Audiopium is comprised of the 2 hip-hop duos; Play Cousin (Solomon Vaughn/Jordan Craft), iLL University (iStayJammin/Blaque Plaque the Plague), 1 pop singer (Giane May) and 1 female rapper (Samia). Audiopium manages to come together blending their diverse set of styles into one cohesive under the production of founding member rapper/composer, Boonie Mayfield aka Solomon Vaughn.
The 13-track Audiopium album, “Boonie Mayfield Presents: It’s Audiopium!”, was Mixed & Mastered By: JD Feighner @ 1620 Studios, Colorado. All songs were Produced & Arranged by Boonie Mayfield, except for “School Daze”, produced by T-Mos.
I’ve only recently met up with the talent of Solomon Vaughn. He is a great lyricist: his word play, metaphors, intricate rhyming, and song subjects speak more like poetry than rap, the strange thing is, he is almost a better producer than he is a rapper! So when Vaughn puts his creative wares on any musical work, be sure it will almost always literally be a masterpiece beyond words.
In the midst of the “hip-hop is dead” stigma that currently plagues the game, looms a young visionary and group of highly capable young artists who are set to make a positive impact: case in point…“Boonie Mayfield Presents: It’s Audiopium!” Here Vaughn once again shows why he’s one of the best. This mixtape is another incredible evolution of his sound. It is artistic affair and a prime example of what Vaughn is capable of when he has full control of his music. The sound on this album is bold, experimental and deep.
While the majority of rap is being plagued by mediocre emcees who care more about their chain and their street cred than the lyrics they let flow from their mouths, these songs are very well thought out and well executed. Audiopium takes different elements and layers (thoughts and feelings) and blends them through the stereo for us to hear. They blend in lots of styles, patterns and beats. There’s no denying that Solomon Vaughn is one of the most unique new hip-hop artists you’ll hear from within the next few years. There’s been a long wait for some fresh new artists, and Vaughn, together with the other members of Audiopium deliver that freshness.
The difference between Audiopium and the rest of the new hip-hop generation is that their lyrical style and mind frame give them the ability to go further; to climb out of the clichéd box. They deliver not only thought provoking lyrics but Vaughn’s beat production is classic worthy. He has chosen the perfect production for each song, it doesn’t outshine the lyrics in any way but it makes them stand out more. Listen to “Work” (ft. Solomon Vaughn, Giane May, Blaque Plaque, iStayJammin, Jordan Craft), “Stay Fresh” ( ft. Solomon Vaughn, iStayJammin, Samia), “Olniguz, Nuniguz” (ft. Solomon Vaughn, iStayJammin, Blaque Plaque), “iGroowunoowunon” (ft. Solomon Vaughn, Blaque Plaque), “Cigarettes & Cologne” ( ft. Giane May), “So High Can’t Sit Down” (iStayJammin [hook], Solomon Vaughn, iStayJammin, Jordan Craft, Blaque Plaque) and “True D.A.B.’s Too” (ft. Samia).
Solomon Vaughn potentially has a very bright future ahead of him, he’s got something different and more important to offer, but my biggest fear is that he will never be the platinum artist, he should be. Like most of his works, “Boonie Mayfield Presents: It’s Audiopium!” is just what we need to hear, but don’t want to hear. The problem today, is that we haven’t heard real hip hop in so long, we ignore the young dudes that are trying their best to resurrect its intrinsic qualities. We’re blinded by Hip-hop’s continued mediocrity and all the hype that has engulfed the genre. However, all it will take is a discerning ear to appreciate the craft with which Solomon Vaughn (and Audiopium) approaches hip-hop. If you like to be entertained and mentally stimulated at the same time, please get this album.
OFFICIAL LINKS: SOUNDCLOUD – DOWNLOAD – ITUNES
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