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.
Wondering Why
Homeboy Sandman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you wanna hate?
If she ain't game when you say hey why you wanna go on that date?
Why you eat that if you wanna lose weight?
Why you sit there if you got the whole train?
Why you wear those if you know it's gonna rain?
Why you want mine when you got your own plate?
Why you got rice knew you wanted lo mein?
Why you go pay when you knew it wasn't okay?
Why you make plans when you know you gonna flake?
Why you say gold when you know it's gold plate?
Why you Facebooking all your flames?
Why you take tums 'stead of takin rolaids?
Why they ain't give Puerto Rico no aid
Yet this weekend is the Puerto Rican day parade?
Hey
As hours go by
I look to the sky
I'm wondering why
Why there ain't no more rap groups?
Why I don't know the real ways just back routes?
Why do little kids got tattoos?
Why do vegans act like meat taste like jackfruit?
Why do everybody got bad news?
Why do everybody wanna be bad dudes?
Why you on line for a pair of shoes?
Why is it so hard to find plain raw cashews?
Why are people so fickle?
Why do chicks get so strong when they being tickled?
Why do sandwiches have pickles?
Why do men have nipples?
Why do planes make me fart?
Why would I complain when I'm alive making art?
Why could Lois never tell superman's Clark?
Why did Zack and Slater never try to bang lark?
Tell me!
As hours go by
I look to the sky
I'm wondering why
As hours go by
I look to the sky
I'm wondering why
Why my mind so dirty?
Why I'm up late if I gotta wake early?
If nobody asked why you giving advice?
Why are folks embarrassed that they neighborhood nice?
If Thanos care about people so much why he ain't just snap his fingers and make twice as much stuff?
Why you keep looking when you know you can't touch?
Why you keep hooking up you know you have bumps?
Why you rep celebrities instead of friends?
Why they even make non peanut M&Ms?
Why do children always say wanna make a bet?
Children don't have any bread
Why do people make the bed?
They just gonna mess it up later
Why don't anybody ever vote for Ralph Nader?
If Apollo landed why there wasn't no crater?
If Apollo landed why that shit seem so made up?
As hours go by
I look to the sky
I'm wondering why
In the song "Wondering Why" by Homeboy Sandman, the lyrics delve into a series of thought-provoking questions about various aspects of everyday life and society. The artist questions the motives and decisions of individuals, highlighting contradictions and inconsistencies that often go unnoticed. The opening lines question why someone would bring up a topic if it wasn't significant, challenging the notion of unnecessary negativity and judgment. This sets the tone for a series of inquiries that prompt the listener to reflect on their own behaviors and beliefs.
The lyrics touch on themes of self-awareness and societal norms, critiquing conventional wisdom and trends. Homeboy Sandman questions why people engage in certain actions, such as eating unhealthy foods while trying to lose weight or purchasing low-quality items despite knowing better options. Through these inquiries, the artist challenges listeners to consider the underlying motivations behind their choices and behaviors, encouraging a deeper understanding of personal values and priorities.
The artist also addresses broader societal issues, questioning the lack of support for Puerto Rico in the face of a celebratory event like the Puerto Rican day parade. This juxtaposition highlights the disparities and injustices that exist within society, prompting reflection on systemic inequalities and neglect. By drawing attention to these discrepancies, Homeboy Sandman urges listeners to question the status quo and advocate for positive change.
Overall, "Wondering Why" serves as a reflective and introspective piece that encourages listeners to challenge their assumptions, consider the consequences of their actions, and strive for a more conscious and purposeful way of living. The artist's stream of questions prompts a deeper exploration of personal values, societal standards, and the complexities of human behavior, inviting listeners to question, reflect, and ultimately seek understanding in a world full of uncertainties and contradictions.
Line by Line Meaning
Why you bring it up if it wasn't that great?
Why do you mention it if it wasn't a positive experience?
Why you wanna hate?
Why do you want to spread negativity?
If she ain't game when you say hey why you wanna go on that date?
If she's not interested when you first approach her, why do you still want to go on a date?
Why you eat that if you wanna lose weight?
Why do you consume that if your goal is to lose weight?
Why you sit there if you got the whole train?
Why do you stay in that seat when there's an entire train available?
Why you wear those if you know it's gonna rain?
Why do you wear those shoes if you know it will rain?
Why you want mine when you got your own plate?
Why do you desire mine when you already have your own portion?
Why you got rice knew you wanted lo mein?
Why did you order rice when you actually wanted lo mein?
Why you cop that when you know it's low grade?
Why did you purchase that even though you knew it was of low quality?
Why you go pay when you knew it wasn't okay?
Why did you agree to pay when you knew the situation wasn't acceptable?
Why you make plans when you know you gonna flake?
Why do you create plans when you already know you will cancel?
Why you say gold when you know it's gold plate?
Why do you claim it's gold when you are aware it's only gold-plated?
Why you Facebooking all your flames?
Why are you engaging with all your past romantic interests on Facebook?
Why you take tums 'stead of takin rolaids?
Why do you choose to take Tums instead of Rolaids?
Why they ain't give Puerto Rico no aid
Why haven't they provided assistance to Puerto Rico?
Yet this weekend is the Puerto Rican day parade?
But the Puerto Rican day parade still occurs this weekend?
Why there ain't no more rap groups?
Why are there no longer any rap groups?
Why I don't know the real ways just back routes?
Why am I not familiar with the direct paths, only the alternate routes?
Why do little kids got tattoos?
Why do young children have tattoos?
Why do vegans act like meat taste like jackfruit?
Why do vegans pretend that meat tastes like jackfruit?
Why do everybody got bad news?
Why does everyone seem to have negative news?
Why do everybody wanna be bad dudes?
Why does everyone aspire to be seen as tough individuals?
Why you on line for a pair of shoes?
Why are you waiting in line for a pair of shoes?
Why is it so hard to find plain raw cashews?
Why is it difficult to locate simple, unprocessed cashews?
Why are people so fickle?
Why are individuals so indecisive or changeable in their opinions?
Why do chicks get so strong when they being tickled?
Why do women exhibit such strength when they are being tickled?
Why do sandwiches have pickles?
Why are pickles included in sandwiches?
Why do men have nipples?
Why do males have nipples even though they do not serve a functional purpose?
Why do planes make me fart?
Why does flying on airplanes cause flatulence?
Why would I complain when I'm alive making art?
Why would I express dissatisfaction when I'm alive and creating art?
Why could Lois never tell superman's Clark?
Why was Lois Lane unable to recognize that Superman is Clark Kent?
Why did Zack and Slater never try to bang lark?
Why did characters Zack and Slater never attempt to pursue Lark Voorhies' character Lisa Turtle romantically on the show 'Saved by the Bell'?
Why my mind so dirty?
Why are my thoughts often impure or inappropriate?
Why I'm up late if I gotta wake early?
Why am I staying awake late into the night when I have to wake up early the next day?
If nobody asked why you giving advice?
If nobody requested it, why are you offering advice?
Why are folks embarrassed that they neighborhood nice?
Why do people feel ashamed of having a friendly and pleasant neighborhood?
If Thanos care about people so much why he ain't just snap his fingers and make twice as much stuff?
If Thanos truly cares about humanity, why doesn't he simply use his power to create more resources rather than eliminating half of all living beings?
Why you keep looking when you know you can't touch?
Why do you continue to stare if you are aware that you cannot make physical contact?
Why you keep hooking up you know you have bumps?
Why do you continue to engage in intimate activities when you are aware of having physical imperfections or blemishes?
Why you rep celebrities instead of friends?
Why do you idolize celebrities rather than valuing your friendships with regular individuals?
Why they even make non peanut M&Ms?
Why produce M&Ms without peanuts when the original version includes peanuts?
Why do children always say wanna make a bet?
Why do kids frequently propose making a wager?
Children don't have any bread
Children do not possess any money or resources for betting
Why do people make the bed?
Why do individuals bother with tidying the bed when it will just get messy again later?
They just gonna mess it up later
It will inevitably become untidy once more
Why don't anybody ever vote for Ralph Nader?
Why does no one ever choose to vote for Ralph Nader, a political candidate known for multiple presidential campaigns?
If Apollo landed why there wasn't no crater?
If the Apollo missions successfully landed on the moon, why is there no visible crater beneath the lunar module?
If Apollo landed why that shit seem so made up?
If the moon landings by the Apollo spacecraft were genuine, why does the evidence seem fabricated or doubtful?
Why my mind so dirty?
Why are my thoughts often impure or inappropriate?
Why I'm up late if I gotta wake early?
Why am I staying awake late into the night when I have to wake up early the next day?
If nobody asked why you giving advice?
If nobody requested it, why are you offering advice?
Why are folks embarrassed that they neighborhood nice?
Why do people feel ashamed of having a friendly and pleasant neighborhood?
If Thanos care about people so much why he ain't just snap his fingers and make twice as much stuff?
If Thanos truly cares about humanity, why doesn't he simply use his power to create more resources rather than eliminating half of all living beings?
Why you keep looking when you know you can't touch?
Why do you continue to stare if you are aware that you cannot make physical contact?
Why you keep hooking up you know you have bumps?
Why do you continue to engage in intimate activities when you are aware of having physical imperfections or blemishes?
Why you rep celebrities instead of friends?
Why do you idolize celebrities rather than valuing your friendships with regular individuals?
Why they even make non peanut M&Ms?
Why produce M&Ms without peanuts when the original version includes peanuts?
Why do children always say wanna make a bet?
Why do kids frequently propose making a wager?
Children don't have any bread
Children do not possess any money or resources for betting
Why do people make the bed?
Why do individuals bother with tidying the bed when it will just get messy again later?
They just gonna mess it up later
It will inevitably become untidy once more
Why don't anybody ever vote for Ralph Nader?
Why does no one ever choose to vote for Ralph Nader, a political candidate known for multiple presidential campaigns?
If Apollo landed why there wasn't no crater?
If the Apollo missions successfully landed on the moon, why is there no visible crater beneath the lunar module?
If Apollo landed why that shit seem so made up?
If the moon landings by the Apollo spacecraft were genuine, why does the evidence seem fabricated or doubtful?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Angel Del Villar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind