(New Exclusive Interview0 Substance Talks Music With Hip Hop On Deck
1. Substance, break down your name and how you came up with it?
SUB: Pretty simple for that one! Years ago I went by "tekneek" or "tek" for short. One day I received an email from an important manager in the business waiting because of potential confusion he suggested I change my name. I like one word names, and after giving it a lot of thought I felt "Substance" described my music very well.
2. Substance, break down your style and sound?
SUB: I like to consider my music a perfect balance of 90s golden era boom bap and modern hip hop. I try to keep it witty and lyrical but thought provoking at the same time. Sometimes I just like to have fun and rap and just take advantage of a dope beat and not think to much about it.
3. Substance, you are an artist that believes in dropping crazy bars in your verses. How important is it to you, to take your time an create great bars that mean something?
SUB: Very important, but I don't take along time to think out every single line either. Everything kind of just builds gradually. I get the feeling to write and go with it but I won't sit for hours and force it, ever. I try to be in creative mode constantly a lot of clever bars come on the whim while I'm out and about or at work from things I see or objects that spark ideas.
4. Substance, lets talk about O.S.O.M, 2. what is the concept behind this project and how long did it take you to complete this project?
SUB: The concept is "Outta Sight Outta Mind" that originally started 5 years ago when I was still living in Arizona. I grew up my whole life in Michigan previous to that so being away was strange for a while. Making new friends, adjusting etc.. At one point I literally felt like I was far away from what I knew as "my world". So now upon moving back to Michigan and riding the momentum of part 1, part 2 I looked to take it all up a notch. Further building on the concept, and as always telling about my current story and situation throughout the album.
5. Substance, What do you feel "O.S.O.M. 2 will bring different to the industry, that is not already there?
SUB: Ironically music with substance is the minority these days, I feel this album is packing with words with meaning that real everyday people can relate too. To add to that its full of lyricism and dope beats every true hip-hop heads dream.
6. Substance, what is the hardest thing in life you had to overcome and how did you overcome it?
SUB: When I was in high school my writing teacher used to criticize my work, calling it "wordy" amongst other things. Which today is pretty funny cuz it's literally what I do get wordy and play with words. But when I was young and first started to rhyme I was really self conscious because I was so used to writing poetry and other things. So I was always nervous about how people would take what I had to say.. But I got over that eventually once I stuck with it and took the craft serious I conquered that fear with a burning desire to be dope.
7. Substance, Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
SUB: Still doing music and hopefully touring internationally!