SUBSTANTIAL - Sacrifice

By Adrian “A-Dubs” Warner - Eclectricity - 09/11/2007

I discovered Substantial a few years ago when I saw his name on a 12” single posse cut. I found him and the others on the track to be typical, talented underground rappers. When I heard he released a full length CD, I was very intrigued. Then, when I heard 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.

There is a danger for some rappers to want to challenge themselves and demonstrate versatility. An MC as talented as Substantial should be cautious of recording tracks like “Chain Reaction.” The beat is not that spectacular and it is difficult to distinguish his lyrics. If his vocals were more clear and the focus of the track, it could have been one of the best songs on the CD. He returns to form, though, 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.

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. It would have been very clever had Acey not done something similar nearly fifteen years ago. However, 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. The production is not stellar, but that is a good thing -- Substantial's lyrics need to be heard. With the rare case in “Chain Reaction,” we learn what happens if Substantial's lyrics take a back seat to the beat (it should never happen). One can only wonder what will happen when production nearly matches Substantial's skills. I'll be waiting for that day.

7.5/10

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