Album Review: Substantial & Burns – Substantial/Burns (2009)

Album Review: Substantial & Burns – Substantial/Burns (2009)
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Potholes

Amazon: Substantial & Burns – Substantial / Burns

Substantial & Burns.  Sure, it should sound like the two words should go together, but that only happens when the MC (Substantial from Maryland) and the producer (Burns from Pittsburgh, Pa.) align to drop their digital only release Substantial/Burns EP. However, don’t you fret; the only burns you’ll receive are the ones that are more or less lacerations from nodding your head so vigorously.

On the production side, Burns utilizes a lot of drum breaks which are very reminiscent of the days-of-yore boom-bap that do not pass the 90-95bpm mark.  Combine those with melodic samples and it makes Substantial/Burns provide plenty of consistency for Substantial to utilize his intelligent and insightful flows to their fullest potential.  On the emceeing side of the equation you have Substantial matching with the delivery of Method Man as he effortlessly punctuates his bars and creates more or less a message of urgency in this EP.  You can hear it when he raps with 15-year-old Wealth on “Nobody Cares”. The same goes for when he delves into his own opinion and thoughts on a personal level with “Open All Of My Soul” and “The Memo (Move Me)”.

Elsewhere you have some guests who aid Substantial and Burns on this EP.  You have the Extended F@mm at QN5 assisting on “The W.W.K.Y.A. Tour” while Capital ID & Steph spit on the guitar-tinged “Logicool”.  In addition you have Kokayi assisting on the hook for “Do What We Gotta”.  Burns gets three instrumental interludes/introductions on this EP. Those are heard in the descending guitar of “A Reason to Smile”,  the crashing-down drums of “People Gon’ Wake Up”, and the hilarious and humorous conversation on “Daycare Gig”.

Throughout this EP, Substantial and Burns deliver a blunt and to-the-point personal and social commentary; except in the case of the fun-loving final track. Substantial/Burns is a solid display of how an emcee and producer can complement one another while leaving those interested hungry for more.