Happy Birthday, Murphy Lee!

Today, Dec. 18, is the 39th birthday of Murphy Lee, a St. Louis, MO rapper best known for his affiliation with the St. Lunatics.

A native of St. Louis, Murphy Lee, born Torhi Harper, came up alongside eventual hometown superstar Nelly. Murph, Nelly, Kyjuan, City Spud and Ali formed the group St. Lunatics in the mid-to late 1990s, but were struggling to gain traction. City Spud ended up incarcerated; Nelly found a hit of his own with 2000's "Country Grammar," he released an album of the same name and it's currently nine-times platinum. Not one to leave his boys behind, Nelly features St. Lunatics on his album; Murphy Lee stood out as next up from the crew.

The next year, the St. Lunatics dropped their debut album Free City, a nod to Spud. The 'Tics album went platinum in a month and Murphy got to showcase his talent all over it. In 2002, Jermaine Dupri put Murphy Lee on the remix to his huge song "Welcome To Atlanta." Then in 2003 Nelly, Murphy Lee, Diddy teaming up for "Shake Ya Tailfeather"; the collab earned them a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Murphy Lee wisely dropped his solo album Murphy's Law that same year, featuring the single "Wat Da Hook Gon Be," featuring his old friend Jermaine Dupri.

Happy birthday, Murphy Lee.

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