Homeboy Sandman is perhaps one of the most uncompromising, inventive and prolific artists in hip hop today – within the last year or two, he’s released a full length album, and had collaborated with the likes of  the legendary Sadat X and releases a number of mixtape worthy singles. Stones Throw Records will be releasing Sandman’s next full-length album, All That I Hold Dear on August 6th. M Siago produced the entire album, which should create the sense of a cohesive vision between both the artist and the producer …

“Easy Does It” which features song guest verses from the equally eccentric, I Am Many and YC the Cynic, employs a jaunty and jagged jazz piano, backed by boom bap beats. Sandman is his usual self, employing complicated rhyme schemes, witty word play and hyper literate references. How many emcees have you heard namecheck the Artful Dodger? Maybe Das EFX?And then follow it with a reference to Lil’ Wayne? As an emcee and as a lyricist, there are few like him in hip hop these days. I Am Many and YC the Cynic’s verses, much like Sandman’s are total tongue twisters full of braggadocio and playful, inner rhyme. I love the off rhyme of a one of YC’s couplet that ends with detergent and deterrent. I Am Many at one point sounds like a demented, menacing Twista (remember him?). 

It’s a shame that hip hop that’s both artistic and smart as hell doesn’t get the love from the conglomerate radio stations – the same ones who force feed us soulless bullshit. But this is real hip hop, created and made for those who truly love the music as an art form.