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.
Sly Fox
Homeboy Sandman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but I just think it sounds good
Cumpleaños Feliz
I'm sitting on this girl's stoop kinda stalkerish
But she don't live too far from my block so fuck it why not?
Feeling her like eight years
But every time i'm pedalling near she switch gears and disappear
Even if she wasn't really darlin'
To keep it real she actually kinda mean
But i think that she just moody from all the
weed that she be smoking plus her booty kinda mean
Actually it's meaner than she could ever be
Every time I get to see it live it's even meaner than my memory
One day I got to see it up close and tried to kiss it
Even though I only saw it once I kinda miss it
Day I saw it didn't even make use of it
I was too nervous to even get it up and that's the truth of it
Couldn't believe that she was in my bed naked
Beckoning me to take her, yo I guess I couldn't take it
Thought I'd get to try it next day since she was digging me
But never did, seems like ever since yo she been igging me
Every now and then she lighten up
But then I do some shit that I don't even mean to do that make her tighten up
Like texting her too early in the morning when she still asleep
She asked me not to in a way that wasn't too sweet
But I like her and ain't want her getting hot
So I agreed but then of course it wasn't long 'fore I forgot
And then there was the time she thought I made her pay the check
As if I was being rude, "why the check come 'fore the meal?
Like it was fucking fast food", I don't know I went to tell her
I ain't know, she really thought that I was lying
I know you might be thinking why I still be even tryin'?
All this chasing seems subversive
But I swear to God this girl is like the most artistic person
She can paint, and she draw, and she can knit, and she can DJ, and she's crazy at them all
And she's tall, and really pretty, and I know it's not profound
But she be eating really shitty and she never gains a pound
And she was nice to me before I got signed
She was nice to me when I out of my mind
Really skinny, barely eating, and rocking the George Jefferson
I played her in Tetris then, my buttons was sticky she was lucky to win
I thought that her and I could be the best of friends
She even let me watch part of an episode of Master M
Oh no wait I just imagined that, imagine that
Now it's force of habit, tryna get all in her habitat
If it came to light that she would have me, yo I'd probably do the cabbage patch
Oh the beat's over
But she plays soccer too, she's hot!
The song "Sly Fox" by Homeboy Sandman tells a story of unrequited love and the complexities of a relationship. The lyrics depict the singer's infatuation with a girl who lives near his block. Despite feeling a strong connection, every time he tries to approach her, she distances herself. They go on a bike ride together, but she remains distant and seemingly mean. The singer admits that he misses her and even attempts to kiss her when given the opportunity, but his nervousness prevents anything from happening.
The song also highlights the miscommunications and misunderstandings that occur between them. The singer unintentionally upsets her by texting too early in the morning, despite agreeing not to, and she confronts him about it. Another instance involves a misunderstanding about the check at a restaurant, which further strains their connection. The lyrics reveal that the singer is still determined to pursue this girl, even though she often ignores him or becomes cold towards him.
Additionally, the song emphasizes the girl's artistic abilities and physical attributes. She is described as talented in painting, drawing, knitting, and DJing. She is also tall and attractive, and despite her unhealthy eating habits, she never gains weight. The singer is drawn to her for her artistic talents and beauty, which adds to his desire to pursue her.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo don't mind the Cumpleaños Feliz that ain't got nothing to do with it
Disregard the Spanish birthday song, it has no relevance to the situation
but I just think it sounds good
I simply enjoy the sound of it
I'm sitting on this girl's stoop kinda stalkerish
I am sitting on a girl's doorstep, exhibiting stalker-like behavior
But she don't live too far from my block so fuck it why not?
Since she lives nearby, I don't see any harm in doing so
Feeling her like eight years
I have been attracted to her for a long time, almost eight years
But every time i'm pedalling near she switch gears and disappear
However, whenever I am close to her, she suddenly changes her behavior and becomes distant
One day we rode bikes on the west side all the way to harlem
We once went on a bike ride together, traveling from the west side to Harlem
Even if she wasn't really darlin'
Even though she may not have been affectionate towards me
To keep it real she actually kinda mean
To be honest, she can be somewhat rude
But i think that she just moody from all the weed that she be smoking plus her booty kinda mean
I believe her moodiness is a result of her frequent marijuana usage, and her appearance is quite attractive
Actually it's meaner than she could ever be
In fact, it is even more attractive than her personality
Every time I get to see it live it's even meaner than my memory
Each time I see it in person, it surpasses my memory of how attractive it is
One day I got to see it up close and tried to kiss it
On one occasion, I had the opportunity to see it intimately and attempted to kiss it
Even though I only saw it once I kinda miss it
Despite only seeing it once, I already long for it
Day I saw it didn't even make use of it
The day I saw it, I couldn't even make use of the opportunity
I was too nervous to even get it up and that's the truth of it
I was too anxious to perform sexually, and that is the honest truth
Couldn't believe that she was in my bed naked
I couldn't believe that she was in my bed, without any clothes on
Beckoning me to take her, yo I guess I couldn't take it
She was signaling for me to engage in sexual activity, but I couldn't bring myself to do so
Thought I'd get to try it next day since she was digging me
I thought I would have the chance to engage in sexual activity with her the next day, since she showed interest in me
But never did, seems like ever since yo she been igging me
However, it never happened, and it appears that she has been ignoring me ever since
Every now and then she lighten up
Occasionally, she becomes more friendly and open
But then I do some shit that I don't even mean to do that make her tighten up
However, I unintentionally do things that cause her to become distant again
Like texting her too early in the morning when she still asleep
For example, sending her text messages early in the morning while she is still asleep
She asked me not to in a way that wasn't too sweet
She requested that I refrain from doing so, but her tone was not particularly kind
But I like her and ain't want her getting hot
But since I am fond of her, I don't want to upset or anger her
So I agreed but then of course it wasn't long 'fore I forgot
I agreed to her request, but naturally, it didn't take long for me to forget
And then there was the time she thought I made her pay the check
Additionally, there was an occasion where she believed I made her pay for the meal
As if I was being rude, 'why the check come 'fore the meal?
She perceived it as rude, questioning why the bill arrived before the food
Like it was fucking fast food', I don't know I went to tell her
She compared the situation to a fast food restaurant, and I tried to explain to her
I ain't know, she really thought that I was lying
I didn't know the reason, but she genuinely believed that I was lying
I know you might be thinking why I still be even tryin'?
You might wonder why I am still making an effort
All this chasing seems subversive
Engaging in this pursuit appears to be undermining or counterproductive
But I swear to God this girl is like the most artistic person
However, I genuinely believe this girl is incredibly artistic
She can paint, and she draw, and she can knit, and she can DJ, and she's crazy at them all
She has skills in painting, drawing, knitting, DJing, and excels in each of these areas
And she's tall, and really pretty, and I know it's not profound
In addition, she is tall and exceptionally beautiful, although this realization may not be particularly insightful
But she be eating really shitty and she never gains a pound
However, she consumes unhealthy food and yet never gains weight
And she was nice to me before I got signed
She treated me kindly before I achieved success in my career
She was nice to me when I out of my mind
Even when I was mentally unstable, she showed kindness towards me
Really skinny, barely eating, and rocking the George Jefferson
During that time, I was extremely thin, hardly eating, and wearing my hair like George Jefferson
I played her in Tetris then, my buttons was sticky she was lucky to win
We played Tetris together, and my game controller buttons were sticky, so she was fortunate to defeat me
I thought that her and I could be the best of friends
I believed that she and I could have a close friendship
She even let me watch part of an episode of Master M
She even allowed me to watch a portion of an episode of the television show Master M
Oh no wait I just imagined that, imagine that
Actually, that scenario was purely imaginary, just a figment of my imagination
Now it's force of habit, tryna get all in her habitat
Now, it has become a habit for me to try to insert myself into her life and environment
If it came to light that she would have me, yo I'd probably do the cabbage patch
If she expressed interest in being with me, I would enthusiastically embrace the opportunity
Oh the beat's over
Oh, the instrumental accompaniment has concluded
But she plays soccer too, she's hot!
However, it is worth noting that she also plays soccer and is attractive in that regard as well
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PAUL MICHAEL WILLIAMS WHITE, ANGEL DEL VILLAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind