Shabooty Interview Series: Rick Whispers

Rick Whispers Photo via Myspace

Rick Whispers is this indie-hiphop cat from Albany, New York. In my Howard Stern obsessed world, the main thing that pops into my head when I think of Albany is that Jeff The Drunk lives up there. He lives in a trailer, his mom passed away, he has a bum-gimp arm, has a gaping hole in his ass (bed-sore), and I think he finally shaved his nappy head. I am talking about Jeff, not Rick. Rick Whispers is mad cool, despite not having a 2nd asshole like Jeff. As far as a bum-gimp arm, if Rick continues to play Rock Star (Guitar Heroes clone) at three hour clips, he’ll be maybe be like Jeff. Nevertheless, I got in a Q&A with Rick, and no, it wasn’t a sit-down interview in a trailer. You think it’d actually sit-down/touch anything inside of a trailer?

Shabooty: How did getting a tattoo on the inside of your lip feel? …in comparison to your other tats?

Rick Whispers: Getting tattood fucking sucks, equally all over.

What’s your relationship with def jux artists?

We are currently not dating.

Have you been compared to slug?

Not that I can remember.

What you think of him?

I don’t, I tend to not think about men.

What’s going on in Albany?

Shelter skatepark, dead presidents lounge tattoo, pitch control music, cloak and dagger, people, parks, dogs, guns, love, hate, drugs.

The only thing that comes to my mind is Jeff The Drunk of “The Howard Stern Show” -wackpack fame that lives in a trailer up there.

He lives across the street from me.

What will 2008 hold for Rick Whispers? Are you working on any new albums?

I’ll be real busy, I’ve got a record I’m putting together now called death and taxxxes with my man khil on beats.
As well as a split record that I did with sev statik and dj tone under the project name body language. I’m also putting together a beat album and working on some things with F Sean Martin.

What artists have you toured with?

Hangar 18, Mr lif., Ramallah, a lot really… been busy.

What cities you like the best?

My favorite city/area has got to be Key West FL./ Boston is a close second tho.

When are you performing in D.C.?

Whenever I get booked there.

How do you best deal with ASSHOLES/SKUNKS in your life? –Rapping about them or just rapping to clean your mind or?

I get along with every one, I’m all about the kids.

Who is your main producer?

DJ Khil

Are you down with cardboardcity/weathermen?

Just a fan of their art and respect their grind.

Would you say you’re ‘hipster’?

I don’t know what that means, but only if that means I can be emo too.

For my personal inquiry how much $ do sleeves run oneself?

A couple grand. Go to dead presidents lounge.

If someone can only hear 1 track off the LETTERS album (free for download), which would you tell them to listen to?

I would suggest listening to the whole record, I’m not the type of artist that likes one song more than the next.
The best part is its free at www.rickwhispers.com just right click save target as and bam you now own free music. [editor's note: rick's blog is up, too!]

Do you have any vids on youtube we can check?

Yeah, if you search my name, I’m sure you’ll get more than a handful.

Who were your musical inspirations?

Group home, madball, Lords of the underground, sick of it all, the mammas and poppas, bad religion, judge, minor threat, turmoil.

You listen to Howard Stern at all?

I try not to listen to the radio ever.

Do you have any rivals/enemies in the game?

K Fed.

How do you unwind?

Skateboard, I go to the gym alot and box also.

Play any ‘wii’?

Wii is real addictive, especially the feature where you can download the throwback NES games like punchout.

Play any weed?

I’m straight edge.

Did you like the old cage more or the new cage?

I like all cage, I’m a definite fan of his career and art.

Whats your fav brand of clothing? (which would you be the poster boy of)

Xresist clothingX or Johnny Cupcakes.

If you could only go to one show: el-p, cage, and aesop -which would you pick?

All of the artists you mentioned have a big legacy and dope live show, itd be hard to pick.

How’d ya find shabooty.com ?

On the internet

Thoughts on my blog?

It’s original and out the box for sure.

Okay, say you’re dating a chick, and she’s way into rec. anal or giving oral, which are you down for? [laugh]

I dont have sex when I’m training for a big fight.

Who else is your manager Keith working with?

Head Automatica, Turmoil, F Sean, Sports, House of Blow…

Would you rather be dating Jessica Simpson (I mean her -physically, minus her celebrity status) or a suicide girl?

Both are really played out to me.

You seem like a trendy guy what is the new fad, and where do your fashion/art culture inspirations come from? you can’t tell me Albany is as artsy as Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

I just watch T.V. and consult my stylist before I leave the crib. Whatever they tell me is cool I usually back heavily.

Do you have any reality shows that you’re into that are your…guilty pleasure?

I watched Shot of Love with Tila Tequila because I think its interesting how someone with no known talent can become a pop icon.

XM or Sirius?

Is this a math problem?

When’s a new record dropping?

Spring, I should have one or more of the above mentioned albums available for consumption, no release dates just yet…a couple are finished tho.

What do folks call you aside from Rick Whispers?

R Dubs or Sir Shipwreck, I’ve heard a few times.

What artists do you hope to work with in the future?

I’d like to do something with prefuse 73 or Travis from Gym Class.

Any shows on tap for the near future?

Www.myspace.com/rickwhispers peep that for my shows.

Any tats you regret?

Tattoos are trendy, so no, I don’t regret any of them.

Are you boys with DARYL [Palumbo]?

I met Daryl once via my manager Keith at a Head Automatica show in MASS. I definitely have nothing but respect for him and his projects. the sports and House of blow.

Anything else ya gotta say?

Head out with a helmet.

~~~

Thx Rick!

-shabooty, out (with helmet).

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Permalink Posted in: hip-hop, interview, music, shabooty exclusive January 14, 2008