New Wave
For Morray, experience is everything, otherwise known as the driving force behind the Fayetteville, North Carolina natives discography. Pain and faith are the driving force that birthed the melodic rappers sound, having taken his own so-called “Cinderella story” as ammunition to mould his cadence and pen. 2020 needed a feel-good story, and it found one in Morray.
Morae Ruffin, known professionally as Morray, would strike gold upon the release of his debut single “Quicksand”, a track he was first hesitant to release, but felt it was the “realist” track to touch his previous discography - of which he described as “phoney”. In a world where Morray celebrates small wins like buying his first house, the walls echo the blatant truth that music was first ed to him when he and his mother lived in a homeless shelter, a long way away from Moe Shalizi phonecalls. The blueprint of his remarkable turn-around story features the amalgamation of r&b’s heavyweight vocalist’s such as Kelly Price, with a feature from the gospel healing of J. Moss and spits out the tenor’s rap melody. Albeit, In contrast, peering across the street from the church windows was the backdrop that inspired the track Trenches, of which Morray describes the “dark cave” where people “run amuck”. Morray pays homage to the darkness through rose-tinted glasses’ - respectfully- but embraces the light.
Since October, which sees over 77 million views, and a feature on “The Off-Season” with fellow North Carolina native J. Cole, Morray’s cup of luck has runneth over. The 27-year-old is keen to see the good times outweigh the bad days, securing his faith in saying, “I just want n****s to look at my story 20 years from now and be like, “Yo, he was really the best version of himself”.
The first song you heard that made you want to make music.
The first song I heard that made me want to make my own music? We were in a shelter and my mom was playing Kelly Price, she had a song called, I think, “Heartbreak Hotel.” I was singing that and I said, “Bro I wanna sing like my heart out and get the hoes.” No BS. [laughing]
What sort of music was playing at home when you grew up?
R&B, Kelly Price, Karen Clark Sheard, J. Moss, Dietrick Haddon. My mom played nothing but gospel.
What year did you start making music?
2006 was my first time making a full song.
Let’s talk signing to Pick Six Records, how did that come about?
Moe Shalizi called me on my wife’s phone, so I looked him up and immediately FaceTimed him back & he told me he was starting a label & wanted me to be a part of it. He said I was gonna have to work hard as hell and it wasn’t going to happen over night, but if I put the work he was going to do his part and push it to the world. We haven’t looked back since.
How did you find your feet to finally release “Quicksand”?
Honestly, I was nervous to release “Quicksand” because I didn’t want people in my business knowing who I really was, but I felt like the music I was making before was fake and phony & it wasn’t going where it was supposed to.
What was the first track you made?
The first track I made was “Up All Night.” I took Drake’s verse off his song and I featured myself with Nicki Minaj. [laughs]
How would you define your sound?
Um, kind of like melodic hip-hop, I still like to bring the story telling element you find in hip hop but combine it with the melodies and soul of r&b.
What’s your wildest story since “Quicksand” was released?
Honestly, I’ve just really been trying to get my life together so nothing too crazy, but I guess you could say looking at this house that cost more than I ever thought I could afford in my life and I’m ‘bout to buy it. That’s wild to me.
What’s the one achievement in your career that you’re most proud of?
My first 100,000 views on “Quicksand” when that happened in October. I was going crazy, the feelings I felt in my heart and my body of just reaching 100,000 individuals that I don’t even know was just dope.
What’s your biggest goal in your career?
I really wanna just go down in history for being a great artist and a genuine dude. I don’t really care about the accolades and awards and shit. They’d be nice don’t get me wrong, but I just want n****s to look at my story 20 years from now and be like, “Yo, he was really the best version of himself.”
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Words by Thandie Sibanda