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Kool Keith

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Kool Keith <tr style="text-align: center;"><td colspan="3">Kool Keith (right) with Dan the Automator (left)
Kool Keith (right) with Dan the Automator (left)
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Background information

<tr><td>Birth name</td><td colspan="2">Keith Matthew Thornton</td></tr><tr><td>Also known as</td><td colspan="2">various</td></tr><tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">Around 1964</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">Hip-hop</td></tr><tr><td>Occupation(s)</td><td colspan="2">MC, Producer</td></tr><tr><td>Instrument(s)</td><td colspan="2">Vocals, Rapping, Keyboards, Bass, Vox Organ</td></tr><tr><td textalign="top" style="padding-right: 1em;">Associated
acts</td><td colspan="2">Ultramagnetic MC's
Analog Brothers
Ultra
Cenobites
Masters of Illusion
TOMC3
KHM
Princess Superstar</td></tr><tr><td>Website</td><td colspan="2">koolkeith.co.uk</td></tr>

Keith Matthew Thornton (born c. 1964), better known as Kool Keith, is an American hip hop artist and record producer.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Career

An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MCs, Thornton is best known as a solo rapper. His signature style is stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow and complex vocals, two skills that earn him a perennial nod from the underground hip-hop community. The average Kool Keith album is peppered with bizarre, disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, as well as major record labels.

Thornton's early career and lyrics with the Ultramagnetic MCs often referenced his time as a patient of Bellevue, a psychiatric hospital, where he was treated for depression. Keith later claimed that his claims to having been a mental patient in Bellevue were only inside jokes which he perpetrated on a far too gullible media. (Claims of Keith Matthew Thornton being committed to Bellevue have not been authenticated) With Ultramagnetic, his abstract style developed, maturing in songs like "Poppa Large." He was probably the first rapper to create an alter ego, and then create an alter ego for that alter ego (Kool Keith v. Moe Luv). After Ultramagnetic broke up, he expanded his resume, experimenting with new styles, including spacey acid rap and his self-described "pornocore," known for pornographic imagery and brutal, abstract lyrics. Sex Style released in 1997, was the showcase for this genre.

Teaming up with Dan "the Automator" Nakamura under the name Dr. Octagon, Thornton again reinvented his image, recording the self-titled Dr. Octagon album (later reissued under the title Dr. Octagonecologyst) which was released by the English trip hop label Mo' Wax. The album received critical acclaim, though mainly from sources outside the mainstream hip-hop community. The critical success of the album helped to open the accessibility of the underground hip hop scene to an appreciative audience. The album is considered a landmark in the acid rap genre. For the Automator, this album laid the foundation for a burgeoning career and accolades as a producer; for Thornton, the success of Octagonecologyst seemed to put him in danger of being typecast as a "space and Mars" rapper, or an industry tool, which he throughout his career has looked down upon.

His style as a whole is characterized by non sequiturs and bizarre commentary, particularly anal, fecal and genital references. For example, "Chief administrator suck my oil," "Dr. Ludicrous I turn into an octopus," "All this jealousy shit is mayonnaise and celery shit," "Two drinks minimum, don't worry, we're maximum," etc. An instrumental version of the album, Instrumentalyst, showcased the production, became a rising success with most of the credit given to the Automator and other collaborators, even though Thornton is credited on the LP with some production duties.

Frustrated with the limits of his new image, Thornton abandoned the "Octagon" character, who was literally killed off in the introduction to his next album, First Come First Served, by his new persona Dr. Dooom. Perhaps as a jab at Instrumentalyst's success, he released an instrumental version of this and other post-Octagon albums.

While Octagonecologyst was many fans' first taste of his style, still others discovered him on The Prodigy's 1997 album The Fat of the Land. Long time fans, the Prodigy invited Thornton to supply the lyrics on "Diesel Power" after they used a sample from Ultramagnetic that became the lyrics and title for their (soon-to-be) hit "Smack My Bitch Up." Thornton sued Prodigy for failing to clear the sample, claiming he no longer used the misogynist language and imagery he did at that time. Previously, Prodigy frontman Liam Howlett had sampled Thornton's lyric "Pay close attention, I'll take your brain to another dimension" (on the single "Out Of Space") without incident.

Released simultaneously with the independent First Come First Served was the major-label effort Lost in Space, which featured Keith finding yet another persona in Black Elvis. While the Dr. Dooom record was produced with the minimalist beats and production work of Kutmasta Kurt, Lost In Space featured much more complex lyrical stylings and deeper, multi-layered tracks developed by a host of collaborators. The dichotomy lead to something of a division between Keith's long-time fans: many regard the minimalist work with Kutmaster Kurt (e.g. Sex Style, First Come First Served, and the later Matthew) to be the authentic Kool Keith, while others, longing for a return to the deeper and more complex work on Octagonecologyst and Black Elvis, were disappointed with what they considered to be mediocre, or even shoddy work.

In 2000, Thornton released Matthew, which included the widely-cited anti-label rant "Test Press", lambasting mainstream rap record labels as being "white" and damning them for manipulating groups, artistic decisions, and profits. Subsequent collaborations have included Masters of Illusion, Clayborne Family, the Analog Brothers and his current effort (as of 2004) with Thee Undatakerz, who have collaborated with members of the Wu Tang Clan to produce the soundtrack to Blade: Trinity. Thornton also appeared with ODB on the compilation album WWF Aggression, on a song featured as a tribute to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar Mankind. He is also a well-known favorite of Princess Superstar, and has collaborated with her on several tracks.

In early 2006, Thornton contributed to a track for former Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton's Peeping Tom album (released June 30, 2006).

Thornton played Crazy Lou, a gun dealer and former Marine who was, "dishonorably discharged for sexual misconduct with a deadly weapon," in Prince Paul's "hip-hopera" A Prince Amongst Thieves.

Thornton's next single was expected to be named "Break U Off" with Kutmasta Kurt and appeared on the Kool Keith and Kutmasta Kurt Album "Diesel Truckers."

September 2006 sees Thornton bringing his popular Dr. Octagon character back to life with The Return of Dr Octagon album, produced by trio One Watt Sun. An Ultramagnetic MCs reunion is also forthcoming, both of which are discussed in his cover feature interview with The Wire magazine (Sept 06 issue).

[edit] Trivia

  • Thornton is often credited with playing bass on his tracks in album liner notes (among other roles), and was pictured with bass in hand on the back of the Black Elvis album.
  • He has stated in an interview that his favorite rhyme is "voodoo/doodoo."[citation needed]

[edit] Discography

[edit] With Ultramagnetic MCs

[edit] With Ultra (Kool Keith and Tim Dog)

[edit] As Dr. Octagon

[edit] With Cenobites (Kool Keith and Godfather Don)

  • The Cenobites (1996)

[edit] As Dr. Dooom

[edit] With Analog Brothers

[edit] As Kool Keith

[edit] With Kutmasta Kurt

  • Diesel Truckers (2004)
  • Diesel Truckers: Instrumental (2004)

[edit] With Masters of Illusion (Kool Keith and Motion Man)

[edit] With Thee Undatakerz

  • Kool Keith Presents Thee Undatakerz (2004)

[edit] With KHM

[edit] As Mr. Nogatco

[edit] With TOMC3

[edit] Performance Aliases

Keith Matthew Thornton is his real name. Known for creating a gang of characters, Keith has written and performed under many pseudonyms.

This list is taken from KoolKeith.Co.Uk.[2][3]

  • KOOL KEITH: His rapper name.
  • KEITH TURBO: He used this alias for the Keith Turbo track from the Black Elvis/Lost In Space LP.
  • KEITH TELEVASQUEZ: He used this alias on Clifton with Motion Man on the Black Elvis/Lost In Space LP.
  • KEITH KORG: His Analog Brothers alias.
  • MATTHEW: Keith’s middle name and alias for a full LP.
  • DR. SPERM: Known to be his first alias as a rapper.
  • DR. OCTAGON: C’mon, you know this one.
  • DR. ULTRA: He was Dr. Ultra in the “Five Deadly Venoms” Sprite commercials.
  • DR. DOOOM: He created this character with sick rhymes and a goal of killing Dr. Octagon.
  • BLACK ELVIS: Dr. Dooom’s twin. Created for the Columbia Records album.
  • POPPA LARGE: He’s Poppa Large, big shot on the East Coast.
  • MR. GREEN: He used this alias on the back cover of Ultra’s Big Time LP.
  • MR. GERBIK: The dangerous 208 year old uncle of Dr. Octagon. Half Shark-Alligator, Half Man.
  • MR. ORANGE: This was one of his characters in the Livin’ Astro video.
  • MC BALDYLOCKS: Unknown right now.
  • THE FOURTH HORSEMAN: He considered himself The Fourth Horseman on the Ultramagnetic MC’s Four Horsemen LP.
  • BLONDE MAN: He referred to himself as Blonde Man in the liner notes of the Black Elvis/Lost In Space LP.
  • CLEAN MAN: This was an alias he used back when HipHopSite.com ran KoolKeith.com.
  • SHARK MAN: Another name for Mr. Gerbik.
  • ELEPHANT MAN: From 1996 to 1998 he always said he planned on releasing an album under the alias Elephant Man.
  • ALIEN MAN: This was an alias he used back when HipHopSite.com ran KoolKeith.com.
  • JIMMY STEELE: He referred to himself as Jimmy Steele in the liner notes of the Black Elvis/Lost In Space LP.
  • WILLIE BIGGS: He used this alias in the track Still The Best from the Sex Style LP. He also used it on the back cover of Ultra’s Big Time LP.
  • BIG WILLIE SMITH: He released a limited EP with the Beat Terrorists under this alias.
  • WILLIE NATURAL: This was an alias he used back when HipHopSite.com ran KoolKeith.com.
  • REVEREND TOM: He first used this alias on the track Fat Lady from Ultra’s Big Time LP and later used it on Thee Undatakerz LP.
  • MIKE STANLEY: He uses this alias in DJ Spooky's Riddim Warfare LP.
  • LARRY LOPEZ: He used this name with Heather Hunter for “Toot Toot Hey Beep Beep”.
  • THE X: He used this name on the inside cover of the Ultramagnetic MC’s Four Horsemen LP.
  • RHYTHM X: He first used this alias in the track Funk Radio from Ultramagnetic MC’s Funk Your Head Up LP.
  • X-CALIBER: He first used this alias in the track Funk Radio from Ultramagnetic MC’s Funk Your Head Up LP.
  • X-74: He used this alias in the song Kick a Dope Verse by the Cenobites
  • FLY RICKY THE WINE TASTER: This was an alias he used back when HipHopSite.com ran KoolKeith.com.
  • RICO FROM PUERTO RICO: This was an alias he used back when HipHopSite.com ran KoolKeith.com.
  • FUNK IGNITER PLUS: He first used this alias in the track Funk Radio from Ultramagnetic MC’s Funk Your Head Up LP, and he still uses this alias.
  • ROBBIE ANALOG: He used this alias to make fun of the RZA on the inside cover of Dr. Dooom’s LP.
  • SINISTER 6000: He used this alias on Automator’s A Better Tomorrow.
  • CRAZY LOU: He Used this name as the guns and ammo salesman in Weapon World from Prince Paul’s A Prince Among Thieves.
  • LONNIE HENDREX: This was one of his characters in the Livin’ Astro video.
  • LIGHT BLUE COP: This was one of his characters in the Livin’ Astro video.
  • THE KID IN THE COMMERCIAL: This was one of his characters in the Livin’ Astro video.
  • JOE KINGPIN: He used this alias in the track Still The Best from the Sex Style LP.
  • BLACK LINEN: He used this alias in the track Silk Suit, Black Linen from the Masters of Illusion LP. Motion Man was Silk Suit.
  • ELVIN PRESLEY: He gave away cards at concerts. The cards had a picture of him with the name Elvin Presley.
  • DELI BOY: He was called Deli Boy in the comedy/porn “Sex For Life Too”.
  • SK8 JOHNSON: He used this alias in the Bootleg Skater videos.
  • PLATNINUM RICH: One the Diesel Truckers, along with The Funky Redneck.
  • EXOTRON GEIGER COUNTER ONE PLUS MEGOTRON: He used this alias on Marley Marl In Control in 1989. He also used a longer version. He also used this alias in Ultramagnetic MC’s track Traveling At The Speed Of Thought.
  • ACTIVITY: This was his name when he was with the NYC Breakers
  • EXXON: He gave away cards at concerts. The cards had a picture of him with the name Exxon.
  • CAPTAIN KOOL: This was an alias he was supposed to use according to Liveonerecords.com.
  • CAPTAIN BLACK: This was an alias he was supposed to use according to Liveonerecords.com.
  • EXOTRON GEIGER COUNTER ONE GAMA PLUS SEQUENCER: He used this alias on Marley Marl In Control in 1989. He also used a shorter version.
  • ROBERT PERRY: He used this alias for the track Robert Perry from his Lost Masters LP.
  • JOHN CLAYBORNE COUSIN OF JIMMY HICKS: He used this alias on the Clayborne Family LP with Marc Live and Jacky Jasper.
  • MR. NOGATCO: Released an album under this name with Izreal.
  • TASHAN DORRSETT: Supposed to release an album under this name with DJ Junkaz Lou.
  • NAQUAN aka UNDERWEAR PISSY: Alias on the NEW Ultramagnetic MC's album, "The Best Kept Secret".

[edit] External links

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