ABOUT PROGRAM
Groundwaves is a unique platform for hip-hop artists, created by rapper MURS. It's inspired by historical hip-hop open mics and focuses on supporting and developing live music and artists in a community setting. The program consists of monthly open mic events where aspiring rappers from various locations gather to showcase and refine their skills, with MURS and the audience serving as judges. Groundwaves emphasizes artist development, community building, and collaboration
Key features of Groundwaves:
- Two-Day Format: The first day is dedicated to open mic performances, while the second day focuses on mentorship.
- Mentorship by MURS: MURS provides one-on-one sessions, offering counsel and advice based on his extensive hip-hop industry experience.
- Community and Performance Standards: The program fosters a supportive yet critical environment, with a unique system for community feedback and constructive criticism.
- Inclusive and Safe Space: Groundwaves maintains a respectful atmosphere, free from hate speech and negative commentary, emphasizing constructive peer feedback.
- Opportunities for Growth and Exposure: Top performers from Groundwaves have the chance to perform at The Happiness Of Pursuit Festival in Ontario, California, providing additional exposure and experience.
- Physical Community Building: Physical Community Building: MURS, saw that there were not a lot of spaces provided for young people to have in-person gatherings in the digital age, he has successfully created a space for artists to meet, collaborate, and grow beyond virtual platforms.
Groundwaves started in 2019 in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has expanded to Northwest Arkansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. It aims to foster a real-life community for hip-hop artists to develop and connect, providing a unique intersection of creativity and community building. The program is now looking to expand to more cities to continue its mission of transforming and connecting people through music.
ABOUT MURS
MURS is a West Coast rap icon and innovator. He started his career selling tapes on the street, advanced to sign a major deal with Warner Brothers and collaborated with a range of artists, from Snoop and E-40 to Mac Miller and Kendrick. He also founded the most succesful independent rap festival, Paid Dues. He has toured the world and performed at many notable festivals; Coachella, Bonaroo and Camp Flognaw to name just a few. Among his numerous accolades, Murs was also the first emcee to set the Guinness World Record for Rap Marathon, rapping nonstop for an astounding 26 hours live on Twitch. Murs has certainly carved a unique path in the music industry with 18 solo albums, numerous collaborative projects, and 20 plus years touring nationally and internationally. He also created, Groundwaves, a national music mentorship and artist development platform that currently is active is three different states.
His rich musical journey as an underrated hip-hop legend spans decades and his work catalogs the evolution of his style, his musical prowess, and experiences that shaped his discography. MURS is known for being a consummate storyteller. Creating, curating or collaborating in the studio his premier artist attribute is constructing an engaging narrative. Many songs include first person tales of an inner city Black teen hustling and gradually climbing to international notoriety. His work is riveting and relatable to listeners worldwide regardless of their familarity with the culture because he is so deeply passionate and involved in all areas of his work and hip-hop culture.
MURS is a true artist and entrepreneur, who has crafted a remarkable legacy and lifted many other artists as he’s climbed.