# Ori Murray

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American-born Israeli rapper (born 1983)

Ori Murray אורי מארי Also known as Ori M'Ori Born Rory Murray Seattle, Washington Origin Beit Shemesh, Israel Genres Alternative hip hop, Jewish rock, Jewish hip hop Occupations Rapper, songwriter Years active 2002–present Website shtarmusic.com

Musical artist

**Rory Murray**, known by his stage name **Ori Murray** ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): אורי מארי) is an American-born Israeli rapper, best known as the co-founder and rap vocalist of the band [Shtar](/source/Shtar).

## Early life

Murray was born in [Seattle](/source/Seattle), [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)) to an [Irish](/source/Irish_Americans) father and a Jewish mother, although he was raised with little connection to [Judaism](/source/Judaism).[1][2] His father, Rod Murray, was a high-ranking [martial arts](/source/Martial_arts) instructor with a school in Seattle. Ori himself actively trained and competed in [karate](/source/Karate) and other disciplines from a young age, including several years as a [collegiate wrestler](/source/Collegiate_wrestling).[3] He was introduced to [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) through albums like [Jurassic 5](/source/Jurassic_5)'s *[Quality Control](/source/Quality_Control_(album))* and the [Rawkus Records](/source/Rawkus_Records) compilation *[Lyricist Lounge 2](/source/Lyricist_Lounge_2)*, and was further influenced by his high school [poetry](/source/Poetry) class.[4]

As a teenager, he would often get into fights at house parties in Seattle's [South End](/source/South_End%2C_Seattle). One such fight left him so badly injured that he required [metal plates](/source/Orthopedic_plate) in one leg and was unable to walk on it for a year.[3] As part of his recovery, he worked with [personal trainer](/source/Personal_trainer) and family friend Yaakov Lunen, an [African American](/source/African_American) who had converted to [Orthodox Judaism](/source/Orthodox_Judaism). Lunen's influence inspired Murray and his entire family to pursue a deeper relationship with Judaism.[1][3] Murray began attending a weekly class at a local [yeshivah](/source/Yeshivah); there, he encountered two rabbis from [Aish HaTorah](/source/Aish_HaTorah) who persuaded him to come study at their yeshivah in [Israel](/source/Israel), where he ended up settling.[3]

## Career

Murray began rapping professionally while living in Seattle. He recorded his first album at age 19 under the name **Madsteez** and performed at shows throughout the [West Coast](/source/West_Coast_of_the_United_States).[3] He also performed as an [MC](/source/Rapping) and [DJ](/source/Disc_jockey) in the city's [house](/source/House_music) and [drum and bass](/source/Drum_and_bass) scenes.[1][5]

At Aish HaTorah, Murray initially gave up rapping to focus on his studies, until one of his rabbis told him it would be a *[chillul Hashem](/source/Chillul_Hashem)* to repress his talents in such a way.[1][5]

### Shtar

Main article: [Shtar](/source/Shtar)

In 2006, Murray met fellow Aish HaTorah student [Brad Rubinstein](/source/Brad_Rubinstein), who had previously been a guitarist in the short-lived English [trip hop](/source/Trip_hop) band [Lisp](/source/Lisp_(band)). They began writing music together and formed [Shtar](/source/Shtar), initially as a duo, before adding a full band to strengthen their live performance. They released their debut album, *[Infinity](/source/Infinity_(Shtar_album))* through Shemspeed in 2012, followed by their [*Boss*](/source/Boss_EP) EP, which featured Murray's fellow Seattle native [D. Black](/source/Nissim_(rapper)) on the song "Rabbit Hole". They competed on the 2015-16 season of the Israeli reality singing competition *[HaKokhav HaBa](/source/HaKokhav_HaBa)*, coming in ninth place.

## Personal life

Murray currently lives in [Beit Shemesh](/source/Beit_Shemesh) with his wife and children.[6] In addition to his music career, he teaches [kung fu](/source/Kung_fu) and works in [real estate](/source/Real_estate).[1] He has also written for *[The Times of Israel](/source/The_Times_of_Israel)* as a [blogger](/source/Blog).[7]

## Discography

Main article: [Shtar § Discography](/source/Shtar#Discography)

- *[Infinity](/source/Infinity_(Shtar_album))* (2011)

- *[Boss EP](/source/Boss_EP)* (2012)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-JPost_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-JPost_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-JPost_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-JPost_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-JPost_1-4) Marder, Rachel (March 17, 2012). ["Shtar Power"](https://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Music/Article.aspx?id=262236). [The Jerusalem Post](/source/The_Jerusalem_Post). Retrieved 10 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Infinity"](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007GALGAK). *Amazon*. Retrieved 11 January 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aish_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aish_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aish_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-aish_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-aish_3-4) Rabbi Gavriel Horan (July 26, 2008). ["Rolling with the Punches"](http://www.aish.com/sp/so/rolling_with_the_punches.html). [Aish.com](/source/Aish_HaTorah).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Shtar (Oct 30, 2012). ["Interesting and inspiring tidbit from Ori Murray of Shtar..."](https://www.facebook.com/shtar/posts/10151075137806261) [Facebook](/source/Facebook).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-A7_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-A7_5-1) Bresky, Ben (June 2010). ["Yeshiva Hip-Hop Band "Shtar" Releases New CD"](http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138270#.UNFXEIE9-So). *[Israel National News](/source/Arutz_Sheva#Israel_National_News)*. [Arutz Sheva](/source/Arutz_Sheva). Retrieved 19 December 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_6-0)** Marder, Rachel (Dec 6, 2012). ["The Israeli Music Scene's Rising 'Shtar'"](http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/12/06/the-israeli-music-scene%E2%80%99s-rising-%E2%80%98shtar%E2%80%99/). [Algemeiner Journal](/source/Algemeiner_Journal). Retrieved 11 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ori Murray"](https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/ori-murray/). [The Times of Israel](/source/The_Times_of_Israel). Retrieved 9 June 2016.

## External links

- [Shtar official website](http://www.shtarmusic.com)

v t e Contemporary Jewish religious music Bands 8th Day Aharit Hayamim Ashira Blue Fringe Bulletproof Stockings Diaspora Yeshiva Band Hamakor JudaBlue Moshav Band Moshe Hecht Band Moshiach Oi! Nefesh Mountain Reva L'Sheva Rogers Park Safam Shlock Rock Shtar Six13 Soulfarm StandFour The Groggers The Maccabeats The Portnoy Brothers The Rabbis' Sons Yaakov Chesed Yood Zusha Cantors Dudu Fisher Yitzchak Meir Helfgot Naftali Hershtik Yaakov Lemmer Benzion Miller Azi Schwartz Sol Zim Choirs Miami Boys Choir Shira Choir Vocolot Yeshiva Boys Choir Zamir Chorale of Boston Composers Ken Burgess Baruch Chait Debbie Friedman Eli Gerstner Ari Goldwag Yossi Green Miriam Israeli Yosef Karduner Baruch Levine Dan Nichols Abie Rotenberg Ben Zion Shenker Country Yossi Genres Jewish hip hop Jewish rock Orthodox pop music Jews in punk rock Mizrahi music Vocalists Shaindel Antelis Mordechai Ben David Moshe Reuven Isaac Bitton Nissim Black Neshama Carlebach Shlomo Carlebach Alex Clare Shloime Dachs Udi Davidi Gad Elbaz Avraham Fried Benny Friedman Debbie Friedman Shloime Gertner Shragee Gestetner Ari Goldwag Dedi Graucher Yehuda Green Moshe Hecht Bracha Jaffe Yosef Karduner Shlomo Katz Meilech Kohn Aryeh Kunstler Simcha Leiner Shulem Lemmer Baruch Levine Ohad Moskowitz Yosi Piamenta Israel Portnoy Adi Ran Shuli Rand Aharon Razel Yonatan Razel Rick Recht Ishay Ribo Chaim-Dovid Saracik Lipa Schmeltzer Michoel Schnitzler Mordechai Shapiro Shmuel Shapiro Shlomo Simcha Yaakov Shwekey Motty Steinmetz Akiva Turgeman Uncle Moishy Shmueli Ungar Beri Weber Mendy Werdyger Yeedle Werdyger Moshe Yess Country Yossi Producers Mendy Portnoy Abie Rotenberg

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