Homeboy Sandman is a Queens based emcee who was signed to Stones Throw Records for good reason. The former law school student and teacher has entered the rap game with vigilance, a choice that hip hop fans across the world are currently celebrating. This video is a moment in time with the emcee, where he goes in on everything from his father’s days as a Golden Gloves boxer to dropping out of law school to writing rhymes while stoned versus straight.
The album First of a Living Breed drops September 18th. It will feature production from ZIF favorites Oddisee and Jon Wayne. Scope the tracklist after the jump.
Oddisee outfit Mello Music Group is the safest bet for skip-free music on your various playlists. Whether it’s Oddisee remixing a Marvin Gaye track or Gensu Dean lacing Roc Marciano with grimey goodness, this label is a delectable source for precocious hip hop. Their newest signee 7evenThirty is working on a collaborative album with The Imperial Gensu Dean but prior to that he’ll be dropping the concept album Heaven’s Computer on September 25th
Prior to that MMG has released this tape of early material from the 7even’s earlier days. Give it a listen and confirm that they got this roster addition right!
If you know anything about Oddisee, you know that he is a remix champ. If remixes are your thing, you should run, not walk, but proverbially run to your nearest download outlet and harvest his remix project titled “Odd Renditions”. Oddisee is the kind of rapper you can bump pretty much all day, a perfect ambiance for chill domiciles seeking a little enlightenment via music. Here he remixes a track from his fellow Mello Music Group signee, yU. yU is another rapper set on provoking your mind with social commentary that doesn’t come across as dogmatic. For the most part he raps about his own personal struggle in the DMV and his come-up. Right off the bat, you know that yU is serious about garnering the right attention and paving a path free of ‘major’ influence, the second verse starts off with the following willfully stubborn declaration:
Aiiight, u got a goal in mind. Now that’s a good start.
Let people know what u’re crafting, they’ll pull it apart
And say it needs some of this, and a lil bit of that
Before u put the finishing touch, their giving it the axe
And start chopping down a young tree
That’s why my ideas are unseen, cuz haters live amongst me
The remix is better than the original, but that’s mostly because Oddisee chooses to leave the verses and spice up the chorus with whatever magic dust he seems to have at the ready at all times. Once again Mello Music Group AKA Oddisee and Co. show us that in this swagged out world full of Kreayshawns, 2 Chains and Tunechi’s, there is a sound worth our attention, some may even dare to call it hip hop.
By now you should know who you are, and Oddisee as well. Also, you should know that the word “acoustic” usually means that there are no sounds coming from an electronic instrument, like the guitar in the video for example. Nevertheless, this video’s stripped down composition certainly allows the listener to hear a great emcee enunciate meaningful lyrics with hardened passion, worth your bottom dollar. It’s free though.
Lyrics
You were there from the start/ taught me to be aware of the sharks & prepare for the dark/ you kept a secret you practiced what you were preaching against/ your inner demons were praying I would tear apart/ you won’t admit but you competed just a little a bit/ I could tell cause you’d be heated over little sh*t/ telling me to quit trying & get real/ I got a little shine you was like big deal/ I was pursuing dreams, steady doin my thing/ you wasn’t doing the same you wasn’t doing a thing/ from my truest to a brutes to a judas/ to who knew that this would happen/ but the fraction was brewing it seems/ I should have seen, mistaking smoke for a little steam/ it turned to fire you burned me hoping to ruin me/ I won’t even mention your name in the bars, it’s too close to the scars/ but I’m sure n*gga you know who you are/
Chorus
You Know Who You Are
You were there from the start/ you told me what ever I’m doing to do it from the heart/ I was pursuing a dream that was cloaked in the cloth of the uncertain/ making money music & art/ and it wasn’t perfect/ you told me what ever’s worth it is worth hurting/ double edge seemingly sharp, rather unnerving/ but still, you believed in a brother/ I was starving as an artist, you was feeding a brother/ you could see in a brother what I couldn’t see myself/ when couldn’t see myself needing help/ one reason or another I was trying to do it all/ there’s allot of ways to fail but that’s the fastest to the fall/ but through it and after all you was with me not against/ you cheered me from the bench/ and now you’re with me as I ball/ and that meant, I ain’t got to mention your name in bars/ you know you’re close to my heart/ so I’m sure that/
Chorus
You were there from the start/ before you were even aware of a plan you part/ of the scheme, grand as it could seem at the top/ man can only go so high before you reached where we can’t breath/ but you know your limitations you walk patient/ while everybody starts to run for their plan B/ like a fire escape, but you stay in the kitchen/ let them sleep on their dreams, you just lying awake/ you stay eyeing the cake, they getting greedy/ and then they turn their side against you like their getting sleepy/ try to prevent you cause you ain’t too what they bout/ get in your mental convince you to take the way out/ please, let them try, let the me fail/ let them tell lies on you let them be/ let them see you prevail/ let them bail on their attempt to stunt a star/ in any event be sure that you know who you are.
Those of you who are not on the Oddisee journey, please alleviate your stress by diving right into this 4 track remix project remixing tracks from Bon Iver, Marvin Gaye, Metronomy, and K-OS. His ear for melodies is bar none, his ability to arrange these vocals over contempoary beats is superfragalisticexpealadocious. I did some market testing of the Marvin Gaye remix “Ain’t That Peculiar” with my girl’s 6 year old son, his preference? Oddisee! Marvin Gaye was “nice” though. I’m glad that there is a “Volume 001″ after the title, lord knows I want some V.2 action. Play the tracks below, download the project for free in its entirety here.
