Adultish (Deluxe Edition)

The album features 8 tracks of crafted poetry and soulful production that transports the listener to NYC during the 80’s and 90’s; giving an entire community a voice and a documented place in history. 

Released August 24, 2024

Executive Producer: Anacaona Rocio Milagro
Co-Executive Producer: Substantial

All songs mixed and mastered by Tonedeff for Quintic/QN5, Inc.

Cover Art by Rico Frederick

© 2024 Anacaona Rocio Milagro
℗ 2024 Anacaona Rocio Milagro

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Anacaona Rocio Milagro - To Make An Island of A Street Corner

'A Soundtrack for Fatherhood' is a collection of songs, new and previously released, by Maryland, MC, and producer, Substantial. The music is inspired both by his experiences as a father and by his first-ever children's book, 'She Sees: Based on the song In My Daughters' Eyes by Substantial'.

The beats on ASFF are Substantial's signature jazzy and soulful sound including several self-produced tracks including three all-new songs. Other production credits include Marcus D, Allmos (fka Algorythm) ½ of the production duo The Stuyvesants, Oddisee, and Jon Laine.

ASFF also includes guest appearances by Stephanie Gayle (fka Steph the Sapphic Songstress), Asheru, Kokayi, Gods'Illa, Jsoul, DJ RBI, DJ AAROCK, and Fjer.

Executive Producer: Substantial
Co-Executive Producers: Co-Executive Producers: Motifvation, John Wellington, Orion-Song Lewis, Warren R. Daniel Hinson, and Claudette Rhone

A Soundtrack for Fatherhood (Inspired by the book 'She Sees')

Coming Home (ft. Stephanie Gayle)

Make It Home (ft. DJ RBI)

Maryland, US native, Substantial & London, UK's own, Funky DL are back with Gift Raps 2.0, a tune about reflection, hope, and supporting those who uplift us. DL provides a soul-stirring instrumental, filled with jazzy guitar riffs and ethereal samples over pounding drums. The soundscape compliments Sub's timely rhymes perfectly as he flows effortlessly about the challenges of today and tomorrow and the role of the artist.

From the album 'We Met In Tokyo'

Produced by Funky DL | Lyrics by Substantial

Jazz Rap vets and former Nujabes collaborators, Substantial and Funky DL join forces on the new EP, 'We Met In Tokyo'. The production is handled entirely by London's own, DL with Maryland (US) native Sub on the vocals.

The soundscapes are filled with melodic Jazz samples, warm bass grooves, and thumping boom-bap drums. Lyrically, the content sticks to authenticity over spectacle, delivered with water-like flows.

The 'We Met In Tokyo' EP and mini-doc, directed by Rachelle Etienne-Robinson are out now. Watch the muni-doc on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxF3__U8FOc

We Met In Tokyo

Gift Raps 2.0

From the album 'We Met In Tokyo'

Produced by Funky DL | Lyrics by Substantial

Jazz Rap vets and former Nujabes collaborators, Substantial and Funky DL join forces on the new EP, 'We Met In Tokyo'. The production is handled entirely by London's own, DL with Maryland (US) native Sub on the vocals.

The soundscapes are filled with melodic Jazz samples, warm bass grooves, and thumping boom-bap drums. Lyrically, the content sticks to authenticity over spectacle, delivered with water-like flows.

The 'We Met In Tokyo' EP and mini-doc, directed by Rachelle Etienne-Robinson are out now. Watch the muni-doc on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxF3__U8FOc

Soul Punch

Animal Arithmetic (AA) is an end-times story - a call to introspection - in the form of manga, animation, and Jazz-Hop. Animal Arithmetics creator, Queens native, Kenya “KDFoxx” Danino is an illustrator, writer, and former mentee of acclaimed storytellers Peter De Seve, Terryl Whitlatch, Thomas Astruc, and Hiroyuki Asada. When the time came to produce the soundtrack for AA, KDFoxx teamed up with veteran Maryland, MC/Producer, and 2x Hollywood Music in Media nominee, Substantial, known for his work with Nujabes, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Arknights. The result is soulful, mostly jazz and funk-infused Hip-Hop instrumental soundscape featuring live instrumentation by Jonathan Smalls, Malcolm Jackson, Marukabis, Marcus D, and Mason Lieberman. The album also features vocal guest appearances from EyeQ, MLLN, and of course Substantial along with voice-over actors Ashley, Christen, Binks, Daniel Acosta, Farah Naz Rishi, Hunter Scott, Noell Webber, and Rachelle Etienne-Robinson.

​​Animal Arithmetic (Volume 1) releases in Winter 2021 on all digital streaming platforms along with a limited edition vinyl release.

Animal Arithmetic, Vol. 1

Animal Arithmetic (Volume 1)

Your Greatest Weapon feat. MLLN and Malcolm Jackson

Bridge Of The World (KD's Theme)

Reed Richards

The Past Is Always Present in the Future

No Turning Back 2.0 (feat. Uyama Hiroto)

To This Union a Sun Was Born

If I Was Your Mic

Ain't No Happy Endings

Substantial Evidence (1999-2003)

Blessing It (feat. Nujabes & Pase Rock)

The Love Song

Crutch (Cool It Now)

Crutch (Cool It Now) [feat. Matthew Shell]

The Long Route

The Long Route (feat. DJ Jav & Tamara Wellons)

Adultish

Lost Touch (feat. Javier Starks, Shing02 & Uyama Hiroto)

Your Man Tho

The Beautiful Dichotomy (Interlude) [feat. Marvelous Jones]

Produced by Nujabes | Written by Substantial
Lyrics
HOOK 

Ain’t no happy endings, ‘cause nothing really ends 
When this life is over, another begins 
And that’s the way it works in the circle of life 
Balancing these good days in these times of strife. 

Ain’t no happy endings, ‘cause nothing really ends 
When this life is over, another begins 
And that’s the way it works in the circle of life 
Balancing these good days in these times of strife. 

VERSE 1 
I’m just trying to make it 
Life’s precious for granted I’ll never take it 
Every breath I breathe to me is sacred 
Back when I was young, my only love was football and my mama 
Learn to use curse words before I ever used a comma 
Little bad ass 
All I liked in school was gym and art class 
Life’s changin’, I was age ten when my pop past 
His love for cancer sticks and alcohol prove to be tragic 
My fam’s seen it all we became immune to havoc 
My lyrics is satisfaction to those who use to be addicts 
Soothin’ the beast in all those who use to be savage 
I advocate the acronym F.U.B.U. speak to 
As if my tongue was tatooed with the word uhuru 
Using my freestyle to emancipate mind states 
Fuck 21, I’d like to live see 9 – 8 
But this world’s got me going bananas like a primate 
People you thought you knew full of surprises like a blind date 
And I hate, 
Cash flashing niggas with a passion 
More to life than dollars and rockin’ the latest fashion 
Seems like we either wanna play ball or be assassins 
While children go to bed to lullabies of guns blastin’ 
No matter the weather 
I’m striving to make it better 
But my motto is a contradiction “Never say never!” 
I will not 
I remain poetic like Gil Scott 
So stand up, get up 
My people keep your head up! 

BRIDGE 

And live everyday like it’s your last 
‘Cause life only get harder as time goes past 
And yo, the sun might not come out tomorrow 
Don’t let your life end in sorrow. 

That’s why you live everyday like it’s your last 
‘Cause life only get harder as time goes past 
And yo, the sun might not come out tomorrow 
Don’t let your life end in sorrow. 

HOOK 

VERSE 2 

I try to live day by day without a fear or a worry 
It’s no time to I make moves in a hurry 
Use to be so clear now my vision’s getting blurry 
Streets is hotter than Tabasco sauce on chicken curry 
Bullets fly from guns with no target in particular 
Fatally hiitin’ ya 
Leavin’ bodies perpendicular 
To those still existin’ 
Silencers hissin’ 
Piercin’ the darkness 
Bringin’ forth another carcus 
Total bedlam, swear these streets is infested 
Filled with the many horrors that the devil manifested 
Children molested 
Nuclear weapons being tested 
Somehow I avoided being shot and arrested 
Brothers tried to bring it to me 
Sends slugs through me 
Almost was bodied thrice back when I was just a juvy 
Hard to deal thought about putting one in my own temple 
Permanent scars on my physical and my mental 
Sometimes I’m glad my niece is no longer around to see this 
Not a trace of unity society’s in peices 
Liquor splattered on concrete to mourn those that we miss 
Watch day and night, controlled by unseen leashes 
Watch day and night, controlled by unseen leashes 
Watch day and night, controlled by unseen leashes 

Yo, but no matter what… 
You know something? 
This is what you gotta do… 

To This Union A Sun Was Born

Ain't No Happy Endings (Nujabes Remix)

From To This Union A Sun Was Born [DELUXE EDITION]
Produced by: Nujabes

Remembering Dave [Produced by Nujabes]

Written by R. Pena and S. Robinson
Produced by Substantial
Mixed and mastered by Tonedeff for Quintic/QN5, Inc.

To Make an Island of A Street Corner

When We Were Red

Without Grammar

Written by R. Pena, S. Robinson, and J. Smalls
Produced by Substantial
Bass played by Jonathan Smalls
Mixed and mastered by Tonedeff for Quintic/QN5, Inc.

Shipwreck Poem

Written by R. Pena, A. Mitchell-Rios, and S. Robinson
Produced by AJ Rios
Additional Production by Substantial
Additional Vocals by Destiny Zuhairah Robinson
Mixed and mastered by Tonedeff for Quintic/QN5, Inc.

Lunch Lady Jackie

Written by R. Pena, S. Robinson, and E. Mun
Produced by Substantial
Keys by Lizzie Blue
Mixed and mastered by Tonedeff for Quintic/QN5, Inc.

Stillmatic ft. Lizzie Blue

To Deify A Roach: An American Horror Story

Salt N Pepa

Salt N Pepa (Kokayi Remix)

Adultish 2.0

Crutch (Cool It Now) (Kokayi Remix)

Reed Richards (Kokayi Remix)

Ghost In A Cell (Kokayi Remix)

Your Man Tho (AJ Rios Remix)

From my debut album 'To This Union A Sun Was Born'

Posted this in memory of DJ Deckstream (formerly known as Monorisick) who produced this track in 2000. Rest in Peace.
bit.ly/djdeckstream

This is also for my state. Proud to be 'Made in Maryland'.

Home Sweet Home

From To This Union A Sun Was Born [DELUXE EDITION] 
Produced by: Nujabes 
Additional Vocals by: Hana

The Love Song (feat. Hana) [Produced by Nujabes]

To This Union As Sun Was Born

If I Was Your Mic [Produced by Nujabes]

From To This Union A Sun Was Born [DELUXE EDITION]
Produced by Nujabes
Cuts by DJ Deckstream (formerly known as Monorisick)

CIM [Produced by Nujabes]

From 'To This Union A Sun Was Born' [DELUXE EDITION]

Lyrics

HOOK 

Ain’t no happy endings, ‘cause nothing really ends 
When this life is over, another begins 
And that’s the way it works in the circle of life 
Balancing these good days in these times of strife. 

Ain’t no happy endings, ‘cause nothing really ends 
When this life is over, another begins 
And that’s the way it works in the circle of life 
Balancing these good days in these times of strife. 

VERSE 1 
I’m just trying to make it 
Life’s precious for granted I’ll never take it 
Every breath I breathe to me is sacred 
Back when I was young, my only love was football and my mama 
Learn to use curse words before I ever used a comma 
Little bad ass 
All I liked in school was gym and art class 
Life’s changin’, I was age ten when my pop past 
His love for cancer sticks and alcohol prove to be tragic 
My fam’s seen it all we became immune to havoc 
My lyrics is satisfaction to those who use to be addicts 
Soothin’ the beast in all those who use to be savage 
I advocate the acronym F.U.B.U. speak to 
As if my tongue was tatooed with the word uhuru 
Using my freestyle to emancipate mind states 
Fuck 21, I’d like to live see 9 – 8 
But this world’s got me going bananas like a primate 
People you thought you knew full of surprises like a blind date 
And I hate, 
Cash flashing niggas with a passion 
More to life than dollars and rockin’ the latest fashion 
Seems like we either wanna play ball or be assassins 
While children go to bed to lullabies of guns blastin’ 
No matter the weather 
I’m striving to make it better 
But my motto is a contradiction “Never say never!” 
I will not 
I remain poetic like Gil Scott 
So stand up, get up 
My people keep your head up! 

BRIDGE 

And live everyday like it’s your last 
‘Cause life only get harder as time goes past 
And yo, the sun might not come out tomorrow 
Don’t let your life end in sorrow. 

That’s why you live everyday like it’s your last 
‘Cause life only get harder as time goes past 
And yo, the sun might not come out tomorrow 
Don’t let your life end in sorrow. 

HOOK 

VERSE 2 

I try to live day by day without a fear or a worry 
It’s no time to I make moves in a hurry 
Use to be so clear now my vision’s getting blurry 
Streets is hotter than Tabasco sauce on chicken curry 
Bullets fly from guns with no target in particular 
Fatally hiitin’ ya 
Leavin’ bodies perpendicular 
To those still existin’ 
Silencers hissin’ 
Piercin’ the darkness 
Bringin’ forth another carcus 
Total bedlam, swear these streets is infested 
Filled with the many horrors that the devil manifested 
Children molested 
Nuclear weapons being tested 
Somehow I avoided being shot and arrested 
Brothers tried to bring it to me 
Sends slugs through me 
Almost was bodied thrice back when I was just a juvy 
Hard to deal thought about putting one in my own temple 
Permanent scars on my physical and my mental 
Sometimes I’m glad my niece is no longer around to see this 
Not a trace of unity society’s in peices 
Liquor splattered on concrete to mourn those that we miss 
Watch day and night, controlled by unseen leashes 
Watch day and night, controlled by unseen leashes 
Watch day and night, controlled by unseen leashes 

Yo, but no matter what… 
You know something? 
This is what you gotta do… 

BRIDGE 

HOOK

Ain't No Happy Endings [Produced by Nujabes]

From 'Home Is Where The Art Is'

Lyrics

Come on... (x 10) 

VERSE 1 
Man it's hard when you see more bills than checks 
That’s why I push an XB for wheels, no Lex 
While I write day and night just to deal with stress 
Walk these DMV streets like I'm still the best 
Even though I got an overdrawn account waiting on collb money 
Frontin ass promoters refusing to ask for me 
State trooper tailing me, creeping in back of me 
Traffic violation they call in the calvary 
Shit ain't adding up and you don't need a math degree 
I'm here laughing at shit that really ain't that funny 
But eh man, life ain't perfect 
Made something of myself with next to nothing to work with 
And found my purpose, while looking for answers 
Wife looking for purses, baby looking for pampers 
Got me looking for paper to feed our needs and our wants 
So a slice won't due, when you're in need of a chunk 
Of the proverbial pie, so when shit try to halt 
This descendant of go-getters ‘bout to get some results 
So those pennies for thoughts can add up when you get on your grind
Especially when you got a lot of shit on your mind, I'm saying... 

HOOK 

It's no use crying over spilled milk (Yeah!) 
Big deal if you fall you can still help (Yeah!) 
Son I'ma stick to laughing to keep from crying (Yeah!) 
I'ma stick to living to keep from dying (Yeah!) 
No time for quitting I keep climbing (Yeah!) 
In my darkest hour I keep shining (Yeah!) 
Even when sunset he keep rising (Yeah!) 
Pick myself up shake it off and keep grinding (Yeah!) 
Til I take these coals and make diamonds (Yeah!) 
Always make the best of the situation that I'm in! (Yeah!) 

VERSE 2 
Fuck a plan B if plan A is win, you can quote me God 
With the mic, stage, or pen... I am going hard 
While my friends took a break, I was taking chances 
Labels feeling the kid, now and try to take advantage 
Every other week of the month I'm like damn this 
Starving and bamas is trying to feed me canned shit 
I know I'm hungry, okay more like famished 
But I done seen things that'll make a grown man cringe 
But I still will heal with no bandage 
Found away to still paint pictures with no canvas 
But I'ma manage 'cause challenge I'm use to. 
Got every single reason to fail... I refuse to 
With little promo, no investments, and skeptics 
Can make this road to success shit hectic. 
The way I'm barely eating man I should be anorexic 
Everything's backwards, I ain't even dyslexic 
Check it, I've tried what other people suggested 
But being anything other than me's out of the question 
Found a way to win when others didn't expect it 
Underdog champ of the decade, respect it! (Yeah!) 

HOOK (x2)

Home Is Where The Art Is

Spilled Milk [Produced by Slopfunkdust]

From 'The Past​.​.​.' 
Official Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSihaIyG9sM

Lyrics

Go... go... go... gone! 

VERSE 1 
In my rearview, fast living & fast women 
That I went thru like underwear & dirty linens 
I adhered to the ways of a playa, wanna pimping 
Breaking curfews and hearts, spilt’em like partitions 
I know… so cold… 
Taught to never love’em, yet we act like hoes 
See I chose... to grow... 
But if I stayed the same would more records be sold (hmmm) 
They love it when you don’t love’em & abuse’em 
Like when you fuck’em and dump’em its just amusement 
Sick to me you get more publicity when you’re coonin’ 
Yet question your authenticity when your judgement is prudent 
That’s that bullshit... I’m past that 
Just watch’em how they bend and run quicker than half backs 
Y’all would make your ass clap for a check from ASCAP 
‘Til your ass capped, never me dog can have that! There is... 

HOOK 
No turning back today 
Never backwards, forward we go 
3x 
Go... go... go... gone! 

VERSE 2 
Onward, Upwards 
Why look back, my bags packed 
Thought I was nuts but when I try to dip... they on the sack 
I hush the fuss, watch my six, know the time 
My hats off to haters while staying on they mind 
My crime is trying to grow while stay true 
While they rather love those selling them short. Disgraceful 
They telling tall tales, them stories ain’t you 
Keep building like I own it, plenty walls to break through 
And I can’t stop they can’t hold me 
But people talk like they know me 
But they so weak they don’t know themselves 
Trying to confine me to their hell 
But um… I ain’t dumbing down to make you feel comfortable 
And I ain’t slowing down so you can catch up my dude 
You live for the lie you don’t really want the truth 
I don’t change for fear my dear, nor a buck two… or a G or 3 

HOOK 

VERSE 3 
My friend… is sadly long gone 
I wish… we could make some songs 
Or hit... the town and break bread 
For kicks… I’m here missing you instead 
Watching these clowns bite your style and use your image 
Meanwhile they barely gave you your props when you were living
I doubt your family’s getting a check it got me livid 
Mispronounce your name then act like they knew what you intended 
This isn’t for the authentic it’s meant for the hypocritical 
Who diss the dude who spit for you in since the very beginning 
Though our bond fractured, was still sought after 
They want more classics, I want more laughter 
And I could hit them with unreleased material 
Since your so-called fans think my solo work is trivial 
Unless it’s me & you but where’s the honor in that 
When most of it was subpar or we thought it was wack 
Probably be overjoyed if I bought a few tracks 
You didn’t finished then distribute them all over the map 
That’s what they’re hoping but I’ll never fuck you over like that 
I’ll forever honor your memory but there’s no turning back 

HOOK

No Turning Back [Produced by The Other Guys]

PRE-ORDER 'The Garden': http://bit.ly/subgarden

Maryland's own Substantial is back with the self produced single 'Beyond the Stage' featuring Uyama Hiroto and Stephanie Gayle (formerly known as Steph The Sapphic Songstress. This is the third single and only vocal track on Sub's debut instrumental track, 'The Garden'.

Lyrics:
V1 
(Substantial & Stephanie Gayle) 
All I ever wanted was a little fame 
Take care of me and mine off the strength of my name 
Barely wanted one, never needed two chains 
No disrespect to him it just wasn’t my thing 
Words are my art and the beat is my frame 
Former starving artist painting my pain 
Made my family proud of the man I became 
Hopefully, some of yall try to do the same 

(Substantial) 
I learned that… it’s deeper than cheers, deeper than guest appearances 
As deep as your fears, deeper than sample clearances 
Deeper than lights, deeper than camera, action! 
Deeper than mics, deeper than transactions. 
Deeper than fans, deeper than beats and world tours 
Deeper than brands, deep as peace, it’s all yours 
Deeper than sub woofers who knew than love could’ve 
Made a dream liver from onlooker, songs took’em... 

HOOK (Stephanie Gayle) 
Beyond the stage and bright lights 
Come get a better look at our life 
Where every moment isn’t a highlight 
But we’re alright! 

Beyond the stage and bright lights 
Come get a better look at our life 
From the bottom up to the highlife 
Now we’re alright! 

V2 
(Stephanie Gayle) 
Mama can ya’... pray for me now (Won’t he do it) 
So when we.. play we make you proud (And ya’ knew it) 
Never know who we’ll... save from out the crowd (Put’em up) 
Make sure the… bass bangin out loud (Turn it up) 

(Substantial) 
So they feel it from the stage... and beyond 
Ain’t a flow cooler like I’m making freon 
Feel vibes thru the monitor I place my feet on, like ottoman 
So hot I’m Vulcan-ic, no Klingons, I live long 
Prosper, that’s the motto, green room, 
Brown liquor, like pass the bottle, but I’m good though 
Long way from Brightseat Rd, still hood though 
Still make it home regardless of where I could go 
Where good jokes bring the sun out when it’s (cloudy) 
And good folks show you love but come off (rowdy) 
I grab the mic for PG and rep it (proudly) 
They were looking for the real and they (found me)... 

HOOK

PRE-ORDER 'The Garden': http://bit.ly/subgarden

The Garden

Beyond the Stage (Single)

Beyond the Stage ft. Uyama Hiroto & Stephanie Gayle

Lyrics by Substantial & L Universe
Produced by Nujabes

Lyrical Terrorists (ft. L-Universe) [Prod. Nujabes]

Lyrics by Substantial
Produced by DJ Kiyo

If I Was Your MIC [DJ Kiyo Remix]

Lyrics by: Substantial & Pase Rock
Produced by: Nujabes

First Collection

Nujabes - Blessing It (ft. Substantial & Pase Rock)

Lyrics by: Substantial
Produced by: Nujabes

Modal Soul

Hikari [Produced by Nujabes]

Lyrics by: Substantial
Production by: Nujabes

Eclipse [Produced by Nujabes]

www.IamSubstantial.com

Virginia based International Hip Hop Recording Artist from Maryland.

Substantial

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