TRUE: How did you come up with your name? What is the meaning behind it?
HS: Your Homeboy is your peoples that got your back. Sandman brings you your dreams and makes them come to life.
TRUE: How did you hook up with El RTNC and get him to produce your new project “Kool Herc Fertile Crescent”? Were you in the studio together for all the tracks or were some of them sent by email?
HS: Me and El RTNC first linked up for his Atmananda record. I did a joint with him for that called “Sacred Place” and in my opinion it turned out phenomenal. His production was definitely distinct. We starting building and decided it would be in the best interests of everyone him me and all society for us to start making music together. We were together in the studio for the entire record.
TRUE: What is the significance of the phrase “Fertile Crescent” in the title of the project? How did that come into play?
HS: The fertile crescent is in Africa. Many scientists and historians believe that it was the birthplace of humankind. Kool Herc is the origins of hip hop. Fertile crescent is the origins of woman and man.
TRUE: How did you pay homage to the old school hip hop themes and ways that things used to be in this project?
HS: From a production standpoint the record embodies hip hop’s genesis. Heavy sampling, rough, and unpolished. It also highlights the intense musicality of the genre by conjuring classic rock nostalgia and world music sensibilities. The themes of the songs are also all very age old.
TRUE: How did Kool Herc feel about the project when you first came to him with the idea? Or did you come to him after it was already finished?
HS: I came to him when it was finished. He loves it. He was very appreciative of the respect I have for him and the homage that I’m paying him with this record.
TRUE: You are doing a series of projects that are similar in themes this year, what other producers do you have in mind? How will the rest of the projects differ from each other?
HS: The similar theme is that all of the projects will be produced entirely by the same producer, but beyond that all of the projects will sound completely distinct from one another and all have their own unique feel. After Kool Herc: Fertile Crescent, I’ll be releasing All That I Hold Dear, produced entirely by M Slago. My record produced entirely by the 2 Hungry Bros is also almost finished, as well a project produced entirely by J57, one produced entirely by Jonwayne, and one produced by J57. As each has production duties handled by a different phenomenal talent, the vibe of each, the feel of each, will be completely different. Kool Herc: Fertile Crescent is way more somber and grittier than All That I Hold Dear, which is much smoother and more personal.
TRUE: What is more enjoyable to you, creating the music in the studio or performing on stage?
HS: I love them both. Performing on stage has that aspect of personal connection and instant gratification, so it’s a different type of high. I love it in the booth too though, I be getting amped in there.
TRUE: You are very lyrical and we all know that things come back full circle always in our culture, Do you think that the appreciation of lyrics will be one of those things? How long do you think it will take for it to come back?
HS: Do things always come back full circle in our culture? I feel like people still have appreciation for lyrics. They just don’t get the chance to hear them as often.
TRUE: There is some classic rock scrambled up in some of the production on this project, are you into rock n’ roll? If so, who has had the most influence on you?
HS: I love James Brown. I love the Doobie Brothers. I love the Beegees. Is that rock and roll? I always get foggy when it comes to genre separation.
TRUE: What is your favorite track off of this project and why? Tell us about the creation of it.
HS: I love them all. Men are mortal I wrote on a beach in the Bahamas. That was nice.
TRUE: What other projects are you focusing on this year outside of this series?
HS: I’m working on my next full length. Working on a collaboration project called the Bravery Bunch. Working on a project with I Am Many called Get Big which is produced entirely by Vex Ruffin. Other stuff too.
Peace and many thanks TRUE.
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