Join
now to receive all the new
music
Substantial creates,
including
60 back-catalog releases,
delivered instantly to you via the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android.
You’ll also get access to
supporter-only
exclusives.
Learn more.
On 'The Sub Way', Substantial cleverly weaves together the story of is journey wit he various train stop he grew up near i he DMV area and later in New York City. The Sub Way, also features DMV area songstress, Precious Joubert of Sound of the City.
We all have a different path to travel, and the right way is not necessarily set in stone. Not everyone will take "The Sub Way"... we all have to find our own way.
lyrics
VERSE 1
Started in Cheverly, the line was orange
On January 7th, a star was born
Stayed in Seat Pleasant ‘til mom and I moved on
To the next stop, come ride along
Left pops, moms tired of the fighting and tears
So in Landover’s where I spent my formative years
While living here I met my oldest of peers
Underprivileged yet I’m overcoming my fears
Like robberies and shootins, now we out in Suitland
Right behind my high school to focus on my schoolin’
No longer boostin, now I’m beat looping
Pre-To This Union, writing with my blue pen
Penning blue lines from Pentagon & Addison
Battle raps dumb funny like Billy Madison
Battlin, til my name spread like a pathogen
This is just the start I can feel it in my abdomen!
HOOK
All I see is lines, letters, colors
Zippin’ right by, with plenty numbers
Runnin’ thru my mind, what to make of it
It’ll make sense one day
All I see is lines, letters, colors
Zippin’ right by, with plenty numbers
Limit’s the sky, ready, comin’
Take the Sub way
VERSE 2
Left Maryland, but still spittin these bars
Next stop Brooklyn, off of Clinton & Wash
New York, New York was the City of Gods
In Hip Hop, big stage. Hope they give me a part
Took the 4 Union Square, rap ciphers galore
Or the A to West 4th hoping I’m in the store
Fats Beats showed love, thought I made it for sure
Years later, All City on an NY tour… now...
HOOK
VERSE 3
Take the J to Koscuiszko to see old the crib
Or the 2 to Flatbush another place that I lived
Shot to JFK, first Tokyo trip
Bullet train’s like magic, blew my whole brain to bits
everything’s changin’ chances being taken
More time at Grand Central and Penn Station
OT. Brazen… confidence. Amazing…
Where my train of thought took me with a little training
HOOK
VERSE 4
Headed back to MD had a family to start
Now in Baltimore City couple minutes from the MARC
Spending time in DC teaching youth and rippin mics
Kill a show on U St. at Benning Road I save a life
Did the same off Southern Ave. teaching kids to rhyme & more
If I wasn’t with the youth, highly like I’m on tour
Then our brother Junior passed rocked our family to the core
Relocated to VA to hold the fam down for sure
Out in the burbs not too far Dunn Loren
Still nice with the verbs and far from done touring
Now we in Huntington and I’m maturing
Still in PG everyday ‘cause I'ma support’em
Where it all started, I’ll head home someday
Journey’s never easy but I’m making it... someway
Some tracks are curved and some straight
And not everybody will Take the Sub way
credits
from Present EP [Clean],
released May 27, 2016
(M. Marino, S. Robinson)
Bass by Gerson Zaragoza
Precious Joubert appears courtesy of Sound of the City ENT., LLC (BMI)
Faces of Change like all of Jav’s work is an alternative to the negativity found in Rap. Like many overlooked MCs, he offers positivity w/out profanity. His outlook on MTS's beats is refreshing. Substantial
supported by 27 fans who also own “The Sub Way (feat. Precious Joubert)”
Happy Anniversary! Love this entire album, and only chose this as my favourite track as it has such a triumphant, hopeful feel and wraps everything up so nicely. djscribe