Rapper Murphy Lee (with original hit “Wat Da Hook Gon Be” and featured in “Air Force Ones” and “Shake Ya Tailfeather”), formerly of St. Lunatics, the group that launched Nelly’s career, is coming home. The St. Louis native will appear with rapper LNM on Friday to debut their new music video at the newly transformed Memoir dance club, now Salty’s Bar and Grill.
Lee will be hosting the party to unveil the video, “Sick-a-Cell.” The video was shot at a hospital in St. Louis and features both LNM and Lee. The song will be released on LNM’s new mixtape, “I’m Famous 2.” Chase Lauer, recent MU grad and general manager of Salty’s Bar and Grill, has cameo on screen.
“LNM is in a straight jacket in a sketchy hospital, and I chase him when he escapes from the holding cell,” Lauer says. “You barely see my face — I wish you didn’t at all, though.”
Lauer refers to Lee and LNM on casual terms, calling them “Murph” and “L.”
“Murph’s really down to earth,” Lauer says. “He’s a busy guy, so we did almost all the shooting without Murph. He just came for the last two hours, but he was really cool. He made sure to come out and introduce himself and everything.”
Justin Garrett, a close friend of LNM and former MU football player, also appears briefly in the music video. Looking to get his party planning business off the ground, Garrett will help throw the party at Salty’s on Friday.
“LNM and I are really close friends, and he’d been working to get his career started and motivated me to get my stuff together,” Garrett says. “I’m looking forward to getting involved in charities, doing bigger and better things in Columbia party-wise and representing Mizzou the right way. I guess this is life after football.”
Friday’s party will also feature promotional giveaways and free samples of Lee’s new wine label, Freaky Muscato. Lee and LNM will stick around after the video to autograph, take photos and mingle with fans.
“I just want everybody to be focused on the video,” LNM says. “I’ll be walking around, looking cute and handing out CDs. I don’t want to perform or anything, I just want everyone to party and have a good time.”
Although the party will be the first big event at Salty’s, Sept. 9 marks the new bar and grill’s grand opening. Salty’s will host a kick-off party and unveil its new sign as well as several of their own drink labels, including “Goorilla,” “Salty Snail” and the most popular, “Deadfro6.”
In addition to these changes, the old Memoir building is hardly recognizable inside, with new chalkboard walls for customers to decorate and a MU-themed black and gold color scheme. For the first time, the location will serve food.
“When I was given the opportunity to take over, I decided I wanted to make it more of a college bar and grill, sports bar sort of thing,” Lauer says. “I gutted the inside, repainted, renamed and did a lot of rebranding.”
Lauer says a focus on music is also part of the plan to transform the establishment. Lauer’s hand in the music industry through his own music label will make it possible to bring big performers to the venue. Andy Grammer is scheduled to preform Sept. 2.
Salty’s has several weekly events including karaoke on Mondays and $2 Tuesdays. The bar is usually only open to ages 21 and up, though on Thursdays, Fridays and special events, adults 18 and up are admitted. The party on Friday will have a $5 cover, and a bottomless cup can be purchased for $10.
“This building has never really done well, but it’s an awesome location, so this is a brand new bar with a brand new management and brand new staff,” Lauer says. “We’re going to stick around.”