St. Louis rapper Murphy Lee celebrates 20 years of debut album, 'Murphy's Law' (2024)

After the breakthrough success of Nelly’s “Country Grammar” album in 2000, the path was paved for the rapper’s St. Lunatics groupmates to do their thing too.

First there was St. Lunatics’ “Free City” (2001) album, followed by Ali’s “Heavy Starch” (2002), then “Schoolboy” Murphy Lee’s “Murphy’s Law” (2003).

Murphy Lee’s gold album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of “Wat Da Hook Gon Be?” featuring Jermaine Dupri, “Luv Me Baby” featuring Jazze Pha and Sleepy Brown, “Hold Up” featuring Nelly, and of course “Shake Ya Tailfeather” with Nelly and Diddy, which won a Grammy. (“Shake Ya Tailfeather” was also on the “Bad Boys II” soundtrack.)

Murphy Lee celebrates the 20th anniversary of his debut album with “The Murphy Lee Experience” on Sept. 22 at Hot Java Bar. It is a night of music, comedy, networking, vibes and more. A documentary will be filmed.

The University City native (born Torhi Harper) says the number 20 is significant for him, “coming from a city where 20 is not ever promised, the way we grew up.” He was 20 when he signed his record deal.

He loves his personal growth since “Murphy’s Law,” and he’s grateful to do what he loves for a living.

“I’m glad I could make a way for me and my family and keep motivating people,” he says. “It’s not easy, but it’s doable. I want to show people if you do this music correctly, it can create longevity.

“I think that was the biggest smile and motivation for myself in this weird industry. I definitely put that first. That’s the biggest thing.”

Murphy Lee released his “2nd Time Around” album in 2021.

He says memories of his breakthrough period were nothing but good.

“Life will have its ups and downs, but I can’t complain about nothing,” he says. “I was always on the road, five to six days a week, living life, soaking it all in, learning. When you leave your block, the knowledge starts rolling in. I’m so U. City, and you wanna stay in your area. But when you see the world, your brain starts rolling.”

He married Seviin Li, who performed on the album.

Releasing his solo debut when he did was necessitated by his growing popularity.

“I never thought about a solo album in my life, and after Nelly did a solo album and then Lunatics, I still didn’t think about it,” Murphy Lee says. “Then Ali did his.”

His name recognition and career momentum had been growing. He rapped on Jermaine Dupri and Ludacris’ popular “Welcome to Atlanta.” He didn’t know Diddy and Snoop Dogg would also be part of the remix; he was just there to represent St. Louis.

“I thought it would just be me and JD,” he says. “I was just doing my part, and you see where it went from there. I saw the change when I was coming out onstage. I could hear the energy — the voices.”

“Wat Da Hook Gon Be,” Murphy Lee’s signature hit, again demonstrated magic with Dupri, whom he calls a musical genius.

“I didn’t know it was going to be a hit,” he says. “I just love making music.”

Murphy Lee had been in Atlanta working on “Murphy’s Law” when he took a break and headed to Dupri’s studio to hang. Next thing he knew, he was listening to a beat he says was “slamming,” and he wrote three verses in two hours.

“I’m used to doing the hook first, but I did the verses first and the hook two or three days later. I couldn’t think of a hook,” he says of what would be titled “Wat Da Hook Gon Be.”

“Shake Ya Tailfeather” would also help set up Murphy Lee for his debut.

He knew from the song’s energy while recording at Diddy’s studio that it would be big. He credits much of its success to St. Louis producer Koko, along with producers Jay E and Wally “Beamin” Yaghnam, all of Basem*nt Beats.

He says Ali was one of the first to hear the beat and recognize something was there.

“Nothing starts without the beat,” he says. “We can write songs, but it’s nothing without the beats. St. Louis has got some legendary producers. Basem*nt Beats needs a movie.”

He was never impressed by the song’s Grammy win.

“I don’t even know what a Grammy is,” Murphy Lee says. “I haven’t watched since Michael Jackson won way back yonder. It wasn’t one of my dreams. I didn’t realize I had a Grammy until my son said, ‘Dad, you have a Grammy like Michael Jackson.’ It’s disrespectful where that (thing) is right now,” he says, laughing. “It’s somewhere weird.”

“Murphy’s Law,” heavy with collaborations from his St. Louis circle and from outsiders, also includes Lil Wayne and Lil Jon on “This Goes Out,” “I Betta Go” with Avery Storm and “Same Ol’ Dirty” with Toya.

If he could do anything differently on the album, he would have reduced the number of songs. He says classic albums have 10 to 12 songs, but he kept adding to “Murphy’s Law” to please the producers. He didn’t know he could have used some of the songs for a deluxe version of the album.

“I didn’t know I could have broken them down into something even more special,” he says. “But it happened the way it was supposed to happen.”

What The Murphy Lee Experience/”Murphy’s Law” 20th Anniversary • When 7 p.m. Sept. 22 • Where Hot Java Bar, 4193 Manchester Avenue • How much $35-$50, VIP available • More info eventbrite.com