With big album releases this summer like Channel Orange, Self Made Vol. 2, and Life is Good, it’s easy to look over the little guys. Enter Naj Murph, a New York native and wordsmith with a slick delivery. His latest mixtape Murph Choice Awards has a ’90s type of feel, which many rappers are chasing right now. Signed to the Atlanta-based indie label WATIA Music Group, Naj Murph and his team Student Union are receiving rapidly growing buzz within the ATL.

What inspired you to start rapping? Who were you influences?
In short, other rappers. Since a young age I always admired the wit and braggadocios of a lot of great rappers, especially all of the interesting stories that they told. Around sixth grade I felt that I couldn’t do that bad of a job if I tried. Growing up in NY, I was influenced by Busta Rhymes, Nas, the Fugees, but more so the Bad Boy camp in its entirety. I used to pretend that I was Ma$e in 2nd grade.

What exactly is the Student Union, and who does it consist of? How did you link up with WATIA Music?
Student Union is the group of friends/brothers that I entered and graduated Morehouse College with. I secretly started calling our group Student Union but didn’t say anything until a random trip to Miami. I threw the name out jokingly with hopes of it sticking and it worked. As far as WATIA, I had been rubbing shoulders with David Fuller since I got on campus and we kept a cool artist-to-artist relationship. Ironically enough, Dave’s producer (Brandon Phillips-Taylor) happened to attend every school from elementary to college with the first producer (Nicholas Dean) I ever completed an entire music project with. At a house party one day, Dave approached me like, “Yo, let me holla at you real quick.” He did it so aggressively I thought we were about to fight! He pretty much educated me on what WATIA is and extended an invitation to be a part of the family. It was pretty much history after that.

How would you describe your music?
Promising and purposeful. The charisma and the energy I put in a song lets listeners know that I’m improving every time I think about creating and also that I’ll be around for a while.

Who do you make your music for? What message do you want your listeners to get out of it, if any?
I make music for lovers of music. Anytime I make a song I want to be felt, understood, if you will. I want listeners emotions to be appeased after listening. If you’re in a mood to dance, I wanna make you dance until the sole of your shoe breaks. If you’re sad, i wanna make you cry then make you feel better. If you’re not motivated, I wanna motivate you.

Is there anybody you would like to collaborate with? What do you have planned for the future?
I would really like to do a song or three with Ab-Soul. Very talented, very creative mind. As far as the future is concerned, I just plan to turn up. More music, new videos, new projects, new shows. I’ll be releasing a video for the song “Girl Blue” off of my first album titled Heir Murph. I’m also working on my second album titled The Crowning which may touch earth in the fall or winter. Also, be on the lookout for a Murph Choice Awards 2.

Both his Heir Murph and Murph Choice Awards mixtapes are available for download at watiamusic.com.

The post Get to Know Atlanta Up-and-Comer Naj Murph appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.