How often do you get to see an Ivy League-educated vegan perform in Armstrong for free? Not too often, but if you are curious about the prospect, Homeboy Sandman will be performing today, Friday, Dec. 4 in the Katherine Morhman Theatre along with local rapper Stoney Bertz and Colorado College’s own Juwan Rohan from 9 to 11 p.m.
Regarding himself as a “conscious rapper,” Sandman writes superbly crafted rhymes critiquing the current state of society and life. He was featured on Rolling Stone’s 40 Best Rap Albums of 2014 for his album “Hallways.” For his second full-length album to be listed on such a highly reputable website is a significant accomplishment.
Sandman has recently released a free EP with Aesop Rock that is a good listen. Unfortunately, Aesop Rock will not be here to help perform content from this new EP, but there is still no doubt that CC will be in for a good concert this Friday. Known for his live performances, Homeboy Sandman has gained a lot of experience and recognition especially in his roles hosting “ALL THAT! Hip Hop, Poetry, and Jazz” in New York and live performances in well-known festivals such as South by Southwest in Austin, Tex. He was even featured as a coach on an episode of MTV’s Made, which was a television series from the early 2000s, created to help young students overcome their fears and achieve their dreams. In his featured episode, he coached teenager Ryan Bowers, a high school joker, who wanted to be taken seriously and become a rapper. Whether or not his coaching helped young Bowers succeed is undetermined, but it is clear that Sandman helped Bowers overcome many of his fears and express himself.
Additionally, Sandman has written extensively for different online publications including one for Gawker. In the piece, titled “Black People are Cowards,” he responds to racial events such as the incident involving the Clippers’ owner. In a more recent article, he talks about media portrayals, including Kevin Hart, Tyler Perry, and then says that he doesn’t want blacks at his events. This moment in the article took me by surprise, and he then states, “I don’t want black people at my events anymore, because black people are cowards.” Taken out of context, this line seems utterly offensive. He explains himself further by saying that during incidents involving Trayvon Martin, many black people such as Dwyane Wade did nothing except for take pictures with hoodies on and carry on with their days, or how after the Clippers’ incidents, all the players went back to work after finding out their boss is grossed out about black people. The article is an interesting read and highlights many of the ideologies that may be present in some of his musical work. Regardless of your position or stance on these comments, it is evident that the Colorado Springs community will be witnessing a performance of something raw, opinionated and special this weekend. The SOCC presents Homeboy Sandman, Stoney Bertz, and Juwan Rohan this Friday in the Katherine Morhman Theatre from 9 to 11 p.m.
Eboni Statham
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