"Murder 4 Hire" is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Body Count, released on August 1, 2006. This album marked Body Count's return after a nine-year hiatus since their previous album, "Violent Demise: The Last Days" (1997). It was also the band's first album following the deaths of drummer Beatmaster V in 1996 and rhythm guitarist D-Roc the Executioner in 2004.
Despite the tragic losses, D-Roc had contributed to the album before his passing, though his death temporarily halted the recording process. The remaining rhythm guitar tracks on "Murder 4 Hire" were handled by Bendrix. This album is notable for being the only one to feature O.T. on drums and the first without sampler and backing vocalist Sean E Sean. It was also the first recorded without hype man Sean E. Mac.
Frontman Ice-T expressed dissatisfaction with the album's outcome, citing his reduced involvement in the project compared to previous albums. He mentioned in an interview with Esquire Magazine that he felt he had "mailed it in", as the band wrote the music in Los Angeles and sent him the tracks separately. Ice-T solely wrote the lyrics and did not participate in mixing or additional production, which he believed impacted the album's quality.
Despite Ice-T's reservations, "Murder 4 Hire" retains Body Count's signature heavy metal and rap metal style, with politically charged lyrics and commentary on social issues. It continues to be recognized as a significant album in the band's discography, albeit with a backdrop of the personal and creative challenges faced during its production.
