Photos Courtesy of Solomon Instagram
By Will Mossa
With a flow, style, and vocal tone resembling a hybrid of old Kendrick Lamar and JID, the new kid on the block, Solomon, has made a grand entrance for himself with the release of his debut album Real Life. The surreal instrumentals deeply rooted in old jazz, captivating piano riffs, accented drum beats, with new age bass and the west-coast influences he incorporates give Solomon an uncommon sound that will mesmerize listeners.
Despite the mere 123 listeners/month on Spotify and small social media following, this project will prove that Solomon has a timeless sound that will only get better with time and as his fan base grows, as it should. Using different tempos and flows while telling a story is clearly a strong suit of Solomon as his versatility makes the project extremely dynamic and gives him an X-Factor that should make him stand out in the rap game. Solomon seduces his listeners from the first track, “Eternal,” in spoken word form, starring a melancholy synth and powerful message. The beginning seconds of the song will throw you off, but immediately captivates you with the first bar “even if I die today I’ll probably live forever.”
Feeding right into a standout track on the album, “Balance,” Solomon brands the main sound of the project, a simple yet unforgettable jazz piano sample, an electric yet leisurely flow while maintaining lyrics grounded in reality, a common theme throughout the album and shows quickly why it is titled “Real Life.” Solomon’s ability to switch up from slower tempo tracks to up-beat bangers demonstrated on “Good & Bad” is just one of many skills shown on the project. Consistent with jazz piano roots and a creative drum track that is ubiquitous on the album, the R&B choir-sung chorus preaches positivity and his switching of flows, makes it easily one of, if not the most memorable tracks off the whole project. Choosing a favorite song will take a few listens through the album, which should be easy with all of the subtle creativeness and repeat factor on all of the tracks, Real Life is one of those albums that could very easily stand the test of time. Craving more exposure, Real Life by Solomon is a debut album that not only deserves more recognition and hype, but could be the first stepping stone in his path to the top of the industry.