hiphoplives

Once again it seems, this column writes itself. Just when I think, “who the hell am I gonna profile today?”, I get an email request. Last week I got one asking about Che Vicious, yesterday I got one about Homeboy Sandman. When I wrote about Al Be Back last week, I mentioned that he was involved with the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and I mentioned that the venerable institution had also put me onto Homeboy. Well, here’s the skinny with the Sandman.

First off, I need to clarify something. There are currently two MC’s out repping the Sandman name. One is from Philly, and he just goes by the name Sandman. He gained notoriety as a member of the ReUp Gang with Clipse and Ab Liva, and recently released a solo mixtape. The subject of today’s column however, is from Queens and goes by the full title of Homeboy Sandman.

He’s released two full length albums, and an Uber-full length mixtape in the last two years. So yeah, he’s kinda prolific. If you belong to the mailing list you will get your copy of his mixtape tonight, and if you are too lazy to unzip an email, I linked a track below. And for our readers in the New York area, he will be performing at the aforementioned Nuyorican Poets Cafe tomorrow night (Wed), so go check the man out.

Homeboy Sandman’s number one asset is his personality. His rhymes are cleaver and his flow is dope. But it’s something behind the songs that makes him unique. He’s obviously a bit of an odd ball, but I mean that in the most positive way possible. He seems to have a fresh perspective on things, and he feels very confident being himself. Lots of MCs who have dynamic personalities in real life mute their actual persona in lieu of a fabricated image that is easily formatted to the standard Hip Hop identity. Not Sandman. He’s comfortable being his odd self. And that is dope.

And if that’s not enough, his lyrics and flow are impeccable. And as much as the media and some politicians want Hip Hop to kick the bucket, it’s artists like Homeboy Sandman who refuse to let this shit die. And all of us fans owe these artists for keeping Hip Hop alive. So check for him.

http://www.homeboysandman.com/

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