Having posted his way around the MTA transit system in New York City, Homeboy Sandman has built a buzz great enough to get some of his city’s underground greats – DJ Spinna, Psycho Les and Ski Beats – to offer beats for his third album The Good Sun. And Sandman happens to have a little food for thought to spill over them. The former high school teacher, law school student and substance addict just came off a 12-month raw food diet and offers you no bullshit – just insightful views on the mainstream culture of the day.

Homeboy Sandman professes to construct his lyrics from two components – melody sick enough to render lyrical content redundant and vice versa – and The Good Sun is testament to his technique. At times his flow, though innovative and always captivating on stage, fails to liven up slightly monotone production. On the other hand, songs like ‘Not Pop‘ bear pounding rhythms and little instrumental melody for a reason – to make us listen. And there are plenty of words to heed.

Personally, though, The Good Sun rings best in my ears when Sandman’s melodic flow works off of another melody. ‘Mean Mug‘ boasts tranquil, childlike production by UK artist Ben Grymm to complement the Queens emcee’s poignant description of the ills of popular culture – “let me see what’s in your iPod… oh my gosh.” More experimental joints, such as ‘Calm Tornado‘ where Thieven’ Steven flips an instantly recognizable drum break over Lauryn Hill’s ‘Ready or Not‘ vocals, are noteworthy, but the most knocking offerings are by the more established names. NYC great DJ Spinna delivers a screamer on ‘Being Haved,’ letting Sandman loose over some frenetic grittiness.

Homeboy Sandman’s third full-length places him in the forefront in the battle against the commercial music industry, taking on detrimental subject matter and straight up whack music with bravura. It’s a battle he claims to be losing, but boy is he fighting it with style.

Words Sven Carlsson
Read Beatnik’s interview with Homeboy Sandman here
Buy The Good Sun
Homeboy Sandman’s website