Hailing from Queens, but educated at the University of Pennsylvania, Homeboy Sandman is the self-proclaimed first Ivy League grad to do it big in the hip-hop world.

As you might expect from someone toting a Penn Quakers degree, Homeboy Sandman kicks some rather cerebral rhymes. On full-length platters like Actual Factual Pterodactyl, he releases dizzying, dense rhymes focused on socio-political topics like voting and religion.

For some insight into what makes Homeboy Sandman go, watch this MTV Iggy interview, where Sandman talks about what drives him as an artist, how his educational background comes in handy when he’s on the mic, and what he feels like is missing from the rap scene right now.

Plus, check out an exclusive Homeboy Sandman performance of his song, “Fresh”.

VIA MTV Buzzworthy