A Conversation with Rapper, Audio Engineer, and Producer Miguel Ducos

If there’s one thing you should know about Philadelphia, it’s that it is absolutely teeming with talent. From the mural artists making Philly the most prolific city in the Mural Arts Program, to the players at Walnut Street and Ash Theatre companies bringing Broadway to Broad Street, Philadelphia houses more than its fair share of talented folks, running the gamut of the arts.

One area that particularly caught my interest upon moving here seven years ago was Philly’s colorful, innovative, inclusive, and passionate music scene. Post-punk and hardcore bands have long had a foothold here, as well as hip-hop icons like Meek Mill, and now a new era has emerged — the era of the young Philadelphia rappers, who also work as DJs, audio engineers, and producers, that are lighting up the area’s nightlife and underground club scene week after week, night after night.

I recently connected with one of these multitalented individuals — a local Philadelphia rapper, audio engineer, and musician who writes all of his own music, Miguel Ducos, and was instantly drawn to his signature musical style – Puerto Rican flare meets the polished-yet-gritty toughness of Philadelphia’s hip-hop scene, creating an atmospheric soundscape that lets his clever lyrics shine over bassed-down, uptempo beats.

Recently, Miguel and I met to discuss his music (and where he plans to go from here). It went a little something like this —

Miguel Ducos sets the tempo on his musical career

Miguel and I began our conversation with the basics — “What made you get into music, anyhow?”

He answered with passionate fervor, “Honestly, looking back, it isn’t just a single moment in time — there isn’t a moment where I’m able to pin point one exact thing where I was like ‘AH! This is when!’ I remember my mom was heavy on keeping me around music and church growing up, when we were bouncing around state to state, place to place when I was a kid. My love for (music) though, the true love, is the pure dancing and salsa music my grandparents played when I used to live in Puerto Rico with them. And then, fast-forward and I end up in middle school meeting my future brother and best friend, Nicky Ra. When we met, we’d free style for hours, days, in my mama’s basement so we didn’t bother her with the noise. Or like in my car I had in high school at North Penn. for quite some time. Once college hit, I was honestly depressed though, because I was somewhat forced to pursue a college education for business administration and management.  My mom was always business oriented, and so whenever I was around her and her business partners it stuck with me —  I picked up business from an early age. I felt it naturally. And schooling was so I could try and figure this whole thing out. But, when it came to writing music, rapping, that’s what I wanted to do. At ESU, especially. After a, thankfully, failed attempt at suicide, I actually found myself at peace at the psychiatric hospital. I had one thing to do, and one thing only, and that was to write and be in my thoughts for quite sometime.  So after all that, I dropped out of college, and decided I was going to take a year to hone my musical skills, and pursue my musical career. And here we are in 2023 — I think it’s safe to say I made the best decision I could’ve by staying alive, pursuing my dreams and saying to the world, ‘This is why I do what I do. Because I love it, it’s my therapy and my muse.’ Music is literally my saving grace.  And at this point in life, having had individuals tell me my music has ‘changed their life,’ why would I stop?“

I was floored by his response, honestly, because the passion for music runs so deep within him. Wondering how I could possibly follow that up (because that was possibly one of the best answers I’ve ever received during an interview), we then got into some of the more rapid-fire questions:

Q: How would you describe your musical style to someone who hasn’t listened yet?

A: My influences are mainly Spanish, Hip-Hop, and Rap. When I meet people and they ask me, I say I’m “if J. Cole, Travis Scott, Kanye, and Marc Anthony dumped all their styles into a pot, mixed in Miguel Ducos, then you get me!”

Q: What track are you most excited for people to hear on the upcoming album, ‘Be Glad I Made It’?

A: For sure ‘Salsa En Botswana’! And ‘Holy Holy Holy’.  ‘Salsa En Botswana’ is when I’m trying to mix both of my family heritages, being mixed half Black and Puerto Rican, with Spanish singing, and a smoother flow. And ‘Holy Holy Holy’ is for my ragers — I’m telling you, everyone’s gonna sing this!

Q: What track are you most proud of from your career thus far?

A: Honestly, ‘Views From The 215’ is what got me on the map, and ‘Who Over Us?’ helped carry me over to this point in my musical career, along with my EP, ‘Takeover Season’, which I released this past March.

Q: Is there anything else you want people to know about you as an artist, or as a person?

A: Don’t let my social media fool you (hah). One, no one’s perfect, I’ve gotten some weird messages from people talking to me like I’m not on standing on the same earth as them — makes me feel weird. Two, when I make it big…. I just hope people see me as an example to just believe in themselves against all odds — even when the whole world is against you, you stand up and you say,“no, the world’s wrong.”

Q: Where can people listen to your latest music, and when can they expect more to drop?

A: Spotify, Apple Music, and all platforms! Just look up “Miguel Ducos” and tap into my discography.  You won’t be disappointed with the very diverse sound — I promise!

Miguel Ducos is one to watch — full of talent, passion, and drive, this Philadelphia-area rapper is going places. You just have to keep up.

Xoxo,

MM.