Welcome or welcome back! On this episode, I sat down with Prolific Queens rapper Homeboy Sandman. Boy Sand was born and raised in Queens, citing his parents as incredibly helpful and determined to make ends meet. He traveled all throughout the Northeast attending schools, including UPENN, before officially entering the rap game. His 2007 EP, Nourishment, would operate as a jumping off point for his career. As he describes, from 2007 to 2009, he “couldn’t lose”. From acknowledgments by mainstream radio and news publications to a plethora of co-signs, it’s easy to see why he says as much. In 2011, Sandman signed a deal with Stones Throw records. Around this same time, he speaks about his ego prevented him from meeting Stones Throw royalty MF DOOM. Sandman also speaks candidly about discovering the kind of rapper and person that he wanted to be. He continued pumping out releases in the early 2010’s including “First of a Living Breed”, “The Good Sun” and “ Hallways”. In 2014, Sandman shot a video for his song “Call to Arms”, which is how our paths first crossed. He shelved the video for 5 whole years as he contemplated what he was really doing for the kids invovled. Sandman has always been entertained by the questions of human nature, especially how they pertain to black livelihood. In the same year, he published “Black People Are Cowards”, an op-Ed for Gawker in the wake of the Donald Sterling case. The piece generated lots of buzz on the internet, but no action which was a loss in Sandman’s mind. We also cross referenced the aftermath of that case with the NBA players’ recent actions of social justice and how they affect us. Sandman truly truly loved music, which he writes to feel alive and releases because he wants to. His most recent two projects “Don’t Feed the Monster” and “Dusty” are incredible installments to an already loaded discography. Sandman and Stones Throw amicably split and he has since struck a partnership with Mello Music Group. His recent single “Go Hard” is the lead track off of his upcoming project “ Anjelitu”, releasing August 6th. Recorded: 6. 27. 21
