Back in Action (EP)
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{{Infobox album
| name = Back in Action
| type = EP
| artist = Midwxst
| cover = Back in action midwxst.jpeg
| alt = A black-and-white photograph of a man jumping over a turnstile.
| border =
| caption = Standard cover{{efn|The deluxe edition cover features a colorized version of the same image}}
| released = September 21, 2021
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip-hop
| length = 20:33
| label = {{hlist|Simple Stupid|Geffen}}
| producer = * Benjicold
- Elxnce
- Ezra
- FortuneSwan
- Jaasu
- Midwxst
- Mochila
- Outtatown
- Rio Leyva
- Roy Lenzo
- Star Boy
- Toba
- Vvspipes
- Zetra
| prev_title = Summer03
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Better Luck Next Time
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Back in Action
| type = ep
| single1 = Made It Back
| single1date = July 21, 2021
| single2 = Tic Tac Toe
| single2date = August 11, 2021
| single3 = All Talk
| single3date = August 25, 2021
}}
}}
Back in Action is the third extended play (EP) by the American singer and rapper Midwxst. It was released by Simple Stupid and Geffen Records on September 21, 2021, as his first release with the labels after emerging in the 2020 digicore scene. He had the goal of creating a more rap-focused release so he could play the music at his live shows to encourage mosh pits and having fun. Inspired by various musicians, he produced the EP along with a variety of record producers. It contains guest appearances from Tana, Slump6s, Ericdoa, and Kashdami.
Back in Action is an energetic hip-hop EP. Certain tracks were compared to albums like The Life of Pablo (2016) and Whole Lotta Red (2020) by Pitchfork, and the EP pushed Midwxst further into the mainstream. The EP received a positive review from Pitchfork and gained further approval from HotNewHipHop. Back in Action was supported by three singles and a tour across North America during October and November 2021. A deluxe edition, titled Back in Action 2.0, was released in December 2021, with four additional tracks.
Background and recording
Midwxst emerged as an artist during the digicore scene in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Kellman |first=Andy |title=Midwxst songs, albums, reviews, bio & more |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/midwxst-mn0004096781 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202231842/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/midwxst-mn0004096781 |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |publisher=AllMusic}} He released his second extended play (EP), Summer03, in March 2021,{{Cite web |last=Darville |first=Jordan |date=September 22, 2021 |title=Listen to midwxst's new EP Back In Action |url=https://www.thefader.com/2021/09/22/listen-to-midwxsts-new-ep-back-in-action |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923005153/https://www.thefader.com/2021/09/22/listen-to-midwxsts-new-ep-back-in-action |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=The Fader}} and signed with Geffen Records in June 2021.{{Cite web |last=Seabrook III |first=Robby |date=October 27, 2021 |title=The Break Presents – Midwxst |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/midwxst-interview-the-break/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027172216/https://www.xxlmag.com/midwxst-interview-the-break/ |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=XXL}} Though he is often classified as a hyperpop artist, he thinks that the label is overused, and fans will classify his pop or rap songs as hyperpop.{{Cite web |last=Jolley |first=Ben |date=September 27, 2021 |title=Five things we learned from our In Conversation video chat with midwxst |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/midwxst-interview-2021-3053502 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009032831/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/midwxst-interview-2021-3053502 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=NME}} On Back in Action, he had the goal of creating a more rap-focused release, as well as making music that could be played at live shows. He did not want to only sing sad songs live, and instead wanted to see audience members create mosh pits and have fun. He was influenced by rappers such as XXXTentacion, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Denzel Curry to create energetic and aggressive music. Some songs on Back in Action were also inspired by musicians like Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, and Skrillex.{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=Joe |date=October 21, 2021 |title=Back in Action: midwxst Interviewed |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/back-in-action-midwxst-interviewed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021152126/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/back-in-action-midwxst-interviewed/ |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Clash}} Production on the EP was handled by a variety of record producers, including Midwxst himself,{{Cite web |title=Back in Action / Midwxst / Credits |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/197708487/credits |url-status=live |access-date=January 12, 2025 |publisher=Tidal}} and contains guest appearances from Tana, Slump6s, Ericdoa, and Kashdami. Midwxst described the studio session where he recorded the EP track "Slide" with Slump6s and Ericdoa as "one of the funniest studio sessions [he has] ever been in". He also named "Slide", along with "Tic Tac Toe", as standout tracks in his discography.
Composition
Back in Action is a hip-hop{{Cite web |last=Goldner |first=Sam |date=September 22, 2021 |title=Midwxst: Back in Action EP Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/midwxst-back-in-action-ep/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922133132/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/midwxst-back-in-action-ep/ |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Pitchfork}} EP that "bridges the gap between hyperpop and hip-hop more than ever before", according to NME
Back in Action
Release and reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Pitchfork
}}Back in Action
Following its release, Back in Action received a positive review from Pitchfork. Goldner lauded Midwxst's ability to highlight the importance of SoundCloud rap to hyperpop, while maintaining the latter genre's charm. He also thought the EP pushed Midwxst further into the mainstream, and enjoyed hearing Midwxst mold "the current trends of hip-hop to fit his hyperactive vision". Though, Goldner felt the tracks "Made It Back" and "LA" limited the impact of Midwxst's vocals. Joe Hale of Clash also believed the EP was able to take Midwxst into the mainstream. Jiang thought the EP allowed him to cement "his spot as one of the most promising, addictive additions to hyperpop".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Back in Action track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 20:33
| title1 = Let It Rip
| length1 = 2:16
| writer1 = {{hlist|Edgar Nathaniel Sarratt III|James Addison}}
| extra1 = Benjicold
| title2 = All Talk
| length2 = 3:06
| writer2 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Logan Cartwright|Tobias Dekker|Anton Martin Mendo}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Elxnce|Midwxst|Outtatown|Star Boy}}
| title3 = Putting On
| note3 = featuring Tana
| length3 = 2:25
| writer3 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Addison|Steven D. Lewis}}
| extra3 = Benjicold
| title4 = Tic Tac Toe
| length4 = 2:58
| writer4 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Michael Pieper|}}
| extra4 = Vvspipes
| title5 = Star
| length5 = 2:03
| writer5 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Pieper}}
| extra5 = Vvspipes
| title6 = Slide
| note6 = with Slump6s and featuring Ericdoa
| length6 = 2:57
| writer6 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Namil Bridges|Alain Cartaya|Rio Francesco Leyva|Eric Lopez|Liam Magrini|Pieper|Ricardo Rodriguez}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|FortuneSwan|Leyva|Mochila|Vvspipes|Zetra}}
| title7 = Made It Back
| length7 = 1:40
| writer7 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Cartwright|Roy Lenzo|Isa Nasir Al-Deen Perkins}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Elxnce|Lenzo|Toba}}
| title8 = LA
| note8 = featuring Kashdami
| length8 = 3:08
| writer8 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Ezra Abbey|Jaasu Mallory}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Ezra|Jaasu|}}
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Back in Action 2.0 track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 34:12
| title9 = Chowder
| length9 = 3:38
| writer9 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Jordan Ortiz|Konstantin Pyzhov|Nelida Yew}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Kimchi|Nest|Oogie Mane}}
| title10 = Off the Wall
| length10 = 2:09
| writer10 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Malikai Temesgen}}
| extra10 = Malikaix8
| title11 = Transformer
| note11 = featuring Onlybino! and Xhulooo
| length11 = 4:26
| writer11 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Arturo LaMotta|Demar McCrew|Temesgen}}
| extra11 = Malikaix8
| title12 = No Smoke
| note12 = featuring DC the Don
| length12 = 3:26
| writer12 = {{hlist|Sarratt III|Daijon Cotty Davis|Xavier Deltomme|Christopher Taylor Morgan|Michael Santoni}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|4evr|Delto|Morgan}}
}}Notes
- "LA" stands for "Los Angeles".
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |title=Back in Action 2.0 / Midwxst / Credits |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/208227866/credits |publisher=Tidal |access-date=13 January 2025}}
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Standard edition
- Midwxst – vocals, recording, songwriting
- Mike Tucci – mastering
- Drew Sliger – mixing, engineering
- Benjicold – programming (1, 3), songwriting (1, 3), production (1, 3)
- Elxnce – programming (2, 7), songwriting (2, 7), production (2, 7)
- Outtatown – programming (2), songwriting (2), production (2)
- Star Boy – programming (2), songwriting (2), production (2)
- Tana – vocals (3), songwriting (3)
- Vvspipes – programming (5, 6), songwriting (4–6), production (4–6)
- FortuneSwan – programming (6), songwriting (6), production (6)
- Mochila – programming (6), songwriting (6), production (6)
- Rio Leyva – programming (6), songwriting (6), production (6)
- Zetra – programming (6), songwriting (6), production (6)
- Slump6s – vocals (6), songwriting (6)
- Ericdoa – vocals (6), songwriting (6)
- Roy Lenzo – programming (7), songwriting (7), production (7)
- Toba – programming (7), songwriting (7), production (7)
- Ezra – programming (8), songwriting (8), production (8)
- Jaasu – programming (8), songwriting (8), production (8)
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Deluxe edition
- Midwxst – vocals, recording, songwriting
- Mike Tucci – mastering
- Drew Sliger – mixing, engineering
- Kimchi – programming (9), songwriting (9), production (9)
- Nest – programming (9), songwriting (9), production (9)
- Oogie Mane – programming (9), songwriting (9), production (9)
- Malikaix8 – programming (10, 11), songwriting (10, 11), production (10, 11)
- Onlybino! – vocals (11), songwriting (11)
- Xhulooo – vocals (11), songwriting (11)
- 4evr – programming (12), songwriting (12), production (12)
- Delto – programming (12), songwriting (12), production (12)
- Taylor Morgan – programming (12), songwriting (12), production (12)
- DC the Don – vocals (12), songwriting (12)
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Release history
Notes
{{notelist}}