BMI affiliated, American recording artist and music producer Jon “Thousand Times” King is releasing his debut album entitled “Road Maps”. But if you think ‘debut’ means a music business freshman, think again. Jon King has created Lift Off Music Group a niche record label that specializes in music publishing, event planning, brand development and music production.
The creation of the ‘Lift Off Music Group’ empire was supported by multi-millionaire Michael Gilchirst in 2013. King is involved in all the business aspects of operating a profitable record label. He works with countless independent artists, enters into television and film licensing, as well as tours internationally with the biggest acts in show business. Born in Brooklyn New York, with a Matawan, New Jersey upbringing, King is currently resident in Charlotte.
Jon “Thousand Times” King’s apparent need to push his boundaries further, and by extension push music and the hip-hop culture’s boundaries further, is exactly how we end up with an album like “Road Maps”. In many ways “Road Maps” is more of a manifesto, a concept, than an album.
It’s a project intended to be thought about and discussed, not just listened to and enjoyed. That doesn’t mean that we’re entirely in unexplored territory though; King brings along plenty of sonic baggage that is easy on the ear. This richly satisfying and astringent debut album turns the focus on King’s immense talent, but also allows quite a few others to shine. Showing why he may be one of the most exciting and unpredictable music makers working in underground urban music today.
Not shy of using plenty of electronica in his beats, King shows off all sorts of vocal talents, as the tracks moves between soulful crooning and effervescent rapping, and from pop to hip-hop. It’s an intensely powerful record, comprising ten songs of unfiltered electricity.
From the rugged, gravelly voiced rapping of the opening track, “Power”, to the thumping percussion of “Comfortable”, and then the oblique keyboard sound on “Coming Home”, supplies a fair taste of Jon “Thousand Times” King’s uniqueness.
“Covisur” switches into a completely new sonic atmosphere, with growling synths and falsetto voices. “Day and Night” offers some more twisted electronica and a laidback flow. “Money On Trees” again steps out of the listener’s comfort zone, as the album takes another left turn focusing on a female rapper.
The formula is replicated on “Oreo”, just in case you didn’t get it the first time around. The title track, “Roadmaps”, displays all of King’s lush grandiosity with a mesmerizing beat and changing voices taking turns at the song’s helm. It is my favorite track, together with “Comfortable”, which exhibits some excellent rapping skills.
Consumers of popular music want their artists to demonstrate familiarity and allegiance to the trends of the time, but Jon “Thousand Times” King won’t have any of it. Preferring to challenge mainstream assumptions, his tracks are like aural expressionist paintings. And in case you’re wondering how to appreciate ‘expressionist’ music. It’s simple…you just need to LISTEN!
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