You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack

You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack is the fourth studio album by American rapper and producer Viper. It was released on February 19, 2008, through his own homemade record label, Rhyme Time Records, and later released physically by indie record label Animated Music.[1] It is the most well known of all of his albums, gathering a strong cult following since its release. Viper himself has been quoted as saying it is his favorite album he has made.[2]

You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack
Studio album by
Viper
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2008 (2008-02-19)
Recorded2007–2008
GenreCloud rap, gangsta rap, southern rap, experimental hip hop, outsider music
Length59:48
Label
ProducerViper
Viper chronology
The Southwest Hooligan
(2006)		 You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack
(2008)		 The Hiram Clarke Hustler
(2008)

Background

The album was recorded and produced between late 2007 to early 2008. Viper made all the beats himself using only a Yamaha Motif keyboard and a Roland beat machine.[2] According to Viper himself, the album's upfront lyricism allowed him to address controversial issues with society, such as his crack use and dealership at the time,[3] violence, and his past gang membership with 5-9 Piru, a sub-group of the Bloods.[2][4]

The album is distinct not only for its lo-fi nature, but because Viper had used samples or reversed beats for at least one song for his albums prior and after, while You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack does not.

The album was later remastered and released through the indie record label Animated Music in 2018 celebrating the album's 10th anniversary, with inserts signed by Viper.[1][5]

Cover

The album's cover has become a popular reaction image and internet meme, along with many of Viper's other album covers, with people commonly making their own covers using the rapper's face.[6][7] The back cover of the indie vinyl issue of the album consists of a fake Fox News report using one of Viper's selfies which he had sent out to fans.

The cover itself is a cropped and poorly scanned image of Viper's face sourced from the cover of his 2006 album The Southwest Hooligan.

Reception
The whole purpose of the album was really to show the gritty side of hiphop and the gritty side of rap, and actually I respect the fact now that people are seeing me as an artist and not a drug user or anything like that, because the whole purpose of the song, if you listen to it, it was about addressing anything that you have that you may be afraid of. Growing up as a kid I vowed to myself that I would never be afraid of anything.

Viper (2015)[3]

You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack and Viper in general remained relatively obscure throughout the 2000s, where he would host his albums on the CD Baby to limited exposure. In early 2013, the title track was posted onto YouTube. Since then it has garnered over three million views,[8] and news outlets started to report on the song and album in response.[4][9][10]

You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack received positive coverage in the music press. Sputnik Music wrote that the album fuses "a nostalgic and ethereal blend of cloud rap and vaporwave".[10] The Chicago Reader wrote that the album is "outsider-artist genius. People on the Internet are initially drawn to Viper because of his blatant disregard for grammar, outrageously violent and drug-centric lyrics, and how sonically bizarre he is in general."[9][3][7]

You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack is Viper's most successful album - it became an internet meme due to its tacky album cover and title, which has been noted as being "shockingly upfront". The title track is also particularly famous online for its lyrical content, production, and vocal delivery.[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Viper.

No.TitleLength
1."You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack"4:23
2."I Sell Dope Boy"3:36
3."That There's A Stash Spot"3:45
4."I Ball For Gunshots"3:48
5."I'm That S-West Blood"3:31
6."This Is How I Ball"3:27
7."Merciless"3:42
8."I Like The Way"3:23
9."I'm Rich Already 4 Life"3:14
10."Parlayin'"3:08
11."You Actin' Like A Bitch Ass Nigga"3:02
12."My Money Rolls[a]"1:59
13."I'm A Gangsta"4:05
14."I'm Gone Sting"4:57
15."That Baller Out Your Best Side"5:02
Total length:59:48
  • a On some original issues, this track is also labelled as "Parlayin'".

Personnel

Credits for You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack adapted from liner notes.[11]

Animated Music Issue

References
  1. "Indie label announces Viper vinyl release". Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  2. "You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack Liner Notes". Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  3. "An Interview with Viper". KRLX January 24, 2015 Jackson Hudgins. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  4. "Meet Viper, The Genius Rapper Behind "You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack"". Noisey July 15, 2013 Jeremy Gordon. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  5. "Viper - You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack 2018 White Vinyl". Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  6. "Viper - Know Your Meme". Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  7. "Meet Viper, rap's Renaissance man". The Observer January 21, 2015 Jimmy Kemper. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  8. "viper - you'll cowards don't even smoke crack". YouTube. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  9. "12 O'Clock Track: "You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack" is outsider-hip-hop brilliance". Chicago Reader July 5, 2013 Luca Cimarusti. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  10. "Viper – You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack Review". Sputnik Music December 2, 2014 Robert Lowe. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  11. Track listing and credits as per liner notes for You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack album
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