Putting another stamp on what's already been an incredibly busy year, Elmhurst Queens rapper Homeboy Sandman is set to release a new full-length album, Still Champion. The 10-track album, which has been in the works since February 2021, will arrive via Mello Music Group and is produced entirely by Deca. The prolific emcee previously connected with Deca in 2021 for the single, "All Because of You (Infatuated Duke)," sparking interest in a full-length project.
"When we did 'All Because of You,' more so than any song I’ve ever done, people were like 'do you plan to do a whole project with this producer? You have to do an entire project with this producer,'” Homeboy Sandman said.
True to the rapper's style, the album, and its title is layered and meaningful.
“I’ve been through a lot," he said. "After a wild bout in which the champion finds a way to make it out victorious they’ll announce 'And STILL CHAMPION!!' But even more than that, this record is about God. God is STILL CHAMPION, despite rumors people may have heard. Money is not champion. Fame is not champion. Popular opinion is not champion. God is STILL CHAMPION. But most of all, I am champion because I am still. In the midst of all the madness, all the anxiety, all the panic, I remain calm. I remain still. I am the STILL CHAMPION.”
In addition to announcing the upcoming project, Homeboy Sandman dropped the lead single, "Satellite," which is inspired by his song "Stroll" from 2014's Hallways. “I love it but I felt I could improve upon it," he said. "I felt I could write a song that had way more depth and way more commentary and insight rather than just things I see when I walk around. “Satellite” is my definitive environment record but it’s not only what I see, it’s what I see means.”
As aforementioned, this has been a busy year for Sandman. He's released several projects including the Ilingsworth-produced There In Spirit EP, a quirky yet dense glimpse into the always-clever rapper's mind. He also dropped a 20-track project, I Can't Sell These, which is just as the title suggests — full of tracks he couldn't legally sell because he doesn't own the rights to the music, this summer and also dropped the deluxe edition of his album, Anjelitu, which reunites the rapper with producer Aesop Rock and features two bonus tracks and eight instrumentals.
“I make art perpetually," he told Rock The Bells upon There In Spirit's release. “Part of staying nimble is not only finding new sounds to rap on, it’s not only finding new flows to rap through or finding new topics to rap about. It’s also about opening up more — it’s about finding more about me to put out there.”
Still Champion drops on November 11. "Satellite" is available to stream now.
