Published: Sunday - March 20, 2005
Words by Jay Casteel
C-Murder (Photo: Koch)
C-Murder (real name: Corey Miller) is a man who ironically has a name that fits the crime he is allegedly jailed for. With a new trial recently snatched from him, while sitting in prison hoping for the judicial system to "do what's right," the New Orleans rapper seems to be more than confident he'll get another chance and once again see the other side of the wall in which he's imprisoned in.
As his label preps the release of his new album, The Truest Sh-- I Ever Said, C-Murder is anxious to give fans his side of the story via brand new songs recorded from behind the walls. After stirring up controversy for filming his first single in jail, he has created a buzz without even leaving his cell. With more than three years since his last release, C-Murder has a lot to say, and fans are waiting for his response.
BallerStatus.com spoke with C about the recently overturned decision to take away his new trial, how he feels his chances are of getting an appeal, and of course his new music. Fan mail, and support is helping him cope, and he wants everyone to know, he'll fight his current situation to the end.
BallerStatus.com: How are you holding up in there man?
C-Murder: Yo, I'm holding up good. I can't stop fighting even though I'm hitting all these brick walls. I still got the gloves on, taking this to the next level as a company, ya heard?
BallerStatus.com: First off, you recently were denied a new trial by the State Court of Appeals, why do you think they overturned their decision after granting you a new trial last year?
C-Murder: I feel like, straight up, the D.A., that sheriff, and the Head D.A. got connections. They had they hands reached out, and was owed favors, so right now, I'm trying to investigate that situation. I don't know if we're going to be able to prove it, but I know what I know. There is no way you are supposed to overturn a judge's decision when she grants a new trial in court because of injustice -- that's the law. That's why when we go to the Supreme Court, I'm confident they are gonna uphold the law, and go by the facts because that's just the law.
BallerStatus.com: I hear that your legal team is going to appeal the decision again for a new trial. How do you feel your chances are of that happening?
C-Murder: I think my chances is real good. I'm even more confident about the Supreme [Court] than I was about the 5th Circuit Court (the lesser court), you know? I know one thing is the Supreme [Court] -- when they get the paperwork -- they go by straight facts and by laws, so it should be a guaranteed success with this one. Anything could happen, but I'm just keeping the faith on them doing the right thing.
BallerStatus.com: Do you feel you are stereotyped by judges and the judicial system because of the lyrical content of your music?
C-Murder: Yea, since day one I've felt that, because they brought that up in the pretrial, and was trying to use it in the trial. Then when I was arrested, they used all my lyrics on TV, and the local news out here, so of course, I was prejudiced and prejudged by all that.
BallerStatus.com: Since you've been locked up, you've gotten a lot of press about your case. Do you think the media attention has helped you or hurt your chances?
C-Murder: In the beginning it hurt, but once we found out the corruption and wrongdoing they did, it helped me. The media plays a part both ways. Of course when any entertainer first gets arrested, they are gonna be blown up to look like the devious criminal. But once the media finds out all the facts, they shift all they weight over to the other side and that helps a lot. It's goes both ways, ya feel me?
BallerStatus.com: I know a lot of fans have been writing you, and some of the media is in favor of you. So how do you feel the support has been thus far?
C-Murder: It's been real good. I was surprised to see I had so many people on my team, rooting for me through thick and thin. Usually when people go to jail, it's out of sight, out of mind. But everybody has been really holding me down, and showing me that they are supporting me a 100%, so that's been a real blessing on my end, ya heard me?
BallerStatus.com: Now you are a wealthy man, so tell us the kinda changes you've had to adapt to while in prison. Break down your daily routine.
C-Murder: First off, it starts by waking up at 6 in the morning and doing role call. That gets tiresome every morning 'cause some mornings you just wanna oversleep, and chill. Then I'm used to sleeping on a big comfortable bed, and here I got one little cot mattress on a steel bar, so that's crazy. The food ain't nothing, ya heard me? You eat that food, and it's like half cooked, or raw, or got bugs in it. You never know what to expect. And you only get to go outside for 30 minutes a day, that's only on weekdays. Weekends, we stay in. So it's like you are locked up 23 1/2 hours a day, you are watching TV with no cable, so it's crazy. Then if you need medical attention, you might get that after three weeks if you fill out [a form] for something. So there's a lot you have to deal with. You have to deal with the egos of these higher ranking deputies that are already tainted by the media, and the sheriffs, ya dig? You are just losing a lot of freedom, and a lot of activities you are used to doing. And then you gotta go to sleep early, so it's crazy.
BallerStatus.com: Do you get any flack for being a celebrity?
C-Murder: Nah, the sheriff is the only one I gotta worry about, because he passes all the decisions to all the deputies running around here crazy, you see what I'm saying? That's my only problem, dealing with that sheriff right now. Especially when you are a hated man by him, you are gonna have it hard. I better learn to stay out of his way, and maneuver around him, so I won't have no extra charges thrown on me 'cause it's that serious.
BallerStatus.com: Have you gotta into any arguments with the sheriff so far? C-Murder: Uh uh, none of that.
BallerStatus.com: Now you got your first video out and it's creating a buzz for your new album... Do you think this album is your best to date under the circumstances?
C-Murder: You know me being an artist, I just gotta wait and see what the fans say. But I mean everybody that has heard it -- as far as mixing, production and engineers -- they say it's my best album yet, so I'm just gonna wait to hear what the fans say. The most interesting part about putting it out is that you get the feedback on the day it drops.
BallerStatus.com: I'm sure since you've been in there, you got a lot to say. Do you address your case, and current situation with this album?
C-Murder: Yea, of course. It's like the trials and tribulations since day one of me being here. My fans haven't heard from me in like three years and some change, so I wanna let 'em know what's going on with me, what's happening with my situation, and how I feel about it. Mainly, [being is prison] is a part of the album too.
BallerStatus.com: Now, your album is called The Truest Sh-- I Ever Said, why did you name the album this?
C-Murder: Because I wanna let them know that there ain't gonna be no lying or no water whipped verses on this album. It's gonna be real; it's gonna be The Truest Sh-- I Ever Said; it's 100% uncut, ya heard?
BallerStatus.com: Is the material on this album all current stuff, or did you have to use some past stuff to finish it up?
C-Murder: Uh uh, ain't nothing past recordings. It's all new unreleased songs, recorded here while I'm in the belly of the beast, so it's gonna be crucial [laughs].
BallerStatus.com: The first video, "Y'all Heard Of Me," they filmed your part behind the walls, how does that go down? And how did Sheriff Harry Lee react to it?
C-Murder: He reacted. He's pissed off about it. He's putting me on restrictions, and I'm restricted for a lot of things now. Now, when I walk around, I need a higher ranking officer with me. I'm searched every few minutes, I'm shook down every week. I can deal with that; that's jailhouse sh--. As long as he stays off my damn case, I'm cool. It's all good though, he's just out there saying he didn't give me permission, but he did give me permission. He gave me permission to do these interviews. I do what I want to do.
BallerStatus.com: What are some of your favorite tracks on the album, or the ones fans should really check for?
C-Murder: I got one on there -- the Akon song "Locked Up" -- I did a remix of that. That's a nice song. Me and Fiend are on a song called "Betta Watch Me," that's a real hot song that I think we are gonna put out as a single, so be looking for that. I did a song with Capone called "I Heard U Was Lookin' 4 Me," and like that one a lot. There is a lot of them on there that I dig, but those are the main three.
BallerStatus.com: I've read a couple other interviews, and you've said that some rappers have come to show their support, and you also got the fans supporting. How does it feel to get that kinda support from the hip-hop industry as well as the fans, even though you are behind the walls in a bad spot right now?
C-Murder: That makes me feel good, like I was doing something right while I was out. I kept it real with a lot of people, and I never acted like I was better than the next man when it came to my fans. I always showed them love and support. Now they are showing me that it was real, when I'm coming out of here and they are showing me support. They didn't have to, they could have turned they backs and gave me the cold shoulder, but they didn't. I appreciate that 100%, it makes me feel good, ya heard me?
BallerStatus.com: How's your family doing, are they coming to visit you?
C-Murder: I don't really have nobody coming to see me accept my girl. She comes every week, that's it. That's all I need. I don't really need nobody else.
BallerStatus.com: What about the kids, do they come through to see you?
C-Murder: My oldest daughter, I allow her to come see me on a monthly basis. The youngest two, I don't have them see me 'cause I don't know how they will react. They think I'm just somewhere else working, so I'm trying to figure out a way to break it down to them. Eventually, if I'm here too long, they are gonna have to come.
BallerStatus.com: That's about it, you have any last words?
C-Murder: I just want everybody to know that I will be home, don't trip. Don't worry about what the media has to say 'cause I'm fighting this one until the end. I got the gloves on, and I'm never taking them off, ya heard me?
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