In 2011 Baltimore emcee Substantial was facing the possibility of cancer. He ended up having preventive surgery and while laid up, decided to start working on a tribute album to Jill Scott, one of his biggest influences. It was his was of staying busy while healing, and at the same time to give people their roses while they could still smell them. The result is a free project Substantial calls “Jackin’ Jill” – a tribute project from built by “Jackin” music from various Jill Scott releases. This collection of reworks and remixes of her work blended by DJ Jav form a cohesive pseudo collaboration focused on life, love & music. Even the cover art was a labor of love, hand drawn by Substantial himself.
For the album cut “Resilient” Substantial brings on Seattle producer and Bop Alloy partner Marcus D to provide a smoothed out, jazz infused remix. The track, originally produced by Eric Lau, is a testament to the strength it takes to claim your identity and walk your own path. The Marcus D jazz remix is a perfect fit for the reflective & uplifting declarations of Substantial.
Umoja is Swahili for “Unity” and is also the the first principle of Kwanzaa which is today, December 26th. Each verse of the song touches on relationships Substantial has developed over the years. His marriage/family & community. The message of the song is making the world around us better by simply working “together”.
I actually welcome tracks like these. A little diversity never hurt anybody. Check out the track – and its lyrics – down bottom.
The other night, yU, Substantial and Boog Brown hit 529 in Atlanta to rock for an intimate crowd. Check our 2Dope look at the evening. yU’s recount up top, Stan and Boog Brown down bottom.
Blame it on Shake | October 11, 2012 | Comments Off
Off Substantial’s Home Is Where the Art Is, available now on iTunes, CD and vinyl.
After being selected by Ebony Magazine as one of the hottest releases of the week along with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Big Sean, itunes picked Substantial’s “Grateful” as one of their hot tracks. Today we are giving away Substantial’s emotive banger produced by Australia’s M-Phazes: Grateful feat. Kenn Starr & Kokayi. To kick things off, Kenn Starr re-emerges back from the ashes, born again back from the past tense, to reflect on the fulfilment of his dreams, while Grammy nominated vocalist Kokayi carries the chorus to soaring heights. Finally, Substantial jumps in for a reflective verse filled with meaningful word play: “Last words to my daughter would be learn baby learn.”
Substantial and MMG are proud to present a mini-documentary created by the good folks of House Studio. On August 23, 2012, filmmaker, Simon Kim followed Substantial as he prepared to introduce his 3rd solo album, ‘Home Is Where The Art Is’ at a live show unlike any other. The ‘Home Is Where The Art Is Album Release Event’ took place at LIV Nightclub in Washington, DC and featured performances & DJ sets by some of the DMV’s best Hip Hop acts, such as Oddisee, yU, Uptown XO, Gods’Illa, Lyriciss, Roddy Rod & others! Hosted by Grap Luva (cousin to the late great Heavy D) the event included live graffiti art by Rei21 and showcased his work along with pieces by Demont Peekaso. Throw in a Beatdown Showcase with J $crilla, Kaimbr, & Grussle plus DJ sets by DJ RBI, Roddy & DJ Jav and what you have is one unforgettable night. Thankfully, it was all captured on film for world to see.
Home Is Where The Art Is is available in both physical and digital formats.
Substantial is working on a new project, Home Is Where The Art Is, which will drop August 23rd. While this track instead will be on Javier Starks’ EP, it’s still something you should cop off the strength that, well, it’s dope as hell.
Substantial’s third official album Home Is Where The Art Is drops September 4th via Mello Music Group. Shouts to Al Lindstrom on the premiere, and be sure to check the site for a lengthy write-up on Stan’s Asian business dealings.
For the first single off his upcoming third studio album Home Is Where The Art Is (dropping September 4, pre-order now), Substantial rocks some autobiographical rhymes over a drum heavy instrumental courtesy of Oddisee.
