Few modern hip-hop artists are more enigmatic than Houston rapper Viper. Real name Lee Carter, Viper has many accomplishments under his belt — including making 347 albums in 2014 alone, single-handedly reinventing the cloud rap subgenre with his viral sensation You’ll Cowards Don’t Even Smoke Crack in 2008, and operating his own real estate company out of his hometown — but he’s flown under the radar for years. The Peak recently caught up with Viper to talk about his achievements up until this point and what’s next.
The Peak: What kind of statement does You’ll Cowards Don’t Even Smoke Crack make in light of today’s hip-hop music industry?
Viper: I was really trying to show the gritty side of hip-hop. I’m a hardcore rap artist. When I make a song, it’s an attempt to not be commercial and to be real. Everything I say in the lyrics is to be true and real to the rap game. I was trying to show the side of the rap game that you don’t see [. . .] the underground side. Gangsta rappers, we don’t just rap. We do all kinds of things that you don’t see.
P: What was your favourite song off the album and the one you feel most represented you?
V: I think my favourite song off the album was “I Sell Dope Boy.” That song really represented the album [. . .] it wasn’t that I smoke crack — that was the point of the album — it’s that I sell dope. The whole crack thing was an eye-catcher to shock the public.
P: You mentioned on Twitter that you would be collabing with San Francisco rapper Lil B. How is that working out and what offers and reception have you received from other rappers?
V: I’m gonna be making a trip to Oakland in February to shoot my next video for my new album Tha Jamminest Album You Eva Heard. If I can get in touch with Lil B, I’ll shoot him some bread and we can record a track and do a video for it. I’m doing a double-feature album with an artist called Cali Cashflow. He’s actually from New York but he calls himself that because he’s got money coming up and down the coast.
P: What do you feel you have to offer to the rap game? What kind of style are you aiming to go for?
V: When you hear my stuff, you’re gonna want to dance, lay back, smoke a joint, drink some wine, kick it with your girl. You’re gonna want to do anything and everything when you hear my stuff, and there’s gonna be nothing that’s gonna make you want to turn it off.
P: Who is your music for? Is it for everyone or do you have a target audience?
V: I want to get everyone involved. People who are incarcerated, CEOs of big companies, people in rehab, college students, preachers, teachers. I want everyone to get involved.
P: What is your motivation to stay in the rap game despite obstacles, and where does it come from?
V: I’m trying to bring back that gritty side of hip-hop that was lost. There’s only room for one or two artists like that nowadays. I’m just going to keep banging on the door until they let me in.
P: What projects are you currently working on?
V: As far as future projects, I’m finishing up my new album Tha Jamminest Album You Eva Heard, along with my album with Cali. I’m also trying to get attention from MTV and World Star Hip-Hop. I’m also working on setting up my own site like World Star Hip-Hop called World Rap Star [. . .] it’ll help out other artists get their names out there. I’d love to do a full-time tour of Canada, so if y’all know any promoters up there hit me up. I’m down for whatever. Long-term, I’m just trying to become a household name.
If you want to know more about the outlandish but very real Viper, you can follow him @RapperViper on Twitter.
