Substantial is an emcee and producer from the D.C./Virginia area who has been making and releasing music for the better part of the last two decades. He last released an instrumental project by the name of The Garden a little less than a year ago. He now returns with a new EP, Recompositions.

With a title like Recompositions, you might expect something like a remix project, and you would be half right. It’s a collection of three new songs and three remixes, all produced and written by Substantial himself. Of course, it’s also something of a family affair, with guest contributions from Stephanie Gayle, Mason Lieberman, Kenichiro Nishihara, Greenspan, Precious Joubert, and Carolyn Malachi, who all bring their own unique flavor to the project, whether it be some beautiful sung vocals, rhymes, piano, or guitar. What’s most interesting and enjoyable about this project is just how well it stands on its own, how well it flows together, and how it gives you a really great cross section of everything that makes Substanital special. You get tracks that are fun and danceable, you get some that bring in rhythmic patterns unusual to hip hop, and you get some moving intimate tracks. The remixes aren’t done in such a way that you need to be familiar with the original track, and they certainly avoid any sort of novelty or reliance on gimmick that can sometimes come with remix projects. It’s more like Substantial is just reimagining and rearranging the songs to give them new life. In doing so, he brings them into conversation with three new songs that fit right alongside the others, and he’s really able to take you through quite the guided journey in just the course of three songs, covering everything from some fun rhymes about the grind and rocking the crowd to philosophical rhymes to very personal and intimate moments.

Recompositions might not seem like a standout release on paper, but in practice it’s about as strong as anything Substantial has done in his career. He’s breathed new life into a few songs, filled things out with some really solid new material, and given you a really balanced and enjoyable EP in the process.