Morray

Here’s a Complete List of Every XXL Freshman Over the Years

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A look at all of the stars who have graced XXL Freshman covers over the years. Continue reading…

Best Hip-Hop Hooks Over the Last Five Years

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Hooks that last. Continue reading…

Morray Clears Out His Boxes And Sings His Regrets In The Melancholy ‘Nothing Now’ Video

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Fayetteville, North Carolina has long been renowned as the birthplace of superstar J. Cole but lately, a new rapper from the ‘Ville has been gaining steam as a star on the rise. Morray even recently appeared on Cole’s new album The Off-Season, providing a symbolic passing of the torch for the new Southern rap hero.

Capitalizing on the renewed attention, Morray returned to the promotion of his own debut mixtape Street Sermons, following up the video for “Trenches” with a new clip for “Nothing Now.” A heartbreak anthem that finds Morray coaching himself out of his regrets — the sort of negging pep talk many of us have given ourselves at some point or another — “Nothing Now” arrives with a video depicting the aftermath of the relationship’s breakdown, packing up his car, and driving off through the night to relocate, leaving his ex-lady behind to pick up the pieces.

Morray’s increased buzz hasn’t only put him on J. Cole’s radar. Before his surprise appearance on Cole’s new album, the North Carolina native also made his television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! performing his breakout single “Quicksand.”

Watch Morray’s “Nothing Now” video above.

Street Sermons is out now via Pick Six Records/Interscope Records. Get it here.

Morray Blazes His Way Through ‘Quicksand’ In His Television Debut On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

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Three weeks removed from the release of his debut mixtape Street Sermons, North Carolina crooner/rapper Morray made his television debut last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, blazing through a medley performance of lead single “Quicksand” and mixtape cut “Can’t Use Me.” Amid dystopian staging featuring a burning car and various debris in the background and embellishing the soulful production with a live band, Morray quickly proved to be a polished performer, even though it was pre-recorded.

Morray’s tape arrived on April 28 in the middle a tough week for releases, as that New Music Friday brought a swarm of standout projects from the likes of AG Club, The Alchemist, and DJ Khaled. However, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the newcomer, as his No.41 debut on the Billboard 200 looks all the more impressive in hindsight. “Quicksand,” which peaked at No.65 on Hot 100, also drew attention to Morray’s work, garnering cosigns from fellow Carolinians DaBaby and J. Cole.

The “Trenches” rapper’s star continued to rise this past weekend as he was revealed as one of the features on Cole’s new album The Off-Season, singing an interpolation of Pharoahe Monch’s chorus from Styles P’s 2002 single “The Life.”

Watch Morray sing “Quicksand” and “Can’t Use Me” from his debut album on Jimmy Kimmel Live! above.

Morray Shows Love To The Hood In His Tender ‘Trenches’ Video

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“The hood” figures prominently into many a rap song, but most often, it’s in a context of poverty, trauma, and violence as artists detail their rags-to-riches success stories, contrasting their humble beginnings with their newly lush surroundings. However, Fayetteville, North Carolina trapsoul artist Morray flat-out refuses to let that narrative continue to be the only one dominating hip-hop’s expansive landscape. In his new video for “Trenches,” he expresses love for his hometown, lifting it up instead of denigrating it by informing listeners of all the positive that comes from a proletarian upbringing in the hood.

“I got love for the ghetto, love for the hood,” he croons on the chorus. “Love for the people that turn the bad into good.” The video flashes imagery of neighbors, friends, crew, and family at play, cooking out, and watching over children as Morray explains that “everything is easier if you believe.” He also shows off his pitbull puppy and the energetic dance moves that first endeared him to fans who discovered his music via viral clips of his impromptu choreography.

“Trenches” follows “Quicksand,” “Kingdom,” “Switched Up,” and “Big Decisions” as the fifth single from Morray’s upcoming debut album Street Sermons, due April 28 via Pick Six Records/Interscope. You can pre-save the album here.

Watch the tender “Trenches” video above.

2021 XXL Freshman Class 10th Spot – Vote Now

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Before the annual Freshman Class cover is revealed, it’s time to cast your vote for the 10th spot. Continue reading…