From Montreal Canada, rapper King Midas drops his heavily textured album “M.I.D.A.S.”. After quitting rap at 19 due to money issues, King Midas found himself with nothing to do and reminiscing the time he spent writing. We’re grateful he started back up, as his album “M.I.D.A.S.” gives us something to think about. Giving us a warm welcome to the album, with the intro track “Beautiful Morning (prod. DJ Pain 1)”, explaining that he’s not a morning person but he’s got a team that makes mornings that much better. The underlying production serves an incredibly groovy and chilled atmosphere through harmonic and pitched background vocals and crashing cymbals. About three quarters the way in, the beat takes an exciting switch that leaves your head bopping.
Opening “Out Of Towners feat. DC20 (prod. BOGER)” with calming brass and pianos into a New York City-style beat, King Midas begins rapping and telling us he’s hailing from Montreal the city of diversity. He takes a really truthful turn on this track by highlighting how the province of Quebec can spot out-of-towner’s from a mile away, and that the province soars in student loan debt. He touches on heavy topics of unemployment and homelessness, preaching to think before you act, and to make beneficial moves.
Taking a hard-hitting turn with the next track, “The Battlefield (prod. DJ Pain 1)” starts off with samples from Nas and Jay-Z that easily shifts into King Midas’ flow. He continues on about not being satisfied with how the government systems across North America aren’t benefitting or impressing the majority of the continent. As he raps about tapping into his third eye, we can tell that letting himself be spiritual helps him rap on many different and truthful topics.
“James Bond (prod. DJ Radiohead)” kicks off with the tick of a metronome and dropping into an old-school type beat, what we've noticed so far is King Midas’ approach to creating nostalgic beats yet amping them up with prime modern-day production aspects, all evening out the sound making it his own. He raps about his success and how after all his endeavors he’s still human and reminds himself to stay humble.
With “Hail Mary feat. Snooksta (prod. DJ Radiohead)” opening up with a sample from David Ruffin’s “Don’t You Go Home”, we can feel how King Midas’ influences have shaped and impacted his broad sound from past to present. He lets us question our surroundings with this conceptual song, telling us to close the books and open up our eyes. He always taps into his spiritual side and doesn’t let adversity within society impact him.
Moving into a brighter tone with “Changes feat. Michael Perry (prod. DJ Radiohead)”, the track opens with high pitched synths that move into a violin style beat. As King Midas raps about how he got involved with the wrong crowd at times, he preaches not to make the same mistakes as your past and move forward. Micheal Perry sings on this chorus is such a mesmerizing way, giving us another aspect of nostalgic R&B/soul vocals full of passion.
Taking the mood back down to a relaxed and chill vibe, “Changes feat. Micheal Perry (prod. DJ Radiohead)” begins with subtle lo-fi piano moving into incredibly laid back production. King Midas kicks off his bars with truth and strength, speaking how he’s lost in a world of hate, greed, and lust. He’s sick and tired of the division between authorities and minorities while adding in snippets of a human rights speech that touches on the disgraceful three-fifths clause, we can really get a sense of King Midas’ role in activism.
Following up and bringing a lo-fi retro feel is "Lost Pages Feat. DC20", opening up with a political statement overtop of a sweet soft piano, silky strings, and an equally lo-fi and polished drum kit that holds the groove down. DC20's delivery on the second verse beautifully contrasts King Midas' spoken-word-like verse one. The spark in optimism leads perfectly to a revolutionary speech recording that shows how much King Midas cares about being a leader for people.
Bringing Michael Perry back again for “I Wish I Can Fly feat. Michael Perry (prod. The Artisans)”, the upbeat piano production moves into dreamy lyricism and also heavy lyrics of moving on from dark corners of the mind. Michael Perry brings clarity at the chorus, with his sweet-sounding vocals of getting out of a negative headspace. This track serves the harsh reality of how we live today and constantly striving for something better and more satisfying.
A growing groovy piano beat meets our ears upon the 9th track “The Ville (prod. BOGER)”. King Midas brings forward childhood trauma and how rap has saved his life just like King Nas. The beat serves an incredibly introspective feel that doesn't step over his bars, yet emphasizes them to be the main attraction. He’s optimistic that things will change for the better, yet we can’t ever turn a blind eye to the struggles we endure day today.
With the 10th song “Paid in Full: The Sequel (prod. BOGER)” opening up with a quote from Martin Scorsese’s “The Goodfellas”, we’ve got a full peek at King Midas’ cultured and well-rounded knowledge of classic film and music. This beat slowly grows wider from the piano into a deep running kick and snare. This track takes more of a storyline by surrounding it upon the story of Alpo Martinez and his work in Harlem.
We move into a filtered 80’s R&B melody that crashes down into a Jay-Z/Nas type beat. “Ambition (prod. BOGER)”, King Midas explains that he’s always on a mission to bring classic rap back to its prime. He wants everyone to listen from any race, gender, or nationality. While moving on to “Piano (prod. BOGER)”, BOGER’s production brings in a jazz element towards the song, while King Midas’ says “singing the same old song”, of continuous racism and how we as a world have yet to conquer it which shouldn’t be this hard to do.
As we continue onto track 13 “Trust No One (prod. BOGER)”, King Midas starts right off the bat telling us to trust nobody, and keep your wits about you with every endeavor. The dark atmosphere on the production brings forward King Midas’ message of earning someone's trust and independently providing for yourself. As we’re met with the next track “Black Knights (prod. BOGER)”, King Midas exudes power on this track of conquering the enemy and giving us a refreshing and empowering feeling. While slowly moving into “Theatrics (prod. BOGER)”, a darker tone is set through BOGER’s textured production and King Midas’ bars that remind us that he’s constantly working for what he wants, and upping his game to the next level.
As we close off the album with the final track “Killuminati Pt. II feat. T.S. Mr. Northern Touch (prod. DJ Radiohead)”, we’re met with a blissful beat and haunting/filtered violin strings taking us back a century. King Midas touches on the heavy topic of the secret society we all question, while T.S. Mr. Northern Touch gives us his Andre 3000-like flow, he touches on the same topic that brings another stimulating aspect to the track. Ending off with jazzy saxophone, the “M.I.D.A.S.” album took us on quite the journey. From heavy topics to lights topics of pleasure and confidence, we can see why King Midas’ has such an extensive following. Make sure you take a listen to the conceptual project that is King Midas’ “M.I.D.A.S.”.
Listen to "M.I.D.A.S." here.
Hey King Midas, welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re blown away by your songwriting skills with each track on your album “M.I.D.A.S.”. Is there any one message that you want listeners to take away from the project’s entirety?
The one message I want listeners to take away from this album is to always stand your ground and no matter what happens in your life keep fighting the good fight cause that's how I look at life I look at it as a continuous war or battle that for the most part starts from the day you were born to the day you die. Life to me is the most challenging form of existence because there are so many hardships, struggles, and obstacles that god throws your way just to test you and your strength and faith in him.
Speaking on your album “M.I.D.A.S.”, King Midas and a variety of producers shaped each song to have a Brooklyn-infused, nostalgic atmosphere to each beat. Is this the atmosphere you we’re striving for? Why did you want to bring a nostalgic aspect to almost all the tracks?
Well for one I'm inspired mostly by the 90's style of hip hop so that is something that will always be near and dear to my heart. As far as what I was striving for. I was just experimenting with different sounds just to see what works best for me. It turned out that the futuristic sound is what I sounded the best over out of all the sounds I came across. As far as the nostalgia I'm inspired mostly by the 90's style of hip hop. I feel like I'm cut from the cloth of emcees like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, Big L, MF Doom, and the Wu-Tang clan.
Within your album “M.I.D.A.S.”, King Midas raps on a variety of topics, and what grasped our attention we’re the darker and truthful topics. Is there any track, in particular, that’s message personally stood out like no other on your album “M.I.D.A.S.”?
For me, it was lost pages with my homie DC20. Even though ambition is my favorite song on the whole album I think the message of the lost page stood out the most because of the theory behind the song and that theory is that human beings and society as a whole are lost. And what I mean by "lost" is that the majority of people in society today have not only fallen from god but they actually believe the lies that the media feeds them like fake news propaganda and blue pill sources like movies & TV shows instead of trying to seek truth by educating themselves more. Its almost as if they want or feel comfortable with being ignorant and it caused a lot of hate and confusion in the world of North America especially.
We’ve heard that after quitting rap at 19 and finding yourself out of school, you decided to make a comeback to the industry. Has King Midas noticed any change after your hiatus? Do you approach writing the same or have a few things evolved since then?
As a rapper I haven't changed much aside from the fact that I'm more serious about the craft then I was when I was in my late teens. I'm certain that this is what I want to do with my life long term and I have dedicated myself to this genre of music every day.
What can we expect to see next from you?
Aside from quarantine right now I'm just experimenting with different ideas for my next project but you should expect my video I did for tha ville which is about the hood I grew up in soon like around august or so.