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 This emcee wrote his first song at age 11. He has been producing since he was 14. His first release was "King of Hallucination" at age 17. He followed up with "No Secrets, No Lies" at age 19. Sandman has been active on the scene here in Minnesota for a while. He has the ATM (About That Money, And The Music)mixtape droppin and he will be droppin his third album "To Whom it May Concern" real soon. Sandman teaches at a school for music production (IPR). He also has two production companies "ATM Muzik" and "Black World Order". Sandman is a layed back type of cat. He makes music as a way to keep the streets informed on whats real in the world, because there are a lot of people out there that are lost. Through his muisc he touches on the good and the bad in everthing, and tries to make people see that when you take right and wrong out of the equation, it just is what it is.
HHC: What's good Sandman?
 Sandman's "No Secrets, No Lies." HHC: Give us your process of creating a good song? Sandman: Well, if im doing the production, I just come up with a hot beat. I usually start with the drums, then add a chord structure to it. Then I see what kind of mood that music puts me into. I keep the beat real basic until im done writing the lyrics. Then i go back to the Instrumental and add lil extra shit like strings, other synthesizers. When i write a song, I think about "who am I talking to in this song, and what do I want to tell them? What do I want them to feel after listening to this song?" A lot of cats just write 3 verses, talking shit, and really dont have a subject for the whole song. I try to keep it real direct. HHC: What do you feel right now is your greatest accomplishment in your career? Sandman: I feel my best accomplishment right now is the fact that i got my degree in music production and engineering, im Protools Certified. I feel that is my best accomplishment right now because thats what im eating off of. Im not eating off my record sales or rapping, or even making beats. I eat off of my knowledge of studio equipment and knowing how to make shit sound professional in the studio. Im proud of the Albums I have out too, though, but I value the things the help me make a living in this game. HHC: In the music business how important is it to surround yourrself with the right people? Sandman: Well, the biz is all about who you know, dont let nobody tell you nothing different. You gotta surround yourself with people that are doing what you do, or doing what you are TRYING to do. You should always try to link up with people that that will bring out the best in you. You dont wanna kick it with people that are gonna lead you away from your goal. You just have to determine what your goal is, and keep people around that are trying to do the same. Im not saying to USE people, im just saying stay around people that do what you do.  HHC: You have done shows in other states, how is the Twin Cities Hip Hop scene compared to other scenes? Sandman: In Minnesota, when i do shows in the outskirts like Mankato and Duluth, they show a lot of love. But when i do shows in the Cities, people dont show love, I guess cause they feel like aint nobody impressing them. But i go to other states, and even the hardest niggas give props. They show the most love in Atlanta. I remember doing a show down there when my first album came out, I performed a song called "Let the Beat Bump", and no bullshit, by the time the chorus came around the second time, the whole crowd was singing it with me. Thats love right there, we dont get that kind of love for local artists here. HHC: What are some of the diffuculties comming up in the MN Scene/what advice would you give to upcomming rappers? Sandman: The best advice i can give is to move around. If you wanna promote here, the only way to make noise is through TV commercials, but then you gotta come with some hot shit. but if you move around from state to state, then come back, you will get more respect. HHC: Right now who do you think dominates the Twin Cities Hip Hop Scene? Sandman: I mean, it really depends on the type of music you like. I got a lot of respect for Atmosphere, cause he got hot shit, plus he makes moves. Then you got people like My nigga Contac, who keeps dropping album after album of hot shit, and he's getting major features on his shit. I really feel like its an open market right now, aint nobody really taking control of this scene right now. Thats why im in a hurry to drop this album so i can show cats how its supposed to be done. HHC: Would you encourage kids from MN to take Rapping as a serious career path? Sandman: NO. I dont encourage ANYBODY to take rapping as a serious career unless you master another part of the game too. nowadays, everybody and they mama got flows, but it takes a LOT more than that to make it in this game. Just remember, no matter how tight you think you are, there is some other young nigga, in a hood way across the country, listening to the same music you listen to, and coming up with some shit just as tight as you, if not better. ALWAYS. man, i done ran into niggas in my hood that can spit that fire just like me, the only thing that makes me different is my knowledge of the game and my plugs and connections.  HHC: Im sure alot of people look up to you being a emcee and a teacher at IPR, share some thoughts on that? Sandman: Well, I always knew that if I didnt make it in this biz, I would be a teacher. I feel like I was a born leader, so naturally I wanna lead people. I look at teaching the same way as I look at my rapping, I use it to tell people what what I know, something that may be able to help them be better at what they do, plus it leaves a major impact on a student. You always remember the person that taught you something you didnt know. HHC: What city are you from? Sandman: Im from the Northside of Minneapolis. Born and Raised HHC: Do you think when people think of the Hip Hop scene here they forget about St Paul? Sandman: I dont think so, I just think the major difference between mpls and st paul as a whole, is that Minneapolis rappers come with more Underground styles, gutter. I noticed that st paul rappers come a lot more on a "hip hop" level. I cant say 1 is better or worse, I think both cities kinda forget about each other. But when me, Contac and AK linked up, we were trying to get rid of all the seperation between the cities and lock down mpls and st paul as a whole. HHC: Whats your next move after your third album and mixtape drop? Sandman: going on tour and working on a group album with me, Stone Pilla, Six the Prophet, and Playa lavish. all 4 of us are a Group called Dead Minds. We havent done a group album just cause everybody been working on solo projects. But i wanna focus on that when my album drops, cause i know that is gonna be hotter than anything we do individually. HHC: Finally, when people hear the name "Sandman" what do you want them to think? Sandman: I want them to think of the realest, most humble cat you could ever know. At the same time Im no stranger to the streets, But i want people to know me for teachin young black youth about their history, and what lead us up to where we are now. But im cool as hell, anybody who knows me will tell you that. HHC: Where can people get more info on about Sandman? Sandman: get at me on myspace.com/blackcastles hit me with a message and ill hit you back.
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