Homeboy Sandman

The Good Sun, the second album from Homeboy Sandman, sees the Queens, NY-based high school Special Ed teacher-turned-MC successfully walking several very fine lines. He manages to be positive without being preachy, humorous without being goofy and lyrically complex without being pointlessly wanky. Sandman's musical, sing-song-y flow is a versatile instrument. He's equally comfortable spitting 130-plus-BPM speed raps on "Table Cloth" as he is meandering along on "Yeah, But I Can Rhyme Though." In addition to having a unique flow, Sandman is also a straight-up lyricist. Tracks like "The Essence" and "The Carpenter" are overflowing with lines so complex they merit multiple rewinds. Even though Sandman is a lyricist first, production isn't an afterthought on The Good Sun. Hired guns like Psycho Les of the Beatnuts, DJ Spinna and DJ Ski all contribute memorable beats. With 13 tracks, ranging from good to excellent, and a total playing time of just under 45 minutes, The Good Sun is filler-free, without one skippable track. Not only has it put Homeboy Sandman on the map as an MC to watch, it's also an early contender for album of the year.