Introducing: Homeboy Sandman

Angel Del Villar II, better known as Homeboy Sandman, is a rapper from Queens, New York. He grew up in NYC and attended boarding school at New Hampshire’s Holderness School. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently enrolled in law school at Hofstra University - he then withdrew from law school during his third year to pursue his career as an emcee, and now has a discography including 3 exceptional albums and 2 brilliant EPs/mixtapes. This was the best decision he could have ever made, as he has slowly become one of my favourite rappers in the world. His style, flow and general outlook on Hip-Hop and life as a whole is unique and totally refreshing. Below you hear one of my favourite tracks from his latest album, The Good Sun, which is entitled Calm Tornado, and is produced by Thieven’ Steven. After the jump you can see the insightful interview, where he talks about the thought process behind his videos, the use/non-use of Twitter/Facebook, possible collaborations with Mystro & Ty and much more.

1. For those people that don’t know who Homeboy Sandman is, can you please give a brief introduction as to who you are and what you do?

I’m a musician.

2. What is your musical background, and is rapping always the profession you wanted to go into when you were at Boarding school and University?

I’ve been a music lover since i was a child raised on Jude Swift, John Coltrane, Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano, Jose Jose, Celia Cruz, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Boogie Down Productions and many others. I used to play the saxophone as well, for 7 years. I never knew i was going to be a rapper up until years after I graduated from high school and university.

3. Thinking about your latest album, The Good Sun, what did you want to achieve with it, and do you have achieved them? I was massively impressed with you on the two previous albums, but I feel as though you have grown as an all-round artist on this LP and made music that everyone can relate to.

I wanted to create a versatile yet cohesive Hip-Hop album that was unique on every level that captured an array of different moods and covered a myriad of non-traditional subject matter and would enrich both the listener as well as the Hip-Hop canon on the whole. Mission accomplished. Thanks for the kind words.

4. For your albums you always bring in a plethora of producers, all with different styles, and was interested in finding out how you go about choosing these producers? Was amazing to see Spinna & Ski Beatz on there - two of my favourite producers.

Whoever has the dopest beats. I’ve been blessed to be in the company of more legends, like Ski and Spinna, and Psycho Les, and i’m also blessed to be in the company of up and coming legends, like Core Rhythm and 2 Hungry Bros and everyone else on the album. But I don’t really choose producers. I choose beats.

5. Also, the cover for TGS, what is the meaning behind it? It’s so simple, yet so effective, and was probably my favourite cover of 2010.

Cleansing. Emergence, as well as submergence. Revealing myself. Purification. Good looking out! 

6. You always have very thought-provoking videos, and was just wondering what the thought process is behind them and how important are they to you as an artist? Also; how much input do you have in directing them?

I’ve been blessed to work with some magnificent directors. The thought process is always a little different, but we always work together. The Lightning Bolt video was directed by Nahem Adio. Myself and Daison Pedigree formulated the initial train idea, then Nahem filled in all the gaps (the animation, cut away scenes, etc.) to make it a proper video. The Carpenter was shot by Brad Hasse. The entire lay on your side in a bunch of different places was entirely his idea. Not only that but he was the one who found all the locations. That was primarily his vision. Similar thing with Nick Heller and The Essence. The idea for the reverse birth man baby was entirely his, and I loved it for how it could be used to show the immaturity of Hip-Hop in 2010 and how it may need to be brought back to ‘the essence’. Nick also directed Strange Planet, which was also his idea. Calm Tornado, directed by Tony Santiago at Surrealphobia, was another collaborative effort kind of like Lightning Bolt. I had the initial hostage idea but the stock footage idea, which really added so much magnitude to the video, was Tony’s idea. He picked that too. So, I don’t direct them at all, but I play a significant role in the conception process.

7. In a time where digital music/twitter & facebook promotion seems to be crucial in gaining any sort of success, it’s interesting to see that you don’t use either of the two main social networking sites to promote your music. Is this a concious decision, or just something that doesn’t interest you and takes away the true meaning of your music?

iIm on facebook, but it’s under my real name Angel Del Villar. I think of facebook as more a way to connect, not really to promote. I would be on twitter, but I don’t even have enough time to get back to everybody on facebook and email, twitter would be even more people that I couldn’t get back to. As far as promo, I find that I do a fine enough job promoting my shows and releases via more traditional channels, and then that stuff winds up on twitter and facebook and actual fans spread the word, which I feel is much cooler than me periodically tooting my own e-horn.

8. Thinking about features on other people’s stuff, what are your thoughts on this and is it something that you enjoy doing? You brought something really special to the J-Live track last year.

Good looking out. Working with J-Live was a dream by the way. He’s one of the best to ever do it. I love featuring. Collaboration is a great way to create unique product.

9. So, you’re over in the UK at the moment. How have you found the reception to your music/show, and have you had the chance to listen to much of the stuff coming out from the UK Hip-Hop scene? And, if so, is there anybody you would like to collaborate with in the future? (Ty & Mystro with Homeboy Sandman would be a piece of musical heaven for me).

The reception has been all love. It’s been amazing. What a blessing. I’ve gotten to listen to some new stuff, but not too much. I’ve already done a song with Paul White. His production is magnificent. I gotta do a song with Mystro though, that dude is nice! I guess now i have to check out Ty too on the strength of your recommendation, since you appear to have pretty good taste ;-).

10. What music are you listening to at the moment? Both Hip-Hop, and in other genres.

The quadron, from Denmark, have recently caught my ear and are amazing. I was listening to some Colonel Red the other day, as well as some Mystro.

11. And, in 2011, what can we expect from Homeboy Sandman after you’ve finished touring? I haven’t stopped playing The Good Sun since the day it was released, but it would be very exciting to know that there is new material in the pipeline.

1 new album completely recorded. 2 more 95% done. This year we gets busy!

12. Finally; where do you see Hip-Hop and, more importantly, music as a whole in the next 5-10 years? Also, will we still see Homeboy Sandman picking up the mic and rocking shows across in the globe in 2020?

Hip-Hop and music as a whole will serve as a weapon in the triumph of good over evil in upcoming years. As far as 2020, God willing.

PEACE and LOVE!