Illuminati 2G

Michigan MC Substance aka Tekneek was gracious enough to give I2G an opportunity to listen to a advance of his new upcoming album, Black Market. Many of you will be familiar with Substance from our interview with him a couple months back. Here is some insight into his album.

This Is Me is the first track that opens up the album. Nice beat by Oddisee and Substance flows with no restraints on it talking about his grind and hustle in the game.

Tha Gutta produced by Kelakovski is a sinister beat with prodding organ keys. Very nice track to follow up with.

Shine is up next, featuring D2 and produced by Young Blaise. Dark production but very uplifting lyrics from Substance as he talks about the trials and tribulations one goes through coming up in the game.

Place In The Clouds is produced by Distinct One and is dedicated to all the love ones that have passed on from the MC. This track plays out like a open letter from his heart to them. Very poignant track.

Not 2 Day is produced by Young Blaise and has a vintage Wu Tang feel to it musically to me. This is Substance flexing his lyrical muscle and letting the competition know that he is not one to test.

Invincible is up next. Produced by Astronote and featuring Matthew Johnston, the beat is very epic. Hook is a little bland but Substance is bringing just that to the track and the album as a whole thus far.

I Don't Kno featuring Jordan Croutcher is up next and is produced by Kuya. This is the 1st single from the album. Loving the beat on this. I like how Substance's subject matter is and are things everyone can relate to. Everyday rap. Something that is lacking from the game.

Get What U Get is another lyrical gem. Beat is knocking, very solid production throughout on this album. The scratches and cuts done by fraction give the track that vintage, authentic east coast feel to it. Almost Premo or Pete Rock like. The attention to detail from the MC and producer are a nice touch on this.

Feels Good is produced by Kosyne and features D.O. Bit of a slower pace then the previous track but is a perfect track to cruise around in the whip to. D.O. drops a nice guest verse as well.

Being that I have a advance of the album, the tracks are not in sequence yet. This next track is actually the intro, Come And Get Me. Lyrically on point and features Wordworth on the track. Nice beat and chorus.

Failure is up next featuring CMT, produced by Oddisee and the first thing that jumps out at me is the nice piano loop. Has a Illmatic feel to it (Just as a say that there is a Nas sample in the hook, lol) Substance speaks on just that, failure and how he copes and overcomes it. This is my favorite track so far.

Husslin is next and has a very unique beat, produced by Chysty. Substance rhymes with ease over it and Boy Phresh appears also on it. Phresh reminds me a little bit of Young Jeezy. Hook is annoying to me but lyrics are on point.

Mo Bread is the last track from the advance. Beat has a Alchemist feel to it, very grimey.

Overall I was very impressed by this album. Substance shows alot of diversity and range on this album and the production, although at times shaky, more than serves as a backdrop more often then not. I am a BIG fan of music that is not the norm out there and this album is definitely that. If you live a normal life and do music, Substance shows you can not only talk about it, but make an impact and make enjoyable music as well. Urge people to pick up this release on October 21st when it drops.