eMusic Review 0
They say that “out of the darkness comes light,” and for Maryland-born whiz kid Substantial, this adage rings true. After being dragged though the bouts of homelessness and personal tragedies that fired his internationally acclaimed debut release, …To This Union a Sun Was Born, Substantial took in a deep breath and exhaled. The result is an organic labor of love that's remarkable in its focused alignment and enlightened command of self. Here's a man who may not have all the answers, but certainly knows who he is. Perhaps this tranquil ascension has something to do with Substantial's commitment to martial arts, a practice whose calculated grace emanates from each of the 17 tracks. Or maybe the artist, born Stan Robinson, has approached new heights through a conscious effort to shake loose and allow life to take its proper shape.
Whatever the motivation, Sacrifice is a raw exultation; an animated celebration of love in some of its truest forms: the love of your craft, a significant other and of slicing away opponents one bar at a time. CunninLynguists'Deacon the Villain crashes through the Kid 'N Play sampled “Resurrection of the House Party,” and aside from a deft watch-your-back saga scorched by… read more »
