‘Kings’ Is the Uplifting Anthem Men Need Right Now
Producer Kosine joins forces with Idris Elba to help Black men push through difficult times
“This isn’t a single; this is audio healing,” Marcos “Kosine” Palacios tells me of his new song, “Kings.” “You can put this song on and just breathe through stress.”
As half of Grammy-nominated duo, Da Internz, Kosine produced hits like Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake,” Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda,” Big Sean’s “Dance,” and most recently, Kelly Rowland’s “Coffee.” “Kings,” though, represents a departure, both in tone and intent: The soul-rap ballad, which features Idris Elba, functions as an anthem for Black men in these uncertain times.
“Kings are falling every day,” sings Kosine, “and kings are rising just the same.” Given the state of the world — the Covid-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on Black and Brown folks, the lynching-style murder of Georgia resident Ahmaud Arbery, the massive socioeconomic fallout — an otherwise simple lyric takes on tragic resonance.
“As Black men, we are going to struggle. But we also have to figure ourselves out right now. Everyone doesn’t get to survive times like these.”
It’s even more fitting, then, that the producer has dedicated the song to his sons and late father. (Teodoro Palacios Flores, who died last summer, was a Guatemalan high jumper who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and is considered a national hero.) “I’m quarantined in the studio, and I’m letting my soul pour out,” Kosine says. “My dad is a whole king in a whole other country. I have three kids — two boys and a girl — now it’s legacy time. Every piece of this song is from my heart and my soul to the world.” Below, Palacios discusses his new song and how it resonates so deeply for him.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
LEVEL: What motivated you to release this song now?
Marcos “Kosine” Palacios: I wanted to do my part. It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, too. I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression; I know what it is to be in a dark space. Through melody and words, I wanted to help make people healthier.
