Background and career
Corey Miller (born March 9, 1971), better known by his stage name C-Murder, is an American rapper. He initially gained fame in the mid-1990s as a part of his brother Master P's label No Limit Records, primarily as a member of the label's supergroup, TRU. Miller went on to release several solo albums of his own through the label, including 1998's platinum Life or Death. C-Murder has released nine albums altogether on six different labels, No Limit Records, TRU Records, Koch Records, Asylum Records, RBC Records, and Venti Uno. In 2002, Miller was arrested in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Steve Thomas, and was sentenced to life in prison on August 14, 2009. Miller is serving his sentence at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Controversy surrounding witnesses involved in Miller's trial came to light in 2018 when two key witnesses recanted their statements, stating they had been pressured into testifying against Miller by authorities. Miller maintains his innocence, and he, his brothers, and his nephew have all called for a new trial numerous times.
Corey Miller was born in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana on March 9, 1971. He grew up in the Calliope Projects in the 3rd Ward of New Orleans with his sister Germaine, and brothers Silkk the Shocker and Master P and Kevin Miller.
After graduating from high school, Corey Miller enlisted in the United States Army. He served as a combat medic and was deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War.
In 1998, Miller released his first album Life or Death which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified platinum. He also was featured on the theme for the nWo Wolfpac. In 1999, he released Bossalinie which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. In 2000, he released Trapped in Crime which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200. The album included the single "Down for My N's" In 2001, he released C-P-3.com, his last album with No Limit Records. It peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and included the singles "What U Gonna Do" and "Im Not Just". In 2003, he was convicted of the murder of fan Steve Thomas. He recorded three hit albums while under house arrest awaiting re-trial: The Truest Shit I Ever Said (2005) which reached No. 41 on the Billboard 200, Screamin' 4 Vengeance (2008) which reached No. 130, and Calliope Click (2009) which peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart. In 2009, he lost his appeal and pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted murder in an unrelated incident. While in prison he self-released a mixtape Ricochet (2013) and four albums, Tomorrow (2010), Ain't No Heaven in the Pen (2015), Give Me Freedom Or Give Me Death (2021), and the compilation Oldies but Goodies (2018). In 2016, he released a diss track accusing rapper 2 Chainz of using the slogan and name style of his former group TRU and record label TRU Global Records.
Miller acted in the No Limit films Da Game of Life, I Got the Hook-Up, and Hot Boyz. He is the author of the novel Death Around The Corner, published by Vibe.
In September 2003, Miller was convicted of second degree murder in connection with the January 12, 2002 beating and fatal shooting of a fan, 16-year-old Steve Thomas, at the Platinum Club, a now-closed nightclub in Harvey, Louisiana. Miller was arrested in the early hours of January 18 for causing a disturbance at the House of Blues in New Orleans, and shortly after charged in Thomas' murder. He was indicted on February 28, 2002. Judge Martha Sassone granted a new trial in April 2004 based on the claim that prosecutors improperly withheld criminal background information on three of their witnesses. On March 20, 2006, Miller was released on a $500,000 bond and placed under house arrest. Sassone allowed Miller to promote his new, yet-to-be-titled CD and his novel, Death around the Corner, while under house arrest, but ruled that a gag order pertaining to the case would remain in effect. The terms of the house arrest required Sassone's permission for all visitors, including reporters. On March 13, 2007, Sassone granted Miller's request to work on his music career on a per-request basis, but denied his request for a 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. curfew. Sassone's rulings in the case became an issue in her failed 2008 bid for re-election. Sassone was defeated by Judge Ellen Kovach; prosecutors subsequently renewed a request to have Miller returned to jail. During January 2009, Miller was confined to his residence on house arrest, and could only leave for a documented medical emergency. On May 27, 2009, Miller pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted second degree murder. These charges stem from a 2001 incident in Baton Rouge in which Miller fired one shot, after which it jammed, from a semi-automatic pistol at the owner and bouncer of a night club who refused to allow Miller to enter the business with the gun. Miller was sentenced to ten years with credit for time served. A surveillance video of the incident was posted on YouTube.
