Sandpeople – The Dapper Mob

Group Producer/Emcee Sapient Goes Solo On The Closing Track From Long Story, Short…

DOWNLOAD: Sandpeople – “The Dapper Mob”

The Song:

It’s not uncommon for a crew album to feature solo songs. For Sandpeople, the 10-member collective residing in the city of Portland, “The Dapper Mob” is that song. Written, produced, and performed entirely by crew producer, multi-instrumentalist, and emcee Sapient, the song also features a mellow, dissonant sound that serves as the perfect closing track for the crew’s new EP, Long Story, Short…

Musically, there are a number of elements. Muted guitar plucks; sparse keys; thick synth bass; well-placed percussion – each add a unique feel to the overall composition, and in the final minute, just as the song appears to wind down, an array of strings, synths, guitars, orchestral drums, and percussion bring the listener on a musical journey.

Sapient had this to say about the inspiration and concept behind the song: “The Dapper Mob” is the capstone to the EP. I have been adding a rock song to the end of each Sandpeople record. Although our genre is primarily hip-hop, the rock song acts as a sort of dessert to the Sandpeople feast. This song in particular, carries the cocky, threatening attitude of many hip-hop songs, but injected with the right kind of elegance to make it that much more threatening.”

The Background:

Since the 2005 release of Sandpeople’s debut album, Points of View, the group has seen a growth not only in their own numbers, but also in their rate of musical output. The Sandpeople collective comprises 10 members and several sub-groups, each recording and releasing their own respective works in conjunction with the group projects. The crew’s original members include founding member, Mo-B, as well as ILLmaculate, Onlyone, Gold, iame, Al-One, Simple, and DJ Spark. Later, per request of Mo-B, producer Sapient and rapper Ethic joined the original eight. Points Of View, an album recorded over a two-week span, quickly grabbed the attention of music fans everywhere, creating a cult-like following and spreading virally along the west coast and underground hip-hop scenes. That buzz lead to a yearlong courtship by Epic Records, which, although not resulting in a deal with the label, proved very influential and educational for the crew. Outside of the collective, various Sandpeople members have received numerous solo accolades as well. ILLmaculate, a Portland native, was crowned champion of the 2004 Scribble Jam Rap Battle at the age of 17, and group producer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist, Sapient, has garnered recognition from his work with artists such as Inspectah Deck, Sean Price, and Aesop Rock, just to name a few. Sandpeople’s newest effort, the aptly titled EP Long Story, Short…, is the product of insight gained from their major label courtship and the deeply ingrained work ethic and self-imposed high standards of the crew. With a new full-length on the way, the EP serves to show the continued growth of the crew, both individually and collectively. Long Story, Short… is available everywhere via Sandpeople Music.