ABOUT US

Substantial Art & Music, LLC (SAM) is a multimedia organization that provides consulting services to the visual and performing arts community. SAM was founded in 2017, by husband and wife duo Stan “Substantial” Robinson and Rachelle Etienne-Robinson. Together they provide design and consulting services to emerging and established independent artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations. SAM offers professional advice and guidance through consultations, workshops, and webinars. Additional services include graphic design and special events. SAM has facilitated workshops at Amazon headquarters in Seattle, Washington, the Hawaii State Art Museum, Pratt Institute, and multi-genre conventions. SAM events have been featured on WTOP, Washington Informer, and Fox 5 DC.

CREATING. CONSULTING. CULTIVATING.

MISSION

To create, present and provide artistic opportunities, special programs, supports, and consulting services to youth and adults in the District of Columbia Metro area and beyond.

Rachelle Etienne-Robinson is a creative director, designer, producer, curator, and arts administrator. Rachelle was born in Queens, NY, and raised in Fairfax, VA.  Her love for art, design, and crafts developed in middle school and led her to further her education, obtaining a BFA in Fashion Design from the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Rachelle’s experience spans the fields of design, fashion, media, events, education, and arts administration.  She has worked for various organizations including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Knot Inc., the District of Columbia Public Schools, and the Arts Council of Fairfax County. In 2013, Rachelle founded ChezChelle Designs, a custom clothing and accessory brand. Rachelle along with her husband, Stan “Substantial” Robinson founded Substantial Art & Music, a multimedia organization that creates, presents, and provides artistic opportunities, special programs, supports, and consulting services to visual and performing artists. In 2022, Rachelle joined George Mason's College of Visual and Performing Arts as digital marketing coordinator for their Mason Arts venues. Additionally, Rachelle leads the development and creative vision of Black Dress and exhibits that vision through social media, digital marketing, video, and special events. Rachelle co-curated the landmark Black Dress II: Homage exhibition at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery in February 2025.

Stan "Substantial" Robinson is a Northern Virginia based International Hip-Hop Recording Artist, Educator, and Visual Artist from Prince George's County, Maryland. As a rapper and producer, he has traveled around the world and has worked with artists such as Nujabes, Oddisee, and the legendary Godfather of Hip-Hop, Kool Herc while also collaborating with major brands such as Amazon, Ford Motors, Uber and Bentley Motors. As an educator, he has served in both Prince George's County and Baltimore City Public Schools while developing and facilitating programs for TAG Labs, Covenant House Washington, and Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. He also serves as an instructor at Omega Studios' School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences. As a visual artist, Stan graduated from Suitland High School's Center of the Visual & Performing Arts and later attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY majoring in Graphic Design. He went on to design album art and develop branding for dozens of fellow creatives, small businesses, and institutions for over twenty years. In recent years, his work has been exhibited at the Prince George's African American Museum & Cultural Center. As founder and co-CEO of Substantial Art & Music,  Stan brings his 20+ years career as a performing artist, graphic artist, and arts educator to better support their clients in achieving their goals.

Although SAM is not a record label, they have released several collaborative albums/projects and solo works by co-CEO/co-Founder Substantial under their imprint.

Current and Past Clients