject; be it convenience store shopping (“The Lick”), fighting hangovers at an office job (“Cigarettes and Liquor”), lust for Asian females (“Asian Girl”), or the old time favorite, drama-filled relationships. His girlfriend won’t let him watch football and forces him to sleep on the couch in “Let Me Talk,” he faces issues while dating a porn star in “Viki Veil,” and in the album’s strongest track, “Used to Love Her (Again),” he talks about his greatest heartbreak; the steady devolution of his all-time deepest love, hip-hop. The album has all the makings of a hip-hop classic: it's lofty with an easygoing, nod-nodding vibe; it's concise, consistent; and 9th Wonder's production is a top-notch blend of Motown soul and Native Tongue boom-bap. Fornever is one of those rare, late-career triumphs. There are no weak tracks and it’s entertaining throughout; every bit as much as Murs’ best early outings.