In a time when hip-hop’s biggest acts are making music for the club, Murs chooses to be different. While Soulja Boy cranks that Superman, Murs is forming some of hip-hop’s best love songs.
He doesn’t do drugs. He doesn’t rap about killing people. He is different, and he wants to make the path of hip-hop different as well.
“Most young hip-hop listeners aren’t looking for the next John Lennon,” Murs says. “They’re not looking for something intelligent... and they haven’t been equipped to think because they’ve been fed nonsense for the last 10 years or so.”

Briefs for Nov. 21, 2008

With the success of “Rock Band” and the “Guitar Hero” series of games, it seems as if every video-game developer is trying its hand at making a popular music game. Some big follow-ups and new titles were released in the last month. Here’s the rundown:

Nicolas Cage is in 11 upcoming films. Unfortunately, none of them will be good.

Saturday is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. On Shabbos, Walter Sobchak doesn’t get in a car or even turn on an oven. But on this Shabbos, there will be an event that many who love the Dude can enjoy.

Many nationally recognized performers interact with their audiences during their shows. Few, however, connect and leave an impression quite like the Dallas Brass.
The Dallas Brass is a six-man brass ensemble that has appeared with symphony orchestras nationwide including the Cincinnati Pops and New York Pops. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington and have toured Europe. They have shared the stage with Bob Hope and have performed for Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. They’ve even played on the CBS “Early Show.”

As the World Series ended last week, another year of baseball was put to rest. But for the champions, the memories of this summer will last for a lifetime. The same can be said for one special team from St. Joseph.
The Saint Joe Sluggers are the city’s most popular Special Olympics softball team. And although they look like a group of guys who got together for a pickup game (the ages of the players range from 15 to nearly 60), they all have the heart and will of true baseball heroes.
The Sluggers proved how heroic they were when they won both a regional tournament at Missouri Western in July and then the Special Olympics State Softball Playoffs in Columbia, Mo. The Sluggers were clutch to say the least.

Who needs Oscar when you have Bennie?
I talked with several students at Benton High School about what they felt were this year’s best movies. Some films were popular, some were called stupid, some were considered outright hilarious and some were recognized as “pee-your-pants” scary.
They may not be the Academy, but the students at Benton know what they like (and what they don’t). Although several films were discussed, here are the clear-cut favorites:

Whether Rachael Yamagata is crafting a dark, beautiful piece or pumping out a rocking anthem, her music has one sole focus: Heartache.
“It’s probably one of my big lessons in life. I’m always kind of searching for that great counterpart,” Yamagata says of her fascination with the subject. “It’s the only thing that I can’t articulate in any other way. I can’t say it in just words. I need a melody. I need instrumentation.”

Briefs for Nov. 7, 2008