Homeboy Sandman recorded and released his first EP, Nourishment, in March 2007. His debut album, entitled Nourishment (Second Helpings), was released in August 2007. In early 2008, Homeboy Sandman's work began to be featured on underground radio programs the Squeeze Radio Show on WKCR 89.9 FM and the Halftime Radio Program on WNYU 89.1 FM in New York. In June 2008, he was featured in Source Magazine's "Unsigned Hype" column.
His second album, Actual Factual Pterodactyl was acclaimed upon its release in August 2008. The album received an entry in XXL's Chairman's Choice column, which praised Homeboy Sandman's "sharp lyrics and irresistibly melodic flow, which, together, form an elastic instrument few MCs can match." Actual Factual Pterodactyl received critical acclaim in a multitude of other print and online publications, including Blender Magazine, Beyond Race Magazine, Okayplayer.com and MSN.com. At the end of 2008, Homeboy Sandman was named "Best Hip Hop Act in NYC 2008" by New York Press. Recently his music has received rotation on NYC's Power 105.1 FM and Hot 97.1 FM, the city's #1 Hip Hop and R&B radio station, as well as airplay on Spitkicker Radio (Channel 65 on XM Satellite Radio), DJ Premier's "Live From HeadQCourterz" (Sirius Satellite Radio's #1 ranked Hip Hop show) and BBC 1Xtra's Hip Hop M1X (Hosted by DJ Sarah Love).
In addition to his studio releases, Homeboy Sandman has garnered attention for his live performances. From January 2008 to August 2009, Homeboy Sandman served as the host of “ALL THAT! Hip Hop, Poetry and Jazz” at the Nuyorican Poets Café, New York City's longest running open mic session (originally hosted by Hip Hop icon Bobbito García). He has performed at the biggest hip hop shows around the country, including the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas, the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival in Brooklyn, New York, the Rock the Bells hip hop festival in Long Island, New York, the A3C Hip Hop Festival in Atlanta, Georgia and New York City's CMJ Music Marathon. Homeboy Sandman has recorded video interviews with other performers at his live shows, which are captured in his YouTube video series "Homeboy Sandman presents Live From...".
In addition to his own releases, Homeboy Sandman has appeared on records by other artists, frequently with members of the AOK Collective, with whom he is affiliated. He recently appeared on Fresh Daily's 2009 album The Gorgeous Killer: In Crimes of Passion and the 2008 album For Your Consideration released by P.SO (formerly P. Casso). Homeboy Sandman collaborated with both Fresh Daily and P.SO for the song "Get On Down," which is featured on Sonic Smash, the album released in 2009 by music producer DJ Spinna.[8] Homeboy Sandman has also laid down tracks for a series of features with RIDES Magazine. The track that Homeboy Sandman created for the Loud.com challenge, "Gun Control," was cited as one of the Top 25 Songs of 2009 by Hot 97 DJ Peter Rosenberg.
On June 1, 2010, Homeboy Sandman released his third album, The Good Sun, which features production from 2 Hungry Bros, Ski Beats, Thievin' Stephen, DJ Spinna, Psycho Les (The Beatnuts) and Core Rhythm, among others. The first single from The Good Sun was "Angels with Dirty Faces," produced by J57. In September 2010, Homeboy Sandman released his first official video for The Good Sun for the track, "The Essence".
In late 2010, Homeboy Sandman was featured as the coach in an episode of MTV's Made, which premiered in October 2010.
In August 2011, Homeboy Sandman signed with Stones Throw Records and released his debut project, Subject: Matter EP, with the California-based record label on January 24, 2012. Homeboy Sandman released his second EP with Stones Throw Records, titled Chimera in April 2012 and on September 18, 2012, released his debut full-length LP with Stones Throw entitled First of a Living Breed. The album featured production from Oddisee, J57, 6th Sense, RTNC and long-time production partners 2 Hungry Bros., along with label mates Jonwayne and Oh No, amongst others.
In 2014, Homeboy Sandman released the EP, White Sands, which was produced by Paul White. Nate Patrin of Pitchfork commented that the producer and rapper had "a mutually beneficial set of styles" in a positive review. In that year, Homeboy Sandman released the album, Hallways.
In the wake of the Donald Sterling scandal, Homeboy Sandman wrote for Gawker an op-ed called "Black People are Cowards," which attracted more than 1.3 million views in the first seven days of its publication.
In 2015, Homeboy Sandman released a collaborative EP with Aesop Rock, titled Lice. In 2016, he released the album, Kindness for Weakness, which included Edan-produced "Talking (Bleep)". In that year, he released a collaborative EP with Aesop Rock, titled Lice Two: Still Buggin'.
In 2019, Homeboy Sandman announced he had signed a new deal with Mello Music Group and released the new single "West Coast" produced by Aesop Rock to celebrate the new label signing.
Homeboy Sandman's first album on Mello Music Group, “Dusty,” was released on October 18, 2019. Production was handled entirely by Mono En Stereo. Dusty garnered positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic writer Paul Simpson praised Mono En Stereo's soundscape of "laid-back, ambling jazz and funk grooves" for complimenting Sandman's "conversational, matter-of-fact rhymes" throughout the album, concluding that "Dusty is another winning set of pointed observations from Sandman, who effortlessly unloads his thoughts without seeming like a burden on the listener."
Homeboy Sandman followed up “Dusty” with his 2020 album “Don’t Feed The Monster” produced by Quelle Chris. “Don’t Feed The Monster” was listed in NPR's top 50 albums of 2020. Homeboy Sandman would later receive a pair of awards for music videos that accompanied the album. He received a UK Music Video award for “Monument” (directed by Pavel Buryak) in 2021 and later won Best Foreign Documentary at Rome Film Awards 2022 for Don’t Look Down Video (directed by Robert Mayer aka Photo Rob).
At the beginning of 2021, Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman released their single “Ask Anyone,” which was featured on FIFA 21 soundtrack. Following the release Homeboy Sandman announced his EP Anjelitu which was produced entirely by Aesop Rock. Released in August 2021, Anjelitu marked Homeboy Sandman's third studio project on Mello Music Group. Okayplayer highlighted Anjelitu as one of the best Hip-Hop projects of 2021. Pete Rock would later give praise to “Go Hard” from Anjelitu. At the end of 2021, Homeboy Sandman garnered unexpected attention after Doja Cat saluted the emcee as “One of my favorite rappers” on Instagram live.
Homeboy Sandman's tenth studio album, There in Spirit, was released on February 25, 2022. That same year, he released the mixtape I Can't Sell These for free on Bandcamp, due in part to an inability to clear the various samples used in the music. Music critic Robert Christgau soon hailed it as "the finest album of one of hip-hop's most prolific careers", giving it an "A" grade.
Homeboy Sandman revitalized his acclaimed Anjelitu EP, by releasing the Anjelitu Deluxe which included two new tracks as well as Aesop Rock's instrumentals from the project. In 2022, Rhymesayers released all three of Homeboy Sandman and Aesop Rock's Lice albums on digital streaming platforms. Homeboy Sandman's Deca-produced eleventh studio album “Still Champion” was released on November 11, 2022, following the pair's 19-stop co-headlining tour. “Still Champion” reached #24 on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts and Riff Magazine included the project in their top 20 Hip-Hop albums of 2022.
Homeboy Sandman collaborated with Oakland-based nonprofit organization Oakstop Alliance on the album “Royalty Summit,” released on December 23, 2022. Royalty Summit is the debut release from Oakstop Alliance’s Oakland Resident music initiative. Homeboy Sandman was planning the west coast run for his There In Spirit Tour when longtime friend and Oakstop Alliance Executive Director Damon Johnson pitched him with the concept. The 12-track album was recorded over 3 days in Oakland as a residency collaboration between Homeboy Sandman, and over 20 Oakland musical artists and professionals. On Christmas Day in 2022, Homeboy Sandman announced the debut full-length release for his label Dirty Looks, titled “12 Days of Christmas & Dia De Los Reyes.” Homeboy Sandman rolled out one song from the project each day until the full album’s release on January 6, 2023.
In August 2023, Homeboy Sandman connected with New York beatmaker Mono En Stereo–whom the emcee collaborated with on past albums Kool Herc: Fertile Crescent and Dusty–for his studio album “Rich” released via Dirty Looks. The album garnered critical attention from Pitchfork, Vibe Magazine, HipHopDX, and more. Homeboy Sandman later released "I Can't Sell These Either" in November 2023, continuing the "I Can't Sell These" mixtape series started in 2022.
First of a Living Breed
Homeboy Sandman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I exist where the blacks is, can't blacklist me
Come try me
I'm too boss, can't hire me
I'm free, can't buy me
Y'all blow me
I found my own way, y'all ain't show me
You cats don't know me
I grow in numbers on the Ave normally
I move abnormally
Spread rumors, but this cat lands on feet
Cats on feet, see? Pumas
Be gone
You can't throw me off, you ain't put me on
Put simply, y'all ain't wanna play me, so how you gon' sit me?
How you gon' silence
I'm my own stylist, so how you gon' strip me?
[Chorus]
I represent the first of a breed
Can't hurt me
This is heaven to me
I represent the first of a crew
Won't hurt you
This is heaven to me
Brazen
The Matrix can't hold me cause I'm my own agent
It's all fair
Can't knock me off cloud nine
Ain't put me on air
So now I'm famous
But I ain't here to party y'all ain't give me no favors
I made A-list, but drove my own spaceship
Kept my nose nowhere near Uranus
People told me I should not burn bridges before
But why I need a bridge someplace I ain't trying to go
I's a new emcee, y'all ain't help me spreadin' the news
Now you need me, more than I need you
I do not need you
Fool of you to assume you could swoop in and just soup me up
I'm not miso
But I'd be smooth like peep where I'll be soon
[Chorus]
Now if you don't play me no one's gonna listen to you
You don't write about me they gon' know you outta the loop
Don't credit my incredible ability and all you gon' manage is to damage your credibility
I move with patience and humility
Ignored by networks, put in my legwork like millipede
Still rocking sweatpants and a Dilla tee
But now I'm like the military
I'm still a man of little mean
But I don't know what little means
I wasn't little in the little league, literally
I don't know what being little means so you can not belittle me
See I ain't need a middle man, to get the cynics to consider me
Not the kid that cracks or acts jittery
So how y'all pulling this and that, riddle me?
Ya'll never gon' get rid of me
[Chorus]
In the first verse of "First of a Living Breed," Homeboy Sandman asserts his confidence and individuality. He proclaims that he cannot be ignored or silenced because he creates hits that resonate with the black community, despite the industry's attempts to blacklist him. Sandman emphasizes his independence, stating that he has found his own way and doesn't need others to guide him. He brushes off the negativity and rumors, showcasing his resilience and ability to always land on his feet. The line "y'all ain't put me on" suggests that the industry underestimated him, and now that he's successful, they want a piece of him.
The chorus serves as a declaration of Sandman's uniqueness and the pride he takes in being a pioneer. He represents the "first of a breed" and the "first of a crew," implying that he is breaking new ground and paving the way for others. He asserts that his position in the industry brings him immense joy and satisfaction, describing it as "heaven."
In the second verse, Sandman continues his assertive and confident tone. He likens himself to an agent instead of being controlled by external forces, like a character in "The Matrix." He dismisses the notion of being knocked off his high (cloud nine) and laments that he was not given any favors or support on his journey to fame. Despite this, he highlights that he rose to the A-list by his own merit and remained true to himself. He metaphorically references keeping his "nose nowhere near Uranus" to signify that he stayed grounded and didn't get caught up in fame or inflated ego.
Sandman addresses the critics and those who have doubted him in the final verse. He showcases his patience and humility in the face of neglect by major networks or media outlets. He recounts his journey, starting from the grassroots level, and expresses that he was not given the recognition he deserved. However, he remains determined and confident, reflecting that his talent and credibility speak for themselves. He refuses to be belittled or undermined by others and asserts that he will always be present in the industry, making it clear that he cannot be easily dismissed.
Overall, "First of a Living Breed" is a powerful anthem of self-assurance and resilience. Homeboy Sandman conveys his unwavering confidence in his abilities, as well as his refusal to conform to industry demands or compromise his artistic integrity. He celebrates his unique position as a trendsetter and asserts his indispensable presence in the music world.
Line by Line Meaning
Long as I make hits, can't miss me
As long as I continue to create popular songs, I will always be noticeable and impossible to overlook.
I exist where the blacks is, can't blacklist me
I thrive in the spaces where African Americans reside and cannot be silenced or excluded.
Come try me
Feel free to challenge me or test my abilities.
I'm too boss, can't hire me
I possess such a strong sense of authority and control that nobody can employ or command me.
I'm free, can't buy me
My independence cannot be bought or sold, as I am not beholden to anyone.
Y'all blow me
Your actions and opinions towards me are completely disregarded and hold no significance in my life.
I found my own way, y'all ain't show me
I have discovered my own path to success without any assistance or guidance from others.
You cats don't know me
You individuals are unfamiliar with my true character and essence.
Try to ignore me
You attempt to deliberately overlook or disregard my presence or contributions.
I grow in numbers on the Ave normally
My influence and following steadily increase among the local community and streets.
I move abnormally
My actions and decisions deviate from the norm, setting me apart from others.
Spread rumors, but this cat lands on feet
Despite the gossip and falsehoods being spread about me, I always come out unscathed and successful.
Cats on feet, see? Pumas
My ability to stay on my feet and maintain stability is comparable to the agility and balance of a Puma.
Be gone
I dismiss and reject your presence, as you hold no value or significance in my life.
You can't throw me off, you ain't put me on
Your attempts to hinder my progress or bring me down are in vain, as you never had the power or influence to elevate me in the first place.
Put simply, y'all ain't wanna play me, so how you gon' sit me?
To put it plainly, you were never interested in engaging or collaborating with me, so how can you now try to exclude or sideline me?
How you gon' silence
In what manner do you plan to silence or suppress my voice?
I'm my own stylist, so how you gon' strip me?
I maintain complete control over my image and artistic expression, so how can you attempt to strip away or alter my identity?
I represent the first of a breed
I symbolize the beginning and pioneering spirit of a unique group or category.
Can't hurt me
My resilience and strength protect me from any harm or damage you may attempt to inflict.
This is heaven to me
The current state of my life and career brings me immense joy and fulfillment.
Brazen
I am bold and unapologetic in expressing my beliefs and asserting my presence.
The Matrix can't hold me cause I'm my own agent
The restrictive systems of society cannot control or confine me, as I operate independently and autonomously.
It's all fair
I understand that life and its challenges are impartial and just.
Can't knock me off cloud nine
Nothing can disturb or diminish my state of extreme happiness and contentment.
Ain't put me on air
Mainstream media platforms have not given me exposure or recognition.
So now I'm famous
Despite the lack of mainstream exposure, I have still gained significant popularity and acclaim.
But I ain't here to party y'all ain't give me no favors
I did not achieve success for the purpose of indulging in excess or celebrating, as I received no assistance or favors from you.
I made A-list, but drove my own spaceship
I reached the highest level of success and recognition, but did so by my own means and ingenuity.
Kept my nose nowhere near Uranus
I remained grounded and practical, avoiding any delusions or distractions.
People told me I should not burn bridges before
Others advised me not to sever or damage relationships in the past.
But why I need a bridge someplace I ain't trying to go
Why should I keep a connection to a place or people that no longer serve a purpose or align with my aspirations?
I's a new emcee, y'all ain't help me spreadin' the news
As a rising rapper, you did not assist or support me in spreading my music and gaining attention.
Now you need me, more than I need you
You now recognize my value and importance, but I no longer depend on or require your presence.
I do not need you
I am fully self-sufficient and do not rely on your assistance or involvement.
Fool of you to assume you could swoop in and just soup me up
It was foolish of you to believe that you could suddenly come in and enhance or boost my career.
I'm not miso
I am not easily swayed or influenced by external forces or manipulation.
But I'd be smooth like peep where I'll be soon
However, I will smoothly navigate and adapt to the circumstances as I progress towards my imminent success.
Now if you don't play me no one's gonna listen to you
If you fail to recognize and appreciate my talent, nobody will pay attention to or value your opinions or work.
You don't write about me they gon' know you outta the loop
If you do not include me in your discussions or writings, it will become evident that you are uninformed and disconnected from current trends.
Don't credit my incredible ability and all you gon' manage is to damage your credibility
If you refuse to acknowledge and recognize my exceptional skills, you will only harm your own reputation and credibility.
I move with patience and humility
I navigate through life and my career calmly and modestly, displaying patience and modesty.
Ignored by networks, put in my legwork like millipede
Television networks and media platforms have disregarded my talent, so I have taken it upon myself to put in the hard work and effort like a millipede, tirelessly progressing forward.
Still rocking sweatpants and a Dilla tee
Despite my success and fame, I continue to dress comfortably and pay homage to the late J Dilla, a renowned music producer, by wearing his merchandise.
But now I'm like the military
Similar to the military, I possess discipline, strategy, and strength in overcoming obstacles and achieving my goals.
I'm still a man of little mean
I may still be perceived as an average or humble person, despite my accomplishments.
But I don't know what little means
I do not comprehend the concept of being insignificant or of little significance.
I wasn't little in the little league, literally
Even in my younger days playing Little League baseball, I stood out and was not of little importance or talent, both literally and figuratively.
I don't know what being little means so you can not belittle me
I do not grasp the notion of being diminished or reduced in importance, so your attempts to demean or diminish me will be in vain.
See I ain't need a middle man, to get the cynics to consider me
I did not require an intermediary to convince skeptics to acknowledge and appreciate my abilities and potential.
Not the kid that cracks or acts jittery
I do not succumb to pressure or display nervousness or agitation in challenging situations.
So how y'all pulling this and that, riddle me?
I am perplexed as to how you are attempting to manipulate or deceive me with various tactics and strategies.
Ya'll never gon' get rid of me
You will never succeed in eliminating or erasing me from the industry or people's consciousness.
I represent the first of a crew
I embody the pioneering and groundbreaking spirit of a collective or group.
Won't hurt you
I will not cause harm or distress to others.
This is heaven to me
The state of being part of this crew or collective brings me immense joy and satisfaction.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Angel Del Villar, Michael Woodrow Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind