A compilation of the music Substantial and I have collaborated on over the last 10 years...and the list continues to grow.

Substantial & Steph Collaborations

Substantial & Marcus D, together known as Bop Alloy, return with their signature jazz induced sound and a clever new single entitled 'Count On Us' from their upcoming sophomore LP, 'Another Day in the Life of...' out this Spring. Featuring sparse, yet perfectly placed vocals from Steph, The Sapphic Songstress, COU showcases the duo's sonic growth with Marcus tickling the ivory to perfection over his sophisticated brand of boom-bap. (Think jacket and tie with fresh sneaks.) Substantial masterfully chronicles BA's humble beginnings, the morning after a show, while simultaneously counting from 1 to 40. This is the type of creative Hip Hop storytelling the repeat button was made for. 

On February 4, 2014, Bop Alloy launched their Kickstarter campaign to raise money for their new album ‘Another Day In The Life of…’. With a goal of $7000 and a funding period of 20 days, Bop Alloy hit the ground running and took to Twitter, Facebook & Instagram to promote their campaign. The duo achieved their goal in one week! Pledge incentives included digital downloads, t-shirts, posters, autograph copies of their CD and even an offer to perform at your wedding. With 13 days remaining, Bop Alloy provided stretch goal incentives for their fans. With $10,000 raised, fans can aide Bop Alloy with a Holiday album scheduled for release Winter 2014. If $15,000 is raised, they will record and film a live album and all contributors will be given free admission into the event. Six days later they reached their 1st stretch goal. “The support's overwhelming. $10,000 without even a preview of any new music is a testament to the kind of fans we have, and the type of listeners we attract said Marcus D. 

Support the campaign by contributing on Kickstarter: kck.st/1iprZlb

LYRICS
No surprise I’m the one they sleep on, I roll with dreamers 
But when us two come thru we make’em believers 
Fiendin’ thru your receivers when it’s all 3 of us 
For the love of the music, high 5 for Jesus 
In a Motel 6, wake up call at 7 
Breakfast we ate later had these players in heaven 
By 9:10, I’m in a cab to the airport 
Boarding’s at 11, I’m not stressing so therefore 
It’s time to finish up this rhyme I’m 12 bars into 
Hold up... 13 now yeah this shit’s cool. 
Came up since 14 with a hissing ass demo 
15 minutes strong though the songs were hella simple 
Finish that 16 then I crashed like a cymbal 
Sounding 17 again, I’m gon’ bodied that instrumental 
Night before, packed house. It was 18 an over 
Still would’ve been killed if only nine teens showed up 
We focused, in 2021 we may have more for you 
But still be underrated they say that’s a catch 22 
We wanna be... rated the greatest like #23 
But since our thinking’s too forward that’s something we might never see 
25 mins before I board for my trip 
Hit my driver with $20 + a $6 tip 
Thinkin’ that I was 27 when I heard Marcus shit 
28 when we began to plan the very start of it 
Dark skin chick tapped me saying , “I don’t know what’s on your mind. 
You’re holdin‘ up the line, by the way your gate is 29 
“Pirty” lil’ 30 something sista from the motherland 
Thanked her for the info, passed the checkpoint with my stuff in hand 
Copped gum, snacks and a book for something to do 
Cashier said my total’s 31.32 
Phone at 33%, my battery is lame 
Charged it and called my family ‘fore I boarded the plane 
34 years young, making music with my friends 
Documented through a 35 millimeter lens 
Day and a half before, yo that’s when we hit the road 
Only 37 copies of our album in tow. 
One show they all go ‘cause they’re a hot commodity 
Imports plus shipping be like 38 a copy B 
Finally boarded, near a guy who’s 39 or 40 
By the time we’re in the sky I closed my eyes and started zoning... 

 HOOK 
Just another day in this life of ours, homes Seems like we the ones that you can count on 
Feels right the moment they put the sound on 
Count on us to hold it down from now on 

REPEAT HOOK 

Drop on the 1 
Clap on 2 
Nod on the 3 
This is 4 you 
Drop on the 1 
Clap on 2 
Nod on the 3 
This is 4 you 
This is 4 you!!!

(S. Robinson, M. Marino) 
Lead vocals by Substantial 
Produced by Marcus D 
Additional vocals by Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

Count On Us ft. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

Bop Alloy - Coming Home Ft. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress (Another Day In The Life Of...)

From the album 'Another Day in the Life of...' OUT NOW: 
CD | Digital | Vinyl - Coming Soon
http://bopalloy.bandcamp.com/

The latest single 'Not 4 Show' featuring Steph, The Sapphic Songstress from Bop Alloy's Sophomore LP, 'Another Day in the Life of...' draws a line in the sand with posers on one side and Substantial & Marcus D's feet planted firmly on the other.

Kings without the need for crowns like the son of God! 

The drums knock. The melody is chopped to perfection. The flow and rhymes are technically sharp, yet soulful. This isn't minute made rap, they "do it for real". This isn't shock rap, glorified self hate or anything you frown upon one day, then champion the next in the club or on computer. The real. You know, the not-always-explicit-for-the-sake-of-being-explicit real. The struggle of juggling school or parenting with your passion or career while remaining true to your beliefs and the culture that helped raise you. Hip Hop.

Catch Bop Alloy on tour in a city near you this Spring.

UPCOMING SHOWDATES
5/25 - Arlington, VA @ IOTA
5/29 - Chicago, IL @ Smart Bar
5/30 - Detroit, MI @ 5e Gallery

LYRICS

We do it for real 
Repeat 4x 

VERSE 1 
We’re not your average underground 
Rap group frontin’ like we’re down 
With everyone that come around 
Or show up on a blog 
But something unique & profound 
Working to perfect our sound Kings without a need for crowns 
Like the son of God 
We ain’t aiming to be Hell bound 
Like these other sell outs 
Watch’em you can tell how 
They’re whoring for applause 
(Not too many will reach our level 
Spread your wings come fly with us) 
You’re lovin’ how we put it down 
Feel free to sing aloud 
Watch how we move the crowd Like Rakim Allah 
Marcus let the rhythm hit’em 
I provide the lyricism 
Disregard the criticism 
Do it how we want Puttin’ plenty soul up in it 
Been ill for a minute 
They were hoping that we’re Fin(n)ish 
Like we’re from Vaasa 
(They fear us ‘cause we are rebels 
But it’s all love when you rock with us!)  

HOOK 

VERSE 2 
We don’t do it for a rack of pay, 
To receive accolades 
Though it’s nice to gather praise 
This is ‘bout expression 
But it cost to have it made 
Somebody has to pay 
If you want the tracks we make 
To add to your collection 
Sorry but I have to hate 
Shady biz in rap today 
Not the best path to take 
As your profession 
(But if your skin is hard as metal 
You might be equipped to fly with us!) 
Every night I have to pray 
Several hours after 8 
That the ends I calculate 
Justify the means 
Partner bout to graduate 
I got a little gal to raise 
But not enough to allocate 
Funds to all our needs 
Hope our plans coagulate 
And the fans advocate 
So success validates 
Us chasing our dreams 
(Keep on reaching for the next level 
May God blessings shine on us!) 

HOOK 

BRIDGE 
 (Sample) Do it for the well educated and illiterate Real and nonsense, conscious and ignorant 
Do it for the wealthy and the welfare recipient 
If you down, listen up, you out there, listen in  

VERSE 3 
For well placed instruments, 
Flows that’s intricate 
And infinite 
Our growth’s imminent 
Need a bigger belt 
(We’ve out grown these children farewell 
They just can’t keep stride with us!) 
Whether the crowd’s intimate 
Or it is significant- 
ly larger, we’re killin’ it 
Cause we’re known to rip it well 
All for the feel we get 
Recalled from our innocence Call it a stimulant 
We offer a little help 
Hardly coincidence 
Our songs make you reminisce 
Of times where a lyricist 
And DJ we’re rocking bells 
(They would drop, not just rock jewels 
Want that real come ride with us!) 

HOOK 

Do it for the real 
We do it for real 
Repeat 2x

Not 4 Show Ft. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

Marcus D - Titania

From Winter Breaks, released 09 December 2014 
(M. Marino, S. Robinson) 
Produced by Marcus D 
Lyrics by Substantial

VERSE 1 
Yeah… 
Chuck a deuce to the cold 
‘Cause your dude trying to go 
Where degrees never freeze 
Sixty two be the low... 
...and the winters are tame 
All I want for Christmas is some tickets baring my name 
Rather chill where it’s warm I’ll provide the cool 
Not a flake in range whole sky is blue 
Big sis scooped the fam where we riding too 
She replies we can do whatever you tryin’ to do 
Bet that. Out here snow never a set back 
Plan to have an early winter tan when I get back 
(Ehh!) 
Strictly chillin in the figurative sense 
Plus I caught a whiff of an open grill by the fence 
Some may assume it’s May or June ‘cause the feelings immense 
Hipped your dude a year or two ago been missing it since 
Now I swap my winter coat for a White Tee 
Cup of hot cocoa switched with some Iced Tea 
Shaping up nicely… 

HOOK 
Not quite Summer fam 
But this a different type of winter wonderland 
And almost 80 degrees 
Inside evergreen outside there's palm trees 
And it feels kind of ill 
The smell of winter been replaced by a grill 
Don't get no better 
Hottest christmas ever on record and we out’chea! 

VERSE 2 
No skull hats, long jawns or Timb boots 
Just sweats, short sleeve tops & gym shoes 
F! a snowman & snowballs I’m so gone 
Coppin’ snowcones or hitting up Coldstone 
Might even call home to rub it in a bit 
They like “Young, you so wrong… you know that you ain’t sh…” 
I’m like aww man, come on you could made the trip 
But ya didn’t so long we bout to hit the strip 
Bout to dip with the windows down feelin the breeze 
Feel like Spring but there’s Christmas lights still in the trees 
Feel at ease... couldn’t wait for winter break, see 
Did it right to ensure that winter didn’t break me 
Looking like we waited for this moment all year 
Smiles all around ‘cause the fam’s all here 
No one or cloud throwing shade, all clear 
Egg Nog in the cooler it’s normally all beer. 
Aww yeah! 

HOOK 

BRIDGE 
Back home it’s so cold, 
More of the same is lame and so old 
So I’m rollin’ (where the skyline’s blue) 
And golden, (so much more to do) 
Head to the backyard or the park 
Grill to the sun go down and it’s dark 
Then the next morning, (watch the kids open gifts) 
I’m soaring (Nothing quite like this) 

HOOK 

OUTRO 
Orlando we see you 
Miami we see you 
Honolulu we see you 
San Diego we see you 
LA we see you 
Phoenix we see you 
Tuscon we see you 
New Orleans we see you

Hottest Christmas On Record

Nujabes - Rainy Way Back Home instrumentale

Kondor - I Think I Need You Now (Instrumental)

Nujabes - Horizon

Fu-Gee-La (OPUS REMIX)

Classik (Formerly Big C) X Nujabes - The Prodigy 
Artist - Classik [Charles Monterroza] 
youtube.com/classikmusic
twitter.com/classikmusik
facebook.com/officialclassikmusic


Mastered by Nikar Kim of Dreampedal Productions 
youtube.com/dreampedal 
twitter.com/dreampedalmusic 
dreampedalmusic@gmail.com 

Producer of album - Nujabes [ Jun Seba ] 
R.I.P February 7, 1974 – February 26, 2010 


For those who want to know where Nujabes found these samples: 

1. Latitude - [ Sampled from Gigi Masin - Clouds ] 
2. Still Talking to you - [ Sampled from - Mary Watkins - A chording to the people ] 
3. The final View - [ Sampled from - Yusef Lateef - Love Theme From Spartacus ] 
4. Aruarian dance - [ Sampled from - The Lamp Is Low - Laurindo Almeida ] 
5. Spiritual state - [ Sampled from - Pharoah Sanders - Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah (Jewels of Thought) 1969 ]


Jun Seba (February 7, 1974 – February 26, 2010), born in the Nishi-Azabu district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Nujabes was 
best known for his approach to hip hop beats, often blending jazz influences into his songs creating a mellow, nostalgic and 
atmospheric sound. He sampled a wide range of instruments and genres to create a soothing vibe. This album is a tribute to 
one of the greatest inspirations in hip hop. R.I.P Jun Seba a.k.a Nujabes.

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Classik, Nujabes - 03 The Final View

I had so much fun recording this track for so many reasons: (1) it was vocally challenging, (2) the sampling of "Golden Lady" (one of my absolute FAVORITE Stevie Wonder songs) was GENIUS, and (3) I got to record it with my two favorite people in life. Me + Sub + Marcus D (aka Twinkle Fingers) = HOT FIRE LIKE DYLAN!

Substantial - Golden Lady feat. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

track from The Other Side Of Memories

Photo by PLAY TODAY.inc

Wonder

chinatown

2nd Compiled Tribute to Nujabes
Nujazz Lover

12 Chamon - Shining Star

The Warm-Up

This track is from the album The Sapphicsoul and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stephthesapphicsongstres

Getaway (Bonus Track)

R&B Singer/Songwriter/Producer from P.G. County, Maryland. Frequent Bop Alloy collaborator, and worked with Mr. SOS, Inverse, Tonedeff, and CunninLynguists.

Composition and improvisation: piano, hip hop, beatboxing, electronic.

Venture Capital Associate at New Enterprise Associates (www.nea.com). 

Previous: Co-founder of Flicstart (www.flicstart.com). M&A Analyst at The Blackstone Group.

Bop Alloy - Coming Home Ft. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress (Another Day In The Life Of...)

AndrewSchoen

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