Substantial

I discovered Substantial a few years ago when I saw his name on a 12” single posse cut. When I heard he released a full-length CD, I was very intrigued. After hearing the first few tracks of Sacrifice, I discovered he was perhaps a bit more talented than I thought. He has a track named That Damn Good and I am inclined to agree.

The CD begins with Let It Go, a brief but potent example of lyricism where Substantial rhymes for nearly three minutes with no chorus, hook or pause. After that display, I realized that Substantial has the skill and lyrics to deliver on any track.

Chain Reaction could have been one of the best songs on the CD. He is in fine form on Resurrection of the House Party.



Midway through the CD, Substantial gets sentimental and shows other sides of his personality and abilities. Up to three tracks pay tribute to hip-hop itself as he presents his view on the current state of the art form. If he had to resurrect the house party earlier on the album, he gets the chance to express more of his reflections on times past.



Midway through the CD, Substantial gets sentimental and shows other sides of his personality and abilities. Up to three tracks pay tribute to hip-hop itself as he presents his view on the current state of the art form. If he had to resurrect the house party earlier on the album, he gets the chance to express more of his reflections on times past.

Aceyalone's Greatest Show on Earth flow came to mind when I heard My Favorite Things. Substantial delivers his rhymes in the melody of the John Coltrane jazz standard and song Julie Andrews made famous in The Sound Of Music. The jazz influenced ode to hip-hop is still an interesting listen.


After multiple listens, I learned to appreciate what Substantial has done with Sacrifice. It is a very good effort in this age of disposable music. It is good to hear music with substance.

Just as I was thrilled to learn of his 2008 album, I discovered there was a new album called Home Is Where The Art Is.  

Below are some playlists to bring you up to speed.  Click here to download.

The Suite Delight - March 11, 2014 Playlist:

1. The Roots - Proceed III feat. Bahamadia
2. Maestro - Stick To Your Vision
3. Classified - Quit While You're Ahead
4. Marco Polo - Back to Work feat. Artifacts
5. Moka Only - The Taste
6. DJ Format - The Place feat. Chali 2Na & Akil
7. Miles Jones - Coast to Coast feat. Kae Sun
8. Poor Righteous Teachers - Easy Star
9. Das Efx - Kaught In Da AK (Remix)
10. Zion I - We Got It
11. Dujeous - All M.C.'s
12. Substantial - That Damn Good
13. DL Incognito - The Masses

Playlist:

1. Galt MacDermot – Summer, Summer

2. Otis Redding – Chain Gang

3. Junior Walker & The Allstars – What Does It Take To Win Your Love

4. Charles Bradley – Stay Away

5. Goapele – Play

6. Don Blackman – Heart’s Desire

7. Flowers & Sea Creatures – At Night

8. Pete Rock – Appreciate feat. CL Smooth

9. The Roots – Don’t See Us

10. Planet Asia - Classical feat. Jasiri X, Torae & Ras Kass 

11. Black Milk – S.O.T.C. feat. Fat Ray & Elzhi

12. Substantial – Check My Resume

13. Camp Lo – Black Nostaljack AKA Come On

Playlist:

1. Maylee Todd - Hieroglyphics (Tall Black Guy Remix) 
2. Citizen Sound meets Ammoye - Trouble (Rise Ashen Club Remix) 
3. Beverley Knight - Rewind It (Erick Sermon Remix) 
4. Nickodemus - Desert Dancer 
5. Joy Jones - Beautiful 
6. Michael Jackson - We're Almost There (DJ Spinna Mix) 
7. Classified - 5th Element 
8. Redman - Down South Funk 
9. Substantial - See Hear ft. Steph The Sapphic Songstress 
10. Talib Kweli - Push Thru ft. Kendrick Lamar & Curren$y (Marco Polo Remix) 
11. Oh No - Black (feat. Wise Intelligent) 
12. DJ Cosm - No Reason (feat. Prince Po & Ghettosocks) 
13. Grand Puba - That's How We Move It (Remix)