Chris Webby Interview

  Chris Webby Releases His New Album, "The White Noise LP", FREE For All Fans!

Chris Webby
(May, 2009)

Yet another college MC has popped up on hip-hop's radar...and this time the prognosis is...hopeful.

Relax, Asher Roth fans. I'm not trying to say Asher hasn't got something nice going. He spits sweet mellow raps into the ears of millions with a voice identical to Eminem (minus the recent funny accent.) That sounds like a recipe for success to me.

I'm just saying that if Asher Roth is Ferris Bueller's favorite MC…then Chris Webby is Spicoli's favorite MC (that's two different movie references but hopefully somebody gets what I mean.)

Hailing from the suburbs of Connecticut, Chris Webby has already won the hearts of Hofstra University's party crowd with a brand of rap that is both relatable and ridiculous.

Just last week, his new album, "The White Noise LP", was released for free download on the internet.

Now, before I go any further I want to remind you why I started this website over 4 years ago in the first place. It was created to showcase and highlight aspects of the rap game (music industry included) that were inaccessible to most novice emcees.

One thing you gotta love about this dude…he's accessible. You can find Chris Webby on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, he's collaborating on a clothing line, working on music videos, and as you'll see…his Myspace is dope too. I admire his grind. All aspiring MC's should follow his lead.

That's the type of mentality that gets aspiring artists far in the industry. Put together a good product and get your own buzz first. They'll pay attention to you when the people start talking about you.

Furthermore, I didn't need to have studied communication or marketing to understand that there is an entire market out there for an MC like Chris Webby.

He's sincere, he's smart, he's cocky but still a bit humble, he's simple, he's hustlin', he's a little grimy (an homage to all grimy rappers that ever lived.) and he's white. What?! The guy reps Ninja Turtles and has A.D.D…he is this generation.

Of course, the kid also has skill and will consistently improve as he's currently not even old enough to drink. He already has multi-syllabic rhyme schemes and witty lyrics down pretty easy. Webby's voice works great on some tracks, not so great on others, and at times the production can be a little rough around the edges on some of the cuts but most of the songs are solid lyrically, conceptually and instrumentally for a very good overall first LP.

The few featured appearances showed artists with promise who obviously knew at least a little bit about what they were doing. Notable is Knowledge on the track "Wake Up", where Eminem's influence on Chris Webby shows.

What the future holds for Webby ultimately depends on you. His album has just been released two weeks and already has thousands of downloads.

You can listen to the entire Chris Webby album below (and download it too).

For the casual rap fan I would recommend tracks: 1, 7, 13, and 14 (all are good in different ways…the James Morrison sample on "Last Chance" is crazy.)

For everyone else, the whole album is worth a listen and download.

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"This album is by far the greatest thing I've ever done...Originally we were going to put it on iTunes and charge for it, but the second you start doing things for money and not for the love of creating, you're forgetting what it's all about."
-Chris Webby

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TheStateofHipHop:
A year or so ago you opened up for Lupe Fiasco at a concert held at Hofstra. How did that come about and can you tell us a little more about the experience?
Chris Webby: During my first couple months over at Hofstra, I was told about a hip-hop competition in which the winner would open for Lupe. There had to have been like 20 acts, but I went up there and killed it. I just had this crazy energy that night, it was dope. The judges chose the top 6, crowd chose the top 3, and there I was still standing on stage. The winners were me, the group C4, and this other dude Drastic. We had like 20 minute slots a piece. It was unreal. Didn't even get to meet Lupe but whatever, I had a good time.

TSOHH: What kind of music and artists did you listen to growing up?
Chris Webby: Well, when I was real little my parents raised me on classic rock, so The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton were what I got started on. Bob Marley too, my parents were always bumpin reggae and to this day I still listen to a lot of reggae. I started listening to rap in like 4th grade... probably would have started sooner but I didn't have a cool older brother or sister like a lot of other kids. I had to figure it all out on my own. But I must say, Eminem is definitely the reason why I originally started rapping, like many other white kids my age. I also remember listening to alot of DMX, Dre, Snoop, Pun, BIG, even Juvi. "Back that ass up" was my shit.

TSOHH: So when did you first start rapping?
Chris Webby: In fifth grade I started out writing simple raps and bringing them to school and everyone thought they were hot. I used to spit in the lunchline all the time. I think I even got free milk out of it one time. I remember I had to do a project on a book we read in my 6th grade language arts class. I wrote a rap. I got an A. I guess I've been a beast since day one.

TSOHH: Ok, so when and with what equipment did you record your first rap song?
Chris Webby: I believe I was in 8th grade with my friend Nick, who actually went on to produce for me and record my tracks throughout my high school career. We burned it down, and being that we were young ass little eighth graders, got extremely stoned, and he made a beat and I wrote lyrics. It was called "Liddle Webby" I believe, because that was my first rap name. Lord knows where that track is. I think it has been lost forever...which probably insn't a bad thing because it was during that awkward voice stage during puberty.

TSOHH: What year are you currently in at Hofstra, and what high school did you attend?
Chris Webby: Sophomore in college... and for high school I went to Greens Farms Academy. Private school made me a smart kid, no joke. Not that I wasn't high in class everyday, but that's another story.

TSOHH: How often do you return to Connecticut and how would you compare the suburbs of CT to Long Island, NY?
Chris Webby: Connecticut, (and I'm sure all my people in the 203 can vouch for me), is more or less pretty boring. We get some good house parties goin, kick it at the beach and get fucked up... but there's not anything crazy going on like in New York. We go hard at Hofstra.

TSOHH: You were formerly known as “Vindictive”. When did you become “Chris Webby”?
Chris Webby: When I first went for a meeting with my management company, the guy in charge of the place, David Prince, said that it didn't really portray who I was. I agreed. It sounded too much like an angry ass dude who just did a 15 year bid upstate and wants to kill everyone. So me and my boys just kept thinking of names, till we came up with Chris Webby. It's not really a stage name as much as it's just who I am.

TSOHH: I like your Myspace page. Who designed it and whose idea was that look and feel?
Chris Webby: Shout out to CritiQ who designed the page, and PDA studios for taking those dope pics. I'm really liking how the page came out. Judge for yourself: http://www.myspace.com/chriswebbyrap

TSOHH: Tell us more about your new album, “The White Noise LP” and when/where people can find it?
Chris Webby: This album is by far the greatest thing I've ever done. Putting it all together was a long process, but well worth it and it shows in the music. Originally we were going to put it on iTunes and charge for it, but the second you start doing things for money and not for the love of creating, you're forgetting what it's all about. Making music for the Hell of making music. It's going to be distributed all over the internet for free. So on May 1st, check the Myspace page and make sure you download it. Then pass it on to friends, family, neighbors, and everyone you know. Black, white, yellow, blue, green, whatever color you are you're going to want to check this out.

TSOHH: Your raps are generally lighthearted and contain themes that college kids and young adults can relate to. Was this always your style and do you throw any curve balls in your upcoming LP?
Chris Webby: When I start writing a song, I just try and show you who I am. A goofy kid with some ridicolous skills, who makes witty raps about the Ninja Turtles, Rugrats, Mario, all that good stuff. I'm not your typical white kid trying to act black. Yes, I like to rock fitteds and some cool kicks. But I'm way more then some gimmick, you always got to stay true to yourself and who you are. Or else, you're just straight booty chowder. There will be a few classic head bobbers littered with clever punchlines that will make you run the song back just to hear it again. There will be a few deep serious ass tracks about various things going on in my life... a crazy story telling track... a track for the ladies... obviously my weed track (La La La)... there's going to be alot to offer on here.

TSOHH: Asher Roth has gotten flak for being an Eminem clone. You will undoubtedly be compared with Asher Roth. How would you differentiate yourself from Asher Roth and other rising white MC’s?
Chris Webby: Eminem is obviously one of the greatest rappers ever, black or white. As for Asher, no matter if you like his music or not you still have to respect what he's doing. I realize that people are going to compare us due to our backgrounds and SOME of the things we rap about are similar. When it comes down to it though, he seems like a real nice, clean cut kid. Not that thats a bad thing, i think i'm just a little rougher around the edges and raw. My voice, flow, and rhyme schemes are completely different. Anyone who calls me an Asher Roth wannabe has no fucking idea what their talking about. I've been doing my thing for a minute...if your willing to pass me off as some "Asher wannabe," your missing out on some dope ass hip hop.

TSOHH: Not too long ago it was reported that a few record labels had an interest in your music. Can you tell us a little more about that?
Chris Webby: There's been a lot of things going on, and right now I'm just trying to create a buzz around me. The money will come soon enough though, that's a promise.

TSOHH: That's exactly what this site advocates. Generating your own publicity first. As a white rapper you are in the minority. This can be a gift and a curse. What kind of reception has your university, Hofstra, given you so far?
Chris Webby: I've really only met a few people throughout the many years I've been rapping who really didn't give me a chance because I was white. The world is changing, there are plenty of sick white rappers out there. People respect what I do because I'm true to myself. I don't talk about guns, violence, and hustling crack, because I don't know that life. I rap about getting fucked up, chillin, girlies... basically the stuff an average 20 year old is into. There will always be haters. Shit, I embrace the haters...cuz once you got haters you know you're getting somewhere.

TSOHH: That is the truest. Besides the new album what should fans be looking out for from Chris Webby in the future?
Chris Webby: Keep your ears open, because right now I've got a lot in the mix. We're in the works of my first music video, working on a clothing line as a side project called "For the Burbs" (Whuddup CJ!) which is available on esotericink.com, and overall just more music in the works. I just finished going into the studio to record for a clothing commercial that will air in Japan. Haha. Random, yes, but money's money.

TSOHH: For the ladies reading, I gotta ask paparazzi style…is Chris Webby currently single?
Chris Webby: Ladies... get at me! Nuff said.

TSOHH: Where can people learn more about Chris Webby?
Chris Webby: Just hit me up on myspace, facebook, twitter. Send me a friend request or a message, I try my best to answer people because every fan is important to me. If you take the time to listen to my music, I'll take the time to thank you however I can.

TSOHH: Alright Webby, thanks for your time bro...Do you have any last words for all the people reading this interview?
Chris Webby: I'm just a white boy with a dream, so if you want keep on supporting me, I appreciate all the lovin. And if you don't, I'm mad tight with Optimus Prime so sleep with one eye open. Whats up Avi? How you doing mom? HOLLER

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