In the second part of this interview (part one), Homeboy Sandman talks about how his style of MCing is perceived, why he chose to quite being a vegan, and much more…
The Wrap Up: Take me back to that moment when you were telling the man with 100K that you didn’t want to bend. What was the energy like in the room?
Homeboy Sandman: That was a moment that I am proud of. I knew if I wouldn’t have done that then my career would have been over. Maybe I would’ve won that money and made another song, but I really believe that. I always think to myself, ‘There is no way I’m good enough to write this stuff.’ I always feel like its passing through me. I feel like it comes from God. So when I got that song I knew what I had to write about it right away. We only had a short amount of time to write a song over the beat with a gun in the track. The point of it is as a good rapper, you’re supposed to write about anything. I still went to ask about not using the track because it was a moral issue. I don’t want to rap about guns because guns kill people. It is saddening. But once they didn’t go for it I knew that’s what I had to write about. It was cool because I really love opportunities like that. That song really solidified my relationship with Peter Rosenberg who is now a huge supporter of me on Hot 97 in New York. They play a bunch of smut, it’s true. With the exception of Peter Rosenberg on Sunday night. I want to infiltrate BET and all the horrific places. I’m not just about preaching to the choir. The energy in the room wasn’t like what people would think. It wasn’t me up there shaking, sweating, with me thinking, ‘I hope they go for this.’ I love going up in front of crowds who are not use to people spreading love. I love telling people I don’t want the money I’m gonna do a song about how I don’t like guns. This is awesome. This is my life. So I revel in the ability to actually make the statement about what’s important to me.
TWU: What would you have spent the 100K on had you won it?
Homeboy Sandman: I would’ve bought some food. Yeah, I would’ve probably bought mad food. And give mad money to my sister. She's got two kids. She’s a single mother. I would’ve hit her off with joints then figured out what to do with the rest.
TWU: That vegan diet is not too cheap there. How did that affect your music?
Homeboy Sandman: I’m actually not a vegan anymore.
TWU: What? What happened?!
Homeboy Sandman: Yo, people always act like that when I say that! You would have thought I said I don’t walk on two legs anymore or something.
TWU: Why veganism?
Homeboy Sandman: I really want to be the best MC. I want to be the best musician. I ate raw. I went crazy as a vegan. I didn’t eat nothing but raw, organic fruits and vegetables and nuts for a year. I lost 60 lbs (eating raw). I’m 60 lbs heavier than I was last year. I was 178 lbs. Right now I weigh 235 lbs. For a while I was scared to stop (eating raw). I wrote ‘The Good Sun’ while I was a raw eater. So I was thinking if I stop eating raw am I’m not gonna have this gift anymore. And I became a spokesperson for veganism just because I was vegan. That’s what happens when you’re in the public eye. Even to this day people shout me out. I still probably eat about 2/3s raw.
TWU: Do you think your wordplay and delivery stops your music from being universal?
Homeboy Sandman: As far as the accessibility of the music, it's the responsibility of the MC. My favourite MC of all time is Black Thought from the Roots Crew. I love going back to ‘Illadelph HalfLife’ 15 years (later) and picking up on something I never noticed before. Songs like ‘Calm Tornado’ are very dense. You need to kind of pull it apart. Black Thought gives me stuff like that. The same way he gives me that, I love stuff like “Never Do” from the Roots Crew. It’s a song that’s very important but it’s much more accessible (for listeners). You get everything on the first listen. You can get that feel from my songs like “Mean Mug” or ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’. My main man Daison Pedigree taught me this point early on in my career. He says I know your favourite MC is Black Thought, and you love Big Pun, Eminem, Andre 3000... I know you love these dudes who sometimes take it to a level where everybody doesn’t get it at first. But you need to make sure that you’re not always there. If you want to bring people there you are going to have to have the bridge songs. You're gonna have to have the bridge verse.
TWU: Going back to being a fierce competitor name, the one MC you’d be hesitant about battling in a cipher. The one MC that steps in and you’d think twice. No hype, no TV, your whole credibility is on the line…
Homeboy Sandman: That I’m hesitant to spit? Come on! I can name you MCs that I’d be honoured to be in a cipher with. But ain’t no MC in the whole world I’m hesitant to spit around. I know that’s not the answer I’m supposed to give. I know what you mean is who do you think is mad crazy nice. Like Mos Def. The first Mos Def album is so beautiful. I’d love to be in a cipher with Mos Def, Black Thought, YC the Cynic. I’ll rap with any of these dudes. I don’t believe anybody in the world can rap better than me. I never got into a conversation about who the best rapper is. There is a pantheon of dudes that includes Jay-z nobody can rap better than. It’s impossible to be better than these dudes. However, they are not better than each other which is how they made it into this top bracket. For me Black Thought is my personal favourite. Being in that echelon is what makes me a sure thing. I can’t miss. It’s what makes me not have to work a 9-5 worrying about where I’m gonna get money from. That’s what gives me the confidence. Nobody can rap better than me. I’m not saying that I’m the best rapper but nobody can rap better than me.
TWU: How can your fans get to you online?
Homeboy Sandman: I’m on Facebook. My real name is Angel Del Villar. If you search Homeboy Sandman for me I’ll pop up. There are some fan pages that will pop up first. I didn’t make ANY of those fan pages but shouts to people who did. They aren’t official. So if you want to talk to me you have to find Angel Del Villar.
TWU: What’s next?
Homeboy Sandman: I have two albums completed. One done entirely with Richy Mor who is a brilliant genius. I finished that 2 weeks ago. Last week I finished another album produced entirely by K- Salaam and Beatnik. I’m looking forward to being In Europe altogether doing shows with Lone Catalyst this month as well.
Photograph: Gavin Thomas
Words: Mecca Donna (@MeccaDonna)
Online editing: Arfa Butt (@ArfaImperial)
