Introducing ‘Notes from Mr. Sandman‘ – a column slapping a spotlight on lyricists overlooked, under appreciated, or just plain criminally slept on. Or like a man named Nas once said, “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.” Enter Mr. Sandman with what y’all missed while chasing the REM dragon.
After only four years Dark Time Sunshine (producer Zavala and lyricist Onry Ozzborn) has taken what was a chance collaboration and turned it into a lucrative, entirely fresh style of hip-hop, blending bone crunching beats with lyrical acrobatics. A delicate combination of power and style, the rap equivalent to Buddy McGirt. And like McGirt, Dark Time Sunshine is an underrated powerhouse, often times forgotten in favor of more flashy acts — too esoteric for the mainstream and too left field for standard underground fair.
Their debut EP, 2009’s BELIEVEYOUME, is a flamethrower, one that incinerates any doubt about their pedigree. Zavala unleashes a firestorm, which Onry Ozzborn cuts through, letting his natural flow guide listeners through a labyrinth of dark corridors. On “Doom” they lay it all out with no frills, a simple declaration of supremacy that stretches from the Midwest all the way to the West Coast: [LISTEN]
When it comes to independent rap, maintaining the fire can be difficult, but DTS looks at the everyday for inspiration, so their well is consistently full. Their followup Vessel is them drifting out to deep space together to research their own experience, constructing songs that are indicative of their world. It’s a grind through and through and the escapist lyrics along with the liquid beats make for a vivid journey.
On “Run” you can hear the restrained urgency take flight. Zavala crafts a beat that is like the sun setting on a city skyline. Onry emerges like a battle tested soothsayer with an inspired gospel in one hand and a mic in the other: [LISTEN]
What makes DTS such a standout is their ability to capture a mood without overstating its purpose allowing for an easygoing listen that doesn’t intrude but rather nudges and suggests that whatever is in that dark corner is certainly worth exploring. Their catalog continues to grow, and touring has been their greatest asset, forgoing social media hype in favor of hand to hand interactions.
DTS isn’t for everybody, their truth and matter-of-factness can surely send the squeamish into retreat, but in a time where rap is as much a masquerade as it is a hypefest, their place is always welcome here. And while we wait patiently for another album there are always songs like “Cultclass” to dissect and enjoy multiple times over: [LISTEN]
For more info on Dark Time Sunshine, visit fakefourinc.com
