QN5 is said to mean "5 Steps Ahead of the Game" and after listening to Maryland MC Substantial's new record "Sacrifice"-- the goal has been met. While spitting a barrage of baratone rhymes, Substantial has the ability to switch styles at the drop of a dime and execute each one with pristine ease.
Rhymehouse.com had the honor of sitting down with Substantial to talk about his new album, the Maryland hip hop scene, and what 3 albums he would want to be stranded with on a desert island--
Click Here to See Rhymehouse.com's Review of Substantial's "Sacrifice" Album
Rhymehouse: Thank You for taking the time to do this interview with us. How do you feel about the response you have received from "Sacrifice" so far?
Substantial: You're welcome. I feel like the response had been great overall. It has helped me gain a lot of new fans and the album has received a great amount of press. Who could ask for more?
Rhymehouse: You claimed to have "found yourself" while making this record. How did the music on this album become so therapeutic for you? What will we find out about Substantial when listening to this album?
Substantial: It gives my voice a stage larger than one could ever imagine and at the end of the day, we all want to know that we are not going through our pain alone. Music helps me connect with folks who share my struggles and people who miss Real Hip-Hop. Listeners will learn that I am actually the same dude they hear in my songs. A man that believes in hard work and takes his craft seriously, but at the same time, is not scared to expose all sides of himself instead of trying to fit into a box.
Rhymehouse: On the album cover we see you mimicking the act of Seppuku, a Japanese Samurai ritual of suicide by disembowelment. What is the meaning behind this imagery? What was the message you were wanting to send?
Substantial: The cover simply represent the sacrifices I've made in pursuit of my dreams. In this case, my sword is a pen / microphone if you look close at the image. Sometimes you feel like you're sacrificing yourself for others. I could easily do what most mainstream artists do, but I don't see how my listeners would benefit from that. So, I take the road less traveled.
Rhymehouse: There is a lot of versatility shown on this record-- smooth love-laced tracks, an in your face neck breaking track (4dozdatdonkno), etc-- what was the creative process of making this album and how is it different from "...To This Union a Sun Was Born"?
Substantial: Well I just wanted to show people as much of me as possible and still make a cohesive record. The biggest differences between this record and my last are that "To This Union" was produced by two producers, Nujabes & Monorisick, while Sacrifice features production from several producers (Kno & Deacon of Cunninlynguists, Tonedeff, Algorythm, Fero Navi, Burns, Donnan Links, Definition, Von Johnson, Final & Studio Steve Wallace), and I had almost complete control of Sacrifice. In a lot of ways Sacrifice feels more like my first solo record because I did it the way I wanted.
Rhymehouse: What is your one favorite track from the album? Why?
Substantial: My Favorite Things. It just a beautiful song man. Not just a hot hip-hop record. People try to compare it to other remakes of MFT, it definitely has been influenced by other version (IT'S A REMAKE!) but this one is truly unique and is the only hip-hop version I've heard with a 100% live instrumentation. I really wanted to make this song something to open the eyes of those ignorant of the rap music and truly show them what we're capable of. I believe I achieved that.
Rhymehouse: The QN5 label strives to be '5 Steps Ahead of the Game'-- What separates QN5 from the rest of the game and the from the other independent hip hop labels?
Substantial: People will probably take this the wrong way but I think the biggest difference is we're actually as good as we say we are. We have a truly solid roster, all capable of making classic records. Understand, this isn't ego it's fact. We've put out more than a handful of critically acclaimed records and have dared to do things with this music that many are scared to try and we have pulled it off successfully time and time again. We're here to stay, get use to us PERIOD.
Rhymehouse: How did growing up in Prince George's County, a county that is well known for it's tremendous amount of gangs and gang violence, affect your music, career, and outlook on life?
Substantial: Well when I came up, although there were gangs, it was more about neighborhood rivalries. The way it affected me was by helping me realize that if I was gonna make it I had to stay focused on what my goals were. The times I was slipping just hanging out with no direction, were the times I nearly caught a bad one. So I just developed tunnel vision when it came to my plans and stayed the hell away from the local crabs. Every hoods got'em.
Rhymehouse: What is the current hip hop scene like in Maryland. Who should we look out for?
Substantial: Man there is so much talent round these parts it's scary. My man Oddisee definitely has been doing his thing for some time now. My fellow U.V. Ink fam, God's Illa are really dope as well and I'm helping them gear up to put out an album. Shout out to folks like Fertile Ground, Ken Starr, J. Soul, Ab Rock, Kev Brown, Brown Fish, Tha Unknown... man the list goes on and on. These folks are grinding like crazy out here. The world really has no idea what's going on here. Hopefully I can help change that.
Rhymehouse: Your first album was highly touted in Japan-- Do you feel that international fans are more open and excited about real hip hop than Americans?
Substantial: Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I think exposure is the key. A lot of times we get exposure overseas that folks here refuse to give us. That makes a huge difference.
Rhymehouse: What one trait do you feel is the most important for an MC to have and master?
Substantial: All traits I think are equally important. You can't call yourself a MASTER of Ceremony if you haven't mastered your craft. As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Rhymehouse: If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 albums would you wish you had with you to keep you company?
Substantial: The Low End Theory, Whut! Thee Album, Resurrection (That's assuming I'm only bringing hip-hop)
Rhymehouse: After "Sacrifice" what other Substantial projects/QN5 projects can we be on the look out for?
Substantial: Substantial Burns (a EP collab with Pittsburgh producer, Burns 2/3 done) it will be out later this year, "The Lyrical Stan gets..." a jazz inspired hip-hop album by me featuring a variety of producers, and my 3rd official solo album "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" an ode to DMV area (DC, Maryland & Virginia). I'm also working on several collabs, a new Extended F@mm album (Tonedeff Pack FM & Me), The Joe Brothers album (Me, Oddisee & Trek Life), & an Electro/Hip-Hop/House album called Brooklyn Zoo produced by Chew-Fu Phat & Estaw, featuring me, Doug E. Fresh, Mr. SOS & more. I think I covered everything... I think?
Rhymehouse: Where do you see Hip Hop in 10 years? Where do you see Substantial?
Substantial: Alive and well if I have anything to do with it.
Raising my family with a couple classics under my belt telling my kid(s) how I voted for the 1st Black President of the USA. Lets go OBAMA!!!
Substantial- Sacrifice In Stores Now!
http://www.myspace.com/substantial
http://www.qn5.com
