The first track “Poof” flips the classic Rocky theme and sets the tone as we get the raw unfiltered Homeboy Sandman in his element. Lines like “rebel with a cause/nothing’s incidental like metals and awards/Shot a man in the mosque, a man on the cross but am not a man of the cloth/I offered y’all a good look but y’all won’t heed/There is nothing like a good book bu y’all won’t read” underscores his penchant for thought-provoking concepts and off-kilter rhyme schemes which continues for the rest of the mixtape. This is followed by the upbeat, funky “Heal the Earth,” where Homeboy Sandman delivers a mix of playful bars threaded with Non sequitur after another. “That’s Life “ is a laidback guitar-driven reflective track that details life from Homeboy Sandman’s perspective. he plays the part of the casual observer whose numerous activities bring conflict and resolution, underscoring the concept of the yin and the yang. In other words, balance is the key ingredient to life. Next is the suspenseful “Sandman Veteran” with its brooding horns and glitchy but sparsely arranged rhythms. Here, Homeboy Sandman takes to task the powers that be with poignant and candid lines like “Disregard the teachings of the far west/Most of them insidious and hideously far fetched /The societies that honor them are all dense/Truth can hardly ever get a audience.”

“Perskryptshyn Hugs” featuring GAM & Wavy Bagels continues pushing the envelope with its unprecedented sound. It’s a retro-fitted futuristic funky beat with rich textures, smooth horn passes and pulsating bass-driven grooves underpinned by excellent bars from the emcees. “Too Hot “ is another masterclass in rapping over non-hip-hop sounds. The bluesy guitar licks and funky grooves all line up perfectly as Homeboy Sandman gives an insight into his life and sums it up with the following lines “I’ll get on stage if the fee’s good/I put on rappers that need looks/When it gets windy I use hoods/I don’t watch tv I read books.” “43 Year Old Finger (He’s the Man)” sounds like a TV theme, and it builds up into an ominous beat alongside Homeboy Sandman’s distinctive laidback flow. On here, he flexes his verbal biceps with a calm and almost nonchalant demeanour underscoring how easy he makes rapping is. The fun continues with the conceptual “Art,” where he talks about the essence of art and its creation. Words are not enough to describe this song, but rather a thorough listen to fully understand where he is coming from. Homeboy Sandman did unpack a lot of thoughts that explore true self-expression, loss of innocence and dimming creativity, but his words, “We are residents of two worlds/One’s a cruel world/ One’s a cool world/ Art is a ticket to the latter” really got me thinking deeply. “Water “ digs deep into what makes Homeboy Sandman tick, while “Alchemy” showcases his unparalleled rapping. “Get Smarter” pairs him with Phase One for a brilliant verbal one-two-punch while “Sand Smile” evokes a celebratory vibe.

Overall, the project is another collection of solid tracks that traverses various genres underscoring Homeboy Sandman’s versatility. Once again, he peels back a lot of emotions within the tape and it is only right I leave you with this thoughtful quote

“I’m letting go of what I never had

My only plan to get ahead is feeling better than I ever have”