Bop Alloy
Seattle, Washington, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"When you want to, say, build a bridge that won’t rust and fall apart, you use steel – an alloy of iron and carbon much more durable than either of its component parts. Similarly, when you’re looking to strike a balance of lyrical impact and smoothness conducive to maximum Chillaxation, you reach for Bop Alloy. - DJBooth.net
"Marcus D is a perfect fit for Substantial who mesh together like a modern day Pete Rock and CL Smooth. The instrumentation on the beats will leave your senses heightened for Substantial's clear and precise raps to take you to a perfect mindstate of musical bliss." - hillydilly.com
"Using retro-leaning, jazz-influenced hip-hop, Substantial and Marcus D teamed up as Bop Alloy to create a highly unique album this year." "…those who appreciate jazz and enjoy the smooth outcome of jazz-hop will love what Bop Alloy has done on its debut, self-titled album." - http://potholesinmyblog.com
"…emcee Substantial and Producer Marcus D have created a project that is in my opinion a very impressive hip-hop and jazz fusion." - RaweMag.org
"Substantial & Marcus D are Bop Alloy" gets 4 out of 5 stars - MusicMeter.nl
Music, like most forms of art, can always benefit from something different. This holds particularly true to Hip-Hop where most new albums feel like a rehash of what everyone has already heard before. However, in 2010 listeners were exposed to “Substantial and Marcus D are Bob Alloy”, the first studio release from the duo of the same name. Combining jazzy beats with solid rhymes this duo will definitely be someone to pay attention to.
Like other groups Bob Alloy follows the one producer one MC combo which Marcus D says, “…allows the project to be extremely cohesive and I think fans will enjoy the fact that there’s one distinct sound throughout the album.” Behind the microphone is Substantial, a Baltimore rapper who got his start in music with a Japanese producer before returning to the states to work with QN5 Music. Marcus D, from Seattle, represents the producing side with Bob Alloy being his second formal project. According to a interview with flawlesshustle.com Marcus D says they connected after networking on Myspace over a track for one of Marcus D’s albums. “After that, I just kept sending beats because of how well the track had turned out. Sub kept sending me back my beats with lyrics over them and after we had about four or five tracks, we decided to start working towards a project.”
The album itself flows together well with a mellow sound and classy beats to match. But, what really sets the release and the group apart from the rest is the feeling that this is from two real people making good music without regarding current trends and popular appeal. Marcus makes this point in the interview, “It’d be nice to hear this project on mainstream radio, but that’s not what we set out to do.” Substantial also adds, “I think some artists are able to keep their integrity and make a mark on the charts but the other issue is that companies are usually hesitant to push it the same way because they don’t think it can see pop success.”
As far as individual songs go in the album I was particularly impressed with “Another Day In The Life”, “Save The Day”, and “Still Think Different”. But, I would like to add that the whole album is fantastic to listen to in its entirety and I would highly recommend it. I would also suggest to keep an eye of for Bob Alloy as the duo says they plan to make more music under the name of Bob Alloy but no formal projects are in the works.
Album Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - WauwatosaWest.com
Bop Alloy's song "Star Child" "stands out as a groovy, passionate ode to his offspring." - Washington City Paper
Kevin
1.) TRUTHLiVE & Jake One – Patience
2.) Damu The Fudgemunk- Supply For Demand
3.) Jazz Spastiks – 12 Bit Spit
4.) Substantial & Marcus D – Bop Alloy
5.) John Robinson & Lewis Parker – International Summers
6.) M-Dot – RUN MPC
7.) Classic Material – Classic Material
8.) H.I.S.D. – The Weakend
9.) Jeff Spec – Sneakerboxxx
10.) Eternia & MoSS – At Last
Justin
1.) Shinsight Trio – Somewhere Beyond The Moon
2.) K. Gates – The Shaikback
3.) K-Rino – Annihilation of the Evil Machine
4.) Gods’Illa – The Album
5.) H.I.S.D. – The Weakend
6.) Devin The Dude – Gotta Be Me
7.) Rob Quest – The Age of Quest
8.) Panacea – 12 Step Program
9.) Mikkey Halsted – The Dark Room
10.) Substantial & Marcus D – Bop Alloy - KevinNottingham.com
Videos posted - KevinNottingham.com
Substantial is a Word Is Bond favorite signed to QN5. Many people know him for his work with Nujabes on his classic debut album "To This Union a Sun Was Born". Nine years later and he's still releasing great music. This time he's hooked up with producer Marcus D for "Bop Alloy". Their joint LP feels like an organic collaboration that comes natural to both artists. In many ways it is a match that was meant to happen in order to breathe life back into the soul of hip-hop. Songs like "Still Think Different" have a chilled out vibe fusing ambient piano loops with captivating drums. Greater still, Substantial is an emcee comfortable with handling the most expansive sounds your likely to hear in 2010. - TheWordisBond.com
Substantial is a Word Is Bond favorite signed to QN5. Many people know him for his work with Nujabes on his classic debut album "To This Union a Sun Was Born". Nine years later and he's still releasing great music. This time he's hooked up with producer Marcus D for "Bop Alloy". Their joint LP feels like an organic collaboration that comes natural to both artists. In many ways it is a match that was meant to happen in order to breathe life back into the soul of hip-hop. Songs like "Still Think Different" have a chilled out vibe fusing ambient piano loops with captivating drums. Greater still, Substantial is an emcee comfortable with handling the most expansive sounds your likely to hear in 2010. - TheWordisBond.com
Discography
Bop Alloy (Substantial & Marcus D)
Albums:
o 2010: Substantial & Marcus D are Bop Alloy [JAPAN EDITION]
o 2010: Substantial & Marcus D are Bop Alloy [DELUXE EDITION]
o 2010: prePAIRED
Singles:
o 2009: "Day in the Life" ft. Steph the Sapphic Songstress
o 2009: “I’m Here” featuring Kokayi & Gods’Illa
o 2010: “Recovery (Hold On)”
o 2010: “Still Think Different” b/w “Save the Day” [JAPAN]
o 2010: “Why the World Weeps” ft. Mello-D & Steph the Sapphic Songstress b/w “Universe Works” [JAPAN]
o 2010: “Jazzmatic” ft. Steph the Sapphic Songstress
Marcus D
Albums:
o 2008: Revival of the Fittest
o 2010: Revival of the Fittest [JAPAN EDITION]
o 2010: Shoshin
Singles:
o 2010: Substantial “U Were There” [Marcus D Remix] ft. JsouL
o 2010: Shing02 “Luv (Sic) Pt. 3” [Marcus D Remix]
o 2010: “Parallel Universe” ft. Shing02
o 2011: Shing02 “Luv (Sic) Pt. 5” Melencolia Remix by Marcus D & Peter Lee Johnson
Substantial
Albums:
o 2001: To This Union A Sun Was Born
o 2002: Happy F**k You Songs (w/ PackFM, Session, Tonedeff a.k.a. Extended Famm)
o 2003: Substantial Evidence (Mix)
o 2006: Sacrificial Lambs (The Prequel to Sacrifice)
o 2006: Substantial Collaborations Vol. 1 (Mix)
o 2008: Sacrifice
o 2008: QN5 RMX Vol. 4 (Mix)
o 2009: Substantial/Burns (with Burns)
o 2009: Substantial vs. Samurai Champloo
o 2010: Wink – Something Substantial (Mix)
Singles:
o 2000: "Lyrical Terrorists" (with L Universe)
o 2000: "Home Sweet Home"
o 2000: "Remembering Dave"
o 2001: "KalitWutchaWon2"
o 2002: "If I Was Your Mic"
o 2004: "CIM"
o 2007: "Move 4 Me" (with Chew Fu)
o 2007: "At the Club" (with Chew Fu)
o 2007: "Resurrection of the House Party b/w That Damn Good [Remix] ft. Fresh Daily"
o 2008: "It's You (I Think) b/w QT"
o 2009: "My Favorite Things” b/w “Day in the Life" ft. Steph (with Marcus D)
o 2009: "Destination Sky" (with DJ Deckstream)
o 2009: “I’m Here” ft. Kokayi & Gods’Illa (with Marcus D)
o 2009: “The Memo (Move Me)” (with Burns)
o 2009: “The W.W.K.Y.A. Tour b/w Kno Remix” (with Burns & CunninLynguists)
o 2009: “Don’t Stop”
o 2010: “Still Think Different”/ “Save the Day” (with Marcus D) [JAPAN]
o 2010: “U Were There” Remix featuring JsouL (with Substantial)
Videos:
o 2007: "Resurrection of the House Party/That Damn Good (Remix) featuring Fresh Daily
o 2008: "It's You (I Think)"
o 2009: "My Favorite Things" featuring Steph
Filmography:
o 2000: Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
Photos
Bio
Bop -noun - a synonym for Jazz but more specifically refers to bebop: early modern jazz developed in the early 1940s and characterized by often dissonant triadic and chromatic chords, fast tempos and eccentric rhythms, intricate melodic lines punctuated by pop-tune phrases, and emphasizing the inventiveness of soloists. ~
Alloy -noun - a mixture. synonym: fusion
The term "purist" has no place in music, since one genre often influences or gives birth to another genre every few years. Jazz purists are sometimes displeased with the genre being sampled by Hip-Hop artists, but no one can argue that it has inspired a new generation of Jazz enthusiasts. Bop Alloy, comprised of Baltimore, MD emcee Substantial and the Seattle, WA producer Marcus D, is the name that best describes the brand of hip-hop (labeled "Jazz Hop" by today's listeners) made popular by legendary groups like Gangstarr and A Tribe Called Quest. Bop Alloy haven't set out to be the next group of artists with a throwback sound, but to "make quality music that anybody, from any walk of life can enjoy," says Marcus D.
After several well received collaborations, such as "Day In The Life," featuring Steph and "Enjoy Yourself," the two have officially formed a duo and are putting the finishing touches on their debut album entitled Substantial & Marcus D are Bop Alloy (SMDABA). The highly anticipated LP will debut mid-2010. Leading up to the debut, they plan to release several 7" vinyl singles in Japan. A 2010 Japan Tour and spot dates in the US are already in the works, although details on the release remain a secret. To heighten the anticipation, the pair plan to release an exclusive song on Substantial's promotional download mix Wink - Something Substantial, which will be featured on several popular blogs and Web sites. SMDABA features guest appearances by Edgar Allen Floe (Justice League), Cise Starr (CYNE), Mr. SOS (formerly of CunninLynguists), Kokayi, Gods'Illa, Niles, and Mello D. Steph the Sapphic Songstress contributes the most of all the guests with choruses and background vocals on half of the album, adding to the already soulful sound-scape.
Substantial & Marcus D first began collaborating in 2007, soon after Sub returned to Maryland after living in Brooklyn, NY for nearly 10 years. MD was working on his debut release, Revival of the Fittest, when he first contacted Sub. Substantial instantly noticed similarities in MD's sound to Nujabes of Hyde Out Productions, with whom Substantial debuted. Sub knew that if the two continued to work together, it would be well received by fans who missed the sound of the early collabs with Hyde Out. When describing what it is like to work with MD, Sub said: "It's the type of relationship you want to have with your producer. You want them to be equally excited about the project and he is. I don't have to push him to be productive, he just is." Eventually, Tsunetake Ito of Tamashie Creations/Elevation signed both artists to his company in Japan and quickly began promoting the two, leading up to the inevitable release of their debut album.
Baritone vocals, fluid flows, and honest lyrics over hypnotic melodies and pounding drums defines the Bop Alloy sound. A sound and chemistry that feels familiar yet, one-of-a-kind. Marcus says, "The musical chemistry between Substantial & me easily transcends the phrase "frequent collaborators," but I think the most unique characteristic of our group is our substantial (no pun) difference in age, but our ability to interact on the same level as human beings, business partners, and musicians." Substantial adds, "I have experienced a lot of things in the music biz that makes most folks bitter, where Marcus D is a fresh face with a somewhat different outlook. This allows us to find a healthy middle-ground which is ideal for our growth as a unit. Needless to say we plan on making a major mark with this endeavor."
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