"Holmes" (L is not silent) is the correct Ebonics pronunciation which has a history of being used equivalently with, "dude", "
guy", "man" or similar non-familiar alternatives not in the third
person.
It was made popular in late 60s East Coast
slang, and then later devolved into, "homes" (silent L) at which point it was incorrectly assumed to be short for, "homeboy".
"Homeboy" is typically expressed as a familiar, friendly term often in the third
person.
Unlike homeboy, holmes can be used in a variety of ways to denote friendship, aggressiveness, or dubious curiousity.