Homeboy Sandman and Edan - Humble Pi Album Review

Story posted October 25, 2018 in Arts & Entertainment by Zach Hall.

New York musicians Homeboy Sandman and Edan are a match made in heaven.

The two met a few years back, and decided to begin working on music. With Edan’s inventive, intricate
production and Homeboy Sandman’s stream-of-consciousness, abstract style rap, the two are a
perfect pair for a project. Thus, Humble Pi was born. The project features mind-bending
production alongside goofy and thought provoking bars from both Homeboy Sandman and
Edan. On Humble Pi, the two succeed in creating a soundscape that successfully takes
inspiration from the days of hip-hop groups such as Madlib and Doom, while keeping it
sounding fresh for the new age.

Both Homeboy Sandman and Edan’s energy on Humble Pi is undeniable. While they wear their
inspirations on their sleeves, that doesn’t take away from the amount of time and care that
went in to each track on the album. Homeboy Sandman delivers bars that are at time prolific
and thought provoking, all while maintaining a level of charisma that makes each track a joy to
listen to. Edan isn’t just the mastermind behind the production, but is also a lyrical counter to
Homeboy Sandman’s eclectic rap style. Both contrast and play off one another excellently,
giving each track a sense of purpose and grandeur that only a solid hip-hop duo could. The two
are able to emulate the styles of those that came before them while still maintaining their own
unique sounds.

A mix of gritty and abstract rap is a style that can be tough to pull off, but fortunately, it is done so well on Humble Pi that it’s a shame it isn’t longer than seven tracks. This is one of Humble Pi’s only downfalls, being just a bit too short. This short length keeps
Humble Pi from being something truly spectacular, which could be achieved with a few more
tracks and a more tight knit concept. While tracks like “#Neverusetheinternetagain,” “That
Moment When” and “The Evolution of (Sand)Man” all have great concepts behind them, they
aren’t tied together as well as they could be in the grand scope of the project. Despite this, the
seven tracks featured are all excellent and are a good taste for what the two can do in the
future.

Edan’s production on Humble Pi is the glue that holds everything together. A healthy mix of
intricate and simple production make for a wild ride in just seven tracks. From groovy bass
lines, hard hitting raw drums, crisp synths and plethora of samples, Edan’s production offers a good amount a variety throughout the project. This production style also compliments the flow and lyrics of both Edan and Homeboy Sandman very well, helping
hammer home their idea to “reinvent the past so it feels relevant to the present day.”

Fortunately, the two seem to have met their goal, and have set themselves up for more great
collaborations in the future. The only issue with the production on Humble Pi is at times the
lyrics can be a bit muddied underneath the booming production, forcing it to take a back seat.

This is a small percentage of the time, and doesn’t diminish the overall quality of the production
or the lyrics.

Homeboy Sandman and Edan have crafted a fantastic base for the future of their potential
collaborations. Lyrics that are playful, serious and conceptual, and production that can be both
groovy and gritty, Humble Pi is an excellent collection of tracks that shows a bright future for
the two as a group. Homeboy Sandman and Edan’s goal of reinventing the past to be relevant
today is off to a great start. Here’s looking forward to more music from the two in the future.

Rating: 8/10

 

 

Zach Hall is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email zth5043@psu.edu.