R.I.P. Pete Fornatale

In honor of one of the great voices of New York radio, who passed away Thursday April 26th following complications from a brain hemorrhage he suffered on April 15th. May he rest in peace, the IRT brings you six minutes of brilliant backselling from one of the masters of FM.

ROUGH TRADE RETAIL STORE TO OPEN IN BROOKLYN

Here's the press spiel, but be sure to check out exclusive news surrounding this exciting event for New York in the weeks and months to come right here @ IRT.

Today Williamsburg, tomorrow the Garden State Plaza and Roosevelt Field? Here's hoping, kids. -Ed.

Rough Trade Retail Group (RTRG) proudly announces the forthcoming opening of Rough Trade NYC, Williamsburg, New York, USA.

Due to open in Autumn this year, Rough Trade NYC will offer a large saturnalia for music lovers of all ages (even larger than multi-award winning Rough Trade East, London, UK).

In addition to being a place to discover, browse, debate and purchase the finest recorded music, Rough Trade NYC will partner with The Bowery Presents to feature a live performance area for in-store gigs, as well as operating at night as an intimate live music venue. The Bowery Presents has a strong history of operating first class concert venues including the Music Hall of Williamsburg located in the same neighborhood as Rough Trade NYC.

Rough Trade NYC will pay particular attention to its transatlantic dynamic by linking-up with Rough Trade's London stores, encouraging customers (and artists) in each country to interact across the ocean.

"At long last, we can finally confirm the next bold step in our evolution" says Rough Trade's co-owner, Stephen Godfroy. "We're extremely excited at the prospect of handing over the 'blank canvas', that is a Rough Trade store, to the music lovers of New York, allowing them make it their own culture agora, just as the people of London have so successfully achieved, with downturn-defying results."

"The Bowery Presents has always maintained a commitment to developing artists at the inception of their career, with Rough Trade NYC we have that opportunity in an exciting neighborhood and we are excited about the retail store and venue combination concept" says John Moore, partner, The Bowery Presents.

Rough Trade NYC also heralds the forthcoming arrival of a US version of the new, soon to launch, roughtrade.com online store, which will offer MP3 downloads alongside CD and vinyl, complete with subscription services.

COURTNEY LOVE REUNITES WITH CLASSIC HOLE LINEUP IN BROOKLYN

Just days after accusing Dave Grohl of molesting her daughter, Courtney Love does perhaps the only thing that could save her from the downward spiral of her recent public life by reuniting with her classic mid-90s lineup of Hole at Brooklyn's Public Assembly on April 13th during the afterparty for the premier of the documentary Hit So Hard about original drummer Patty Schemel. The quartet, rounded out by bassist Melissa Auf Der Mar and guitarist Eric Erlandson, performed "Miss World" and their cover of The Wipers' "Over The Edge". Watch it and enjoy. -Ed.

SAND for Your Serrato! An Interview with Homeboy Sandman

Story by Elfin Delmundo

In a time of economic crisis, investing in our hip-hop musical entertainment has become difficult because most of the available commodities are not created by specialists just shareholders who outsource to unqualified hacks and fiends. I even suspect a campaign led by the actual fashion industry. The roof ifs on fire and they are hiring plumbers to put out the flames and Co Intel Pro to vacuum the upholstery. Well in case you were looking or have been living in New York City or online, you’ve most likely heard of an individual who goes by Homeboy Sandman. We at Interboro feel we are responsible for bringing you all things genuine and NEW YORK! This incredibly talented MC from Elmhurst, Queens, has put on unforgettable shows and has self-released impressive CDs, including Nourishment and Actual Factual Pterodactyl. Now he's flexing an amazing EP entitled Subject: Matter, a six-song history lesson on the art of his craft that is one of the best things to emerge from the urban jungle in 2012, as well as another EP, entitled Chimera, due this month. He can do everything your favorite rap hero was able to do but better and new improved. He is probably the only reason to “support” hip-hop anymore and it won’t feel like garnished wages for beloved children conceived out of wedlock. HOMEBOY SANDMAN.

IRT: In your name I find two progressions, boy to a man, and from the home to the beach. Am I reading this too deeply/ How did this name manifest itself?

Sand: I picked up on the boy to man progression myself, but that was after the fact. The home to the beach progression though, you're the first to pick up on that. Congratulations. You're very keen. The progression is apt, as my music is much like taking a day off of a job you don't like, to spend the whole day at the beach. However, sometimes you do this in the summer, and other times you do it in the winter. Either way though, all you rock is trunks or a bikini. Trunks if you're a dude. Bikini if you're a chick.

IRT: I heard that you lived abroad for a while? How was radio programming in England? Are they due for Sandman brand of "extreme measures"?

Sand: I was out there for 4 months during my junior year in college. I ain't really listen to the radio. I was too drunk. Craig David was big out there at that point. Every day somebody else told me i looked like him. That's when I had my hair and manicured beard look going.

IRT: In 1996, Chino XL, said he came to save us all from evil rap of sorts. Then a few years later, he releases an album about not performing cunnilingus. What do you see yourself doing in the future if your 'extreme measures" don't pan out?

Sand: If breaking into radio stations and using violence doesn't work, I'll find another way. Maybe befriending a lonely female programmer. Or I guess since I wanna be on all the different stations I'll have to befriend all the female programmers, should they be lonely or not. Shouldn't be too difficult.

IRT: Rumor has it, you may be an uncompromising idealist. What in your life experiences has motivated you or developed your sense of determination?

Sand: Good question. The truth as I understand it is, you're supposed to do what God wants you to do, no matter what. He's the cat that's really pulling all the strings, so even when it appears that doing what he wants makes no sense in this dog eat dog instant gratification driven world, it actually does make sense. Even if I don't understand how at that particular moment, or even ever. So, believing that, it's not really that difficult to be uncompromising. Compromising appears completely ridiculous and counterproductive.

IRT: You seem to have this mutant ability of energy transference. I know I can feel the energy you exert into the crowd. Who do you rap for and how do you feel at the end of a show?

Sand: I rap for everybody. At the end of the show I often feel euphoric. I also often feel spent. I feel an odd energy transference thing going on up there too. It's kinda bugged. It's dope.

IRT: When did you begin to write rhymes?

Sand: I wrote a song called "I'm Hype," when I was a kid. I can't even really remember when. Maybe during junior high. I can't much remember it, but I feel like it must have been whack. If it was dope I'd remember it.

IRT: When and what made you decide to become a full time emcee?

Sand: I realized that I actually was capable of doing things in hip-hop music that I have never been done before on a regular basis, and not just when I was high.

"The Miracle" off Subject: Matter EP: