>>From the second floo of the Orlando Public Library, welcome to Melrose in the Mix, our series of live recording session from here at the Melrose Center.

Hi everyone.

I'm Jim Myers.

Today's session features Homeboy Sandman from his performance at las summer's Melrose Pop Festival.

Based in Brooklyn, Homeboy Sandman has been writing and releasing music for nearly 20 years while touring regularly and playing some of the biggest hip hop shows in the country.

He frequently collaborates with Aesop Rock and a host of production tea luminaries, building a prolific discography of highly regarded albums, EPs and mixtapes.

During this episode we also talk to Homeboy Sandman about how he started in th business, his writing process.

Finding out that one of his songs feature during the Olympics, and more.

>>Yo peac what up this is Homeboy Sandman.

And I've been making records for 20 year this year, 20 years in December.

I began making music i my third semester of law school.

Law school has six semesters, three years each for two semesters.

So I was in my third when I wrote my first sober rhyme at the end of my third.

That was December 20th, 2006.

Then I was trying to then I was going to law school and also, you know, hitting the scene, writing rhymes.

I was recording rhymes for tw semesters at that was working.

But then at the end of the fifth semester, my GPA dipped below a certain thing, and my financial agreement was dependent on me keeping my GPA over a certain amount.

So I woul have had a bounceback semester, which would have been the last semester, but by that point I was already had made up, created so much momentum making music that it was obvious that if I wanted to bring my GPA back, I would have had to pump the brakes on music.

And if I wanted to keep going in music, I would have had to pump the brakes on law, so law never had a chance.

Ladies and gentlemen, we got Homeboy Sandma and E-Turn in the house tonight.

They want to tell you a little story about where they come from.

America.

Running water, three bedrooms.

A public school for every quarter, a store on every corner.

A public defender, appointed to every pauper.

Affordable Jet Blue.

Any one of you can board a flying saucer.

Access to cough drops and pork chops.

Sports facilities in the vicinity for free.

You must be kidding me this ain't the place to be.

America.

Minimum wage they could pay you.

You could praise, you could choose who you pray to, Regardless who you choose as your God.

Workers comp if you get hurt at your job.

Food stamps, benefit cards ain't lousy.

Child labor laws.

Section 8 housing.

I spy gas and oil power.

WiFi and lots of phone towers.

The post office and the bus station.

And the train station and the fir and the sanitation departments.

Eviction laws will buy you extra months in your apartment.

The public park and the park bench.

The streetlights in the darkness.

It's all awesome, and it's all since.

America.

America.

Make some noise if you grateful for every blessing in your life!

Okay, the streets ain't paved with gold.

At least they paved though, you know?

Weaker than the euro, stronger than the peso.

But you get what you pay for, so be grateful.

Think yo the only file in the caseload?

This is a crazed, unsafe globe, case closed.

Complaining oh so much.

Where else do peopl even think they're owed so much?

We are the 99% locally.

We are the 1% globally.

Take a trip where women fertilize their ovaries and diagnosi is "hopefully."

It's sobering.

Cut the "woe is me."

It's a work in progress and it may always be.

But even overseas opportunity is known to be in America.

Hey yo this planet really.

I ain't make it bu I'll take it for a test drive.

That's right.

Let's ride.

Ward of my environment.

Throwing out a wide net.

Get a load of my sched.

You dont know the time spent.

Traveling the shadow realm.

I come to the work.

Till the smell of juniper, all over the universe.

Heres a tip to start to make up for lost time.

Take yourself a fortnight spend all of it offline.

Out of reach from all th nonsense that they glorifying.

Ish is getting pretty horrifying.

Id love to say that all I got is great news.

But its tough to watch fam resort to fake views.

Why does everybody hate truth?

Really make me wanna break loose.

My mission is the kitchen, dude cook.

Got a bedroom book and a living room book.

Golly its a folly to doubt mine Yeah that sounds about right.

Id say its about put 'em up!

Hey yo this planet really gets live.

I ain't make it bu I'll take it for a test drive.

That's right.

Let's ride.

Hey yo this planet really gets live.

I ain't make it bu I'll take it for a test drive.

That's right.

Let's ride.

Herbs ending up irate.

Learning curve when I dont fly straight IG tried to eat my brain.

Wait lemme state my case.

Cowards attack my name.

Tryna dim my flame.

Tryna test my faith.

Take heed ‘fore you dig my grave.

Cant nobody take my place.

Lets delve.

No use being someone else.

Say hi to the hired help.

Magic tricks with the cards Is dealt.

How the kid stay charged.

How the kid dont starve?

God gimme looks straight up.

Gods from the books mad up.

Absent from the giant list.

Homeboy Sand is a scientist.

Cats wanna lie and fib.

Tryna rule wit a iron fist.

Violent, tryna spli my wig stead of grant my wish.

I dont flip my lid.

I just tip my lid.

And I zip my lip if you catch my drift.

Im a kill my ego.

Everyone alive is the real “my people.” Only way to write a good verse is a bit of good versus evil.

Another minute passin, dont be late.

Time is everlasting, youll be straight.

Boy Sand hoppin out a casket.

Intermittent fasting 16/8.

Hey yo this planet really gets live.

I ain't make it but I'll take it for a test drive.

That's right.

Let's ride.

Hey yo this planet really gets live.

I ain't make it bu I'll take it for a test drive.

That's right.

Let's ride.

A couple plans I'm gonna hatch, so I can't promise that I bring it back without a scratch.

And now and then I gotta vent.

So I can't promise that I'll bring it back without a dent.

I've always been a huge music fan.

I had a lot of different influences.

My favorite musician of all time is Stevie Wonder.

I always say, if I can, I might leave on my top three of Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Juan Luis Guetta.

Those three dudes had just go the glow, you know what I mean?

And I learn about rhymes and cadences.

I mean, I learned about music from those three dudes.

Absolutely, 100%.

You know, I also, you know, had a lo of music influence in my family.

My Uncle Sam played the saxophone.

My father was a big music fan, worked in clubs when I was growing up, had a lot of records, so I was always playing records like my grandmother sang.

There was a there was a big, you know, music influenc in my home and in my community.

You know what I mean?

I come from a very vibrant musical communit and a very vibrant musical city.

So hip hop would early in my childhood you know, around the age of 7 or 8, wind up become like the music I identify with the most.

But there was alway a lot of jazz and a lot of house and a lot of salsa and a lot of merengue, a lot of classical, all types of music.

I tap into music all the time.

Whenever I don't want t feel sad, you know what I mean?

Or if I do feel sad, I can use it as a channel.

If I do feel angry, I can use it as a channel.

If I do feel... it's basically like my getaway always, you know what I mean?

I don't think of myself as like an escapist.

I mean, I face reality an I face the world, but creating makes me feel better about everything.

As terrible as I felt, there's always a silver lining, you know what I'm saying I've, like, the most terrible I've felt.

I can think about really terrible feelings, terrible experiences.

They'v they've led to creativity, which which makes them all meaningful and really makes some all worth it.

>>And we write.

>>Im finished with the shaving of the head.

The ranting and the raving and the saving of the bread.

And playing the back embarrassed by my talent balanced on an angled ledge.

And weaving tangled webs.

I am always up to catch a ta you couldnt tag me with an at.

But pull up in a ca and try to catch me in the act.

Thats praise for any one who has the savvy to adapt.

And space for any one who tried to stab me in the back.

Im here to lend a helping hand.

Dont take it with a grain of salt but heres a grain of sand.

The missions that my brain abort are toward a greater plan.

The power of my train of thought enough to break a dam.

The fruit of my labor got the flavor in demand.

I love to mash it up and make a jam.

I personally think endeavoring to gather up the courage to discover buried treasure is the measure of a man.

I wrote this while the radiator clang.

Bang, ba ba ba bang, ba bang, ba ba bang.

I'm grateful that the radiator work.

Yerp, ya ya ya yerp, ya yerp, ya ya yerp.

I wrote this while the radiator clang.

Bang, ba ba ba bang, ba bang, ba ba bang.

I'm grateful that the radiator work.

Yerp, ya ya ya yerp, ya yerp, ya ya yerp.

In the dead of nigh I investigated a UFO crash site and didnt even use my phone flashlight.

Casted slow motion on everybod that wanna live the fast life.

Thats just a little something I picked up in my past life.

Luck of Lucien on Paris nights.

I set aside some nutrients for parasites.

Every step I roll a pair of dice.

Mostly I end up in paradise.

In a different setting Id be throwing rights.

But thankfully instead Im at a wedding throwing rice.

Im banking on the hop that you will be my valentine.

And do my laundr without ever separating whites.

Id like to take you on a ride.

When people tell us to go get in line.

We will not run and hide.

We will just have fun in front of them til each and every one of them unwind.

I wrote this while the radiator clang.

Bang, ba ba ba bang, ba bang, ba ba bang.

I'm grateful that the radiator work.

Yerp, ya ya ya yerp, ya yerp, ya ya yerp.

I wrote this while the radiator clang.

Bang, ba ba ba bang, ba bang, ba ba bang.

I'm grateful that the radiator work.

Yerp, ya ya ya yerp, ya yerp, ya ya yerp.

Everybody put your hands in the air, you got plenty of energy sitting down!

The First Sixteen Bars are the storm.

Make sure plenty of bottled water is kept.

There's 'bout to be a "Whewwwwwww."

The like of which y'all never seen.

See.

The final eight bars are the storm.

There isn't a barn I ain't willing to wreck.

There' 'bout to be a "Whooooooooooow."

Y'all will never forget.

My beard rubberband matches my outfit.

I'd like to make an announcement.

My outfit is thick.

I stick fingers in outlets.

No llama can outspit.

No Jet leader can out-Riff.

I leave space kinda like Alf did.

Seen Dark Knights kinda like Alfred.

Kinda like Alfredo.

Saucy.

Platano Plato.

Radio won't play though.

DJ's on the payroll.

No bueno!

"Yo, but Sand you making noise a noise in a library."

Oh, perhaps they know.

This is not your typical plain old Average Joe verses, it's Joe versus the volcano!

Hobbes, Locke, and Aesop's fables.

Planet Rock, Janis Joplin, Bach.

Hands that rocked cradle "Sand, build a ark, save the art," Cried a archangel with a cocked halo.

I had to nod, I could not say no.

I wrote the calm and the tornado.

'Cause Americana's been conned and been clogged.

I been called Drano.

Sure as sand's where sea meets San Remo.

I'll see you - Put your hands in the air!

The First Sixteen Bars are the storm.

Make sure plenty of bottled water is kept.

There's 'bout to be a "Whewwwwwww" The like of which y'all never seen.

See.

The final eight bars are the storm.

There isn't a barn I ain't willing to - I ain't willin - bars is a storm there isn't... It was amazing to host at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe which is one of the most legendary spots for creativity in the world.

You know people, tourists come from all over the world like we had a packed room every single month because globally, people want to come to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and all that.

You know, when I was hosting it, I believe still remains with WiseGuy and Gaston hosting it.

The longest running open mi in the city, in New York City.

And you know, that particular, night, you know, I was really honored to be th I was the third host in history.

The first host was Bobbito the Barber, hosted for years.

Then was Flaco Navaja both super talented and.

And then I was very grateful to to carry on that lineage o of of people that were hosting that were also artists in their own right, different ways.

You know, for me it was this at that time I was making around, you know, rap and whatever I could rap and then, you know, the Nuyorican was someplace I was going to all the time, you know what I mean?

And make a lot of friends, make a lot of connections.

Once I realized that Flacc was going to be stepping down, you know, I immediatel put a bid into to replace him.

And it was a really magical time.

And, every single month there was something I would look forward to.

It was real family.

People ask me if my life changed.

Here's what I might say.

Not really.

Not really.

People ask me if my life changed.

Here's what I might say.

Not really.

Not really.

Just ran alongside a river in Eastern Europe.

Instead of 'round the lake at Flushing Park.

Similar scenario, same cardio.

Top billing at long last.

I be chilling in first class.

I was chilling in economy.

That didn't bother me.

I meet a lot more women.

Having about the same amount of... Still a major shortage of cool ones.

Yikes, probably even less.

Hard to keep a low pro at Whole Foods It was hard to keep a low pro in homeroom.

That's all old news.

So when people ask me if my life changed, here's what I might say.

Not really.

Not really.

When people ask me if my life changed.

Here's what I might say.

Not really.

Not really.

Far as money, I was always out.

Now it's always money coming in.

I never worry about money now.

I never worried about money then.

I still don't let nothing go to waste.

Leftovers any given day.

I spend about the same.

There's just a lot more left over to give a way.

It occurred to me one show.

I'm on stage where I used to be in the front row.

That's like a ten foot distance.

It's not a really big difference.

Same guideline as far as being the bigger man.

Staying away from the yellow snow.

I'm still Ace Rock's biggest fan.

Just now I can call and tell him so.

So people ask me if my life changed.

Here's what I might say.

Not really.

Not really.

People ask me if my life changed.

Here's what I might say.

I tell 'em no, not really.

I tell 'em nah nah nah not really.

Yeah I had to give a big shout out to my boy Aesop Rock in that last jam because he gave me one of the greatest beats you ever heard.

I take lots of risks.

I take shots and miss.

Yet Im not known for incompetence.

In fact it is quite the opposite I shout out “present.” For that 5 percent.

And face consequence.

To build confidence.

And Im bound to fall.

But Im bound to rise.

Its just father god.

Im like maharajahs.

Radio and mags wont plug the guy.

But cant plug the geyser.

Lowering the bar then wonder why the arent none the wiser.

Nevermind the fact that its nothing like an act so i dont rehearse.

Im like Sampson, in reverse.

Im boy sand, main man to the introverts.

I go hard.

Dont follow me online.

I gave energy to that bull for a long time.

Every mornin I ignore warnings of all kinds.

So if youre looking for th norm youve got the wrong guy.

if youre looking for a fad youve got the wrong lad.

And if youre looking for th same you caught the wrong train.

And if youre looking for a hack Ill never write back.

But if youre looking for the champ youve got the right chap.

And if youre looking for th ace youre in the right place.

Hes the producer of the track youre on the right track.

In fact if you have any taste youll make a screwface.

From flavor you could never squeeze into your spice rack.

Safe in any space that I presently take up.

And I prefer to live the dream rather than wake up.

And when you pat me on the head you better say “duck” I GO HARD.

The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D I soak in sun breathe out sky.

Boy Sands in the building.

No I much prefer to be outside.

I have an inquiry in mind for the rookies and veterans.

Ladies and gentlemen.

What other guy you know 65” not at all menacing?

As wel versed in indigenous medicine.

Been a while.

Learned a couple things ‘bout life in general.

Been around, used to never wear jeans, jeans fit better now.

Raving and ranting Im like Fred Hampto chewing on rattlesnake plantain.

In other words I go hard.

Im not scared to cry, Im not scared to die, Im not scared of heights.

But Im scared of “try.” And Im scared of “cant.” And Im scared of “might.

Thats right.

I can not stand breathing air thats not rarified.

I like my media rare.

I dont like anything medium rare or fried.

Bear in mind, I tried the other side and I couldnt bare it.

Left me with a barren mind.

Said goodbye.

Praise divine that this brain of mine is on rain or shine.

Keep that matter under mind.

I will not be undermined.

Write this down then underline, I go hard!

The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. The G, the O, the H, the A, the R, the D. Make some noise!

And what a blessing to have The Carpenter, played in the Olympics.

The thing about it is, like everyone in the whole world is watching the Olympics.

And that was coupled with the fact that everyone in hip hop was watching the breakdancing finals for the first time.

So I wasn't I wasn't watching.

I remember I was in my bedroom, in my bed and when I picked up my phone, as there has never been a onslaught on my phone, I had so many clip that people just sent me filming a television screen and sending it to it was it was kind of surreal, actually, that that event was taking place over my music, and all those people were hearing my jam.

It was great boost for the jam.

It was it was a great boost, you know, for me, as far a visibility and, you know, the, you know, and I'm really grateful for that.

Sand to the rescue.

Hipper than ha-choo, then "bless you."

I be in the lab dude, my respect due.

I should get a tattoo with a test tube.

Monkey that's a baboon, that's my nephew.

Funkier than the bathroom, that's the restroom.

Way more than the backroom with the guess whos.

I be on the avenue, making chess moves.

I don't be getting fretful.

At times I get forgetful.

Repping for the fresh few.

Whipping up fresh food.

Yeah!

Beard like Moses.

Kick it with the opposition to the posers.

Planes be going "eeeer" passing over.

Each and every fo wake up and smell the Foldgers.

I don't wanna hear how it won't work.

That just means the whole earth hasn't done they homework.

Early on I veered.

But then I soul searched.

Dug deep like a gopher.

Figured I should go first.

Reason why I don't curse.

Reason why I'm sober.

Reason I feel younger even though I'm older.

Open your eyes then keep em on me.

>>The carpenter.

>>Shotgunning for the legroom.

End all of my fortune cookies "in the bedroom."

Type of cat that's always repping in the rec room.

Paparazzi, Boy Sand rampant in they red rooms.

>>As soon as I chec one, >>'Fore I even check two.

You ain't gotta say it once, everybody guessed who.

>>I be putting checks up.

>>Even when the rent's due, ain't nobody next up, ain't nobody next to.

The moment that I enter, they recognize the emperor.

So I be getting extra.

Places like Bethesda.

Sun!

People see the Homeboy.

Then they be like "oh snap."

Then they be like "oh boy."

Shout to Japanese cats chilling watching "Old Boy."

>>People in New Orleans.

>>Chilling eating po boys, just because I'm pro-life don't mean I ain't pro choice.

Reading Dostoevsky don't mean I read Tolstoy.

>>Used to be had no voice.

>>You could see that's null and void.

Nas'd be like "I am."

I'ma be like "yo soy."

Now I'm making big noise.

Playing with the big boys.

I don't mean the Big Noids, B, I mean the >>Sig Freuds.

>>Wooooo!

The sun gon' rise open your eyes then keep em on me.

The sun gon' rise open your eyes then keep em on me.

The sun gon' rise open your eyes then keep em on me.

Indeed Ben Boogz and Deep and Homey.

>>The carpenter.

I'm never gonna slow.

I'm never gonna stall.

I'm never gonna cease.

I'm never gonna cheat.

I'm never cheapen.

Never gonna eat.

I'm never gonna sleep.

I'm never gonna sell out.

Never gonna lease.

More than ever in the streets I'm never gonna leave.

Cats claim that they believe then never take a leap.

You won't never feel relieved, you don't never take a leak.

My level is elite.

Times in another league.

Times the anomaly.

Warn the diabolique.

Cats blabber on the mic.

Cats gather on the right.

I'd rather make a left.

I ain't frightened of the lights.

I ain't tryna be polite.

I'm fighting for my life.

And I'm fighting to the death.

I'm down to pay the price.

Ain't no roll of the dice.

Only one way to dive in.

Take it to the depths.

>>Don't mind if money's tight.

>>I'm done with wearing ties.

I'm running out of time.

Not running out of breath.

Next thing you know.

Presto, I'm all up in the press.

Oh yeah, you wanna bet?

Make sure to stay.

>>The carpenter.

>>Make some noise!

When its time for action.

I get done maxin relaxin.

Fools act up on the sly.

I think Im gonna slide with no traction.

Im not watchin the till.

Im just watching a film wit closed caption.

Boy San visitin Mars and marked absent.

Does anybody need my help?

You ain gotta free me, Ill free myself.

Anybody outta line you could feel my belt.

Anybody close by you could hear my belch.

Dont need a warrant, Anita Ward, you can ring my bell.

Calories keep me warm.

Wont take seats and complete the form.

You wont see me needin no tech support.

I stop and say ‘sup, shuck ears of corn.

I use the force.

Just went through a very small huge divorce.

Im the one to go against social norms.

Teach ya to ignore em then pass the torch.

As a young child used to watch the Snorks.

I dont wanna melt your face.

That is my fail if you felt debased.

These are my views they are not debates.

Careful dont be scuffing up my white on white crimes.

Doing nice things makes me smile.

The genie in the lamp dont cramp my style.

I knew a lotta staff that was actin foul.

Since I used to be an overactive child.

Homeboys back in town.

Nothin' as disgusting as a Black n Mild.

Never had a knack for the backin down.

I rep red yellow white black and brown.

I had tried to bottle that how do that sound?

Forget the mozzarella and the feta and cheddar.

Nothings what it seems, everythings much better.

How come you are doin what you're doin instead of?

All about you like the 21st letter.

It is not worth it being well fed, being fed up.

I dont take oxy.

Homeboy Sandman got a lotta moxie.

Stay humble or wind up in the hot seat.

No hot doggin like Kobayashi.

One day me and posse.

sittin outside just talkin philosophy.

Makin things Count like Bela Legosi.

How to straight cook like Emril Lagasse.

I had a great time, at the po festival last year with E-Turn.

To do a rap show in a library, which is which is, you know, a library is know for don't make a lot of noise.

And to be like, on my him kick a rap doing on stage in a library, it's kind of like I flipped the whole world, you know, like I've come full this, like a full circle moment or like, this is a real achievement, you know what I mean?

And it was a great time.

I mean, everything was great you know, the sound was great.

The fan, the people were great, that showed up.

Like, I was very impressed at seeing the what's going on with the studios and all the tech and the way that stuff is just available to anybody who lives in Orlando, like, we need something like that in New York.

If there is something like that, I would.

They, they, in Sunset Park, they have a new spot, a new, library that they opened on Fourth Avenue, and they actually have a music studio in it.

When I looked at it, I was like, I have actually this opened pretty recently, but after seeing the Melrose, after seeing the library over there.

I'm like, these cats gotta step it up, you know, lik if I lived in Orlando, I'll be I'll be signing up, rocking it every day.

Homeboy Sandman, 20 years of rhymes.

Just warming up.

>>Thanks for joining us for this episode of Melrose in the Mix featuring Homeboy Sandman.

We'll see you again soon with another live recording session here in the Melrose Center at the Orlando Public Library.