Marcus Porter Charts His Own Course on New Single “King of Pirates”

Wisconsin-based hip-hop artist and producer Marcus Porter turns uncertainty into momentum on his latest single, “King of Pirates,” the first glimpse into his forthcoming project, The Path: Dreaming.

Produced by longtime friend Jase Beats, “King of Pirates” draws inspiration from One Piece, using the pursuit of becoming King of the Pirates as a larger metaphor for finding purpose without having a perfect roadmap. For Porter, that idea mirrors the realities of building an independent career, where no two artists reach their destination the same way.

Rather than treating uncertainty as failure, Porter makes it part of the adventure. The track revolves around trusting your individual strengths, resisting the temptation to follow someone else's blueprint, and continuing forward even when the destination isn't entirely clear. His connection between the unique abilities found throughout One Piece and an artist discovering what separates them from everyone else gives the song a personal foundation beneath its pop-culture inspiration.

Porter's delivery matches that confidence. The record balances introspection with an energetic edge, particularly during its third verse, where he loosens the reins and plays with the alphabet while slipping into a more spontaneous flow.

The collaboration with Jase Beats also marks a notable departure for Porter, who typically produces his own music. Their history dating back to college gives the track an added significance as the opening chapter of The Path: Dreaming.

Since beginning his public music career in 2019, Porter has steadily built a catalog around perseverance, purpose, and self-discovery. He's also earned consecutive Wisconsin Area Music Industry recognition, including being named 2026 WAMI Rap Performer of the Year after previously winning for “Celebration” in 2025.

With “King of Pirates,” Porter isn't pretending to have the journey figured out. That's precisely the point. It's a confident reminder that sometimes finding your own way forward is more important than having a map.

“King of Pirates” uses One Piece as a metaphor for finding purpose. What was it about that story that felt so closely connected to your own journey as an independent artist?

With KOP, everyone in Luffy’s crew is on their own self-discovery mission while also looking for the “One Piece,” something few people have seen, and there aren’t really instructions for how to get there. Rap feels like that for me. I’m still looking for my crew while continuing to grow, and like Luffy, I want to be the best. I don’t really care who’s in front of me, but I also want to make sure my people are good along the way.

You’ve said there’s no linear path or clear map for building a career in music. What have you learned about trusting yourself when the original plan doesn’t work out?

In music, there isn’t one certain route to whatever you consider success. Especially in hip-hop and rap, there’s never really been a clear-cut path. I’ve learned to go with the flow and trust my instincts in the music and art world. Shows go sideways, sessions don’t always go as planned, and life happens. I just adjust and keep moving forward, while keeping music as something that helps me do that.

You typically produce your own music, but “King of Pirates” was produced by your longtime friend Jase Beats. How did giving someone else control of the production change the way you approached the record?

Jase is a college friend who studied music production as I did, and we always talked about working together. He showed me some beats one day, and I grabbed a few that I liked. I knew he cared about music the way I did, so it made it easy to pick something and just vibe. I still handled all of my recording since we were in different cities, but working with him was always a no-brainer. I’ve actually got a few more songs produced by him too.

The third verse finds you experimenting with flows and playing with the alphabet. How important is leaving room for spontaneity and pure fun when so much of your songwriting is rooted in deeper themes?

The third verse is still rooted in the same themes, but honestly, I just wanted to rap and caught a clever flow state. Using the alphabet was something I had always wanted to do without making it feel corny. That’s why after E, I started basing the rhyme around the next letter coming and using a word that started with that letter while still tying everything back to my own experiences.

“King of Pirates” is the first glimpse into The Path: Dreaming. What does this song establish about the story, sound, or mindset listeners can expect from the larger project?

KOP establishes that I’m entering a new era of my music. There’s been growth in my skill set, but more than anything, it feels like a more refined version of Marcus. With The Path: Dreaming, I’m building a world that I want other people to be a part of, walk through, and feel connected to. KOP is really the first glimpse into that world and the mindset behind it.