Remembering Sean Price’s Giant Sense of Humor, in the Words of Duck Down’s Dru-Ha
As the co-CEO of Duck Down Music, Drew “Dru-Ha” Friedman plays an integral role in the label’s operations, but those duties have been overshadowed by his relationships with his artists, specifically Sean Price. One of Duck Down’s most successful and adored artists, the Brownsville, Brooklyn rapper left an indelible emptiness in the Hip-Hop community with his untimely passing earlier this month. And, while death is an inescapable part of life for all, its occurrence nevertheless launches us into an overwhelming sense of loss, something clearly evident in Dru-Ha’s recently penned eulogy for his comrade. Incredibly poignant throughout, the eulogy shines more for its inclusion of humor, the kind Price was known for, both on and off the mic and for those of us who never got to know P as intimately as Dru-Ha did, the eulogy serves as an invitation into P’s legacy, one that should make us laugh more than cry.
P’s sarcasm, his affinity for practical jokes, and his randomly creative humor seem to be qualities in Sean Price the man that will be missed the most. Dru-Ha writes:
“In a late night nocturnal studio session at D&D he would sneak off and page my beeper with a popular rappers number and watch me call them back. Some how I’d end up on a call with the likes of a Jeru the Damaja, asking him what he wants, and him asking the same of me; both equally confused on how we connected, Sean in the studio cracking up. The practical jokes at my expense didn’t end there, and I adored them. They were personalized and imaginative. He never made you feel bullied or humiliated (unless you had fur on your shoes) it was always something we could laugh at together after the pranks unfolded.”
Another anecdote that speaks to the sense of humor the world lost is one of the more imaginative. “In early Heltah Skeltah interviews, when he became predictably bored with the questions, and I had still had a flickering rap career from my verse on Black Moon’s ‘U Da Man’, Dru-Ha writes, “straight faced, he told various reporters that I was recording an album with Bon Jovi.” P would also encourage his Twitter followers to submit beats and demos directly to Dru-Ha’s inbox, hilariously inconveniencing his friend and colleague in a way only a comedic mad man could contrive.
Dru-Ha’s eulogy also includes powerful statements about Sean Price’s lyrical abilities and his love for music, but also peeks into Sean Price, the family man. Read it in its entirety here, and support P’s wife and children by making a donation to his Crowdrise campaign. On Thursday, August 27, SOBs in New York City will host the Sean Price Memorial Show, the proceeds of which will be donated to the family. Purchase Sean Price’s latest mixtape, Songs in the Key of Price, at the Duck Down Music Store. 100% of sales will be given to the family, as well.
What was Sean P’s best lyrical punchline?
Related: Sean Price Plays Snippets of Songs in the Key of Price in the Studio (Video)