Kool Keith

{{Short description|American rapper and producer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kool Keith

| image = Kool Keith 2011 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Kool Keith performing in 2011

| birth_name = Keith Matthew Thornton

| alias = {{hlist|Dr. Octagon|Dr. Dooom|Black Elvis|Dr. Ultra|Crazy Lou|Robbie Analog|Poppa Large|Rhythm X|Keith Korg|Dicky Long Docking|Platinum Rich|Underwear Pissy|Number One Producer|Exotron Geiger Counter One Gamma Plus Sequencer}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|10|7}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| genre = Hip hop

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|producer}}

| discography = Kool Keith discography

| current_member_of= Ultramagnetic MCs

| years_active = 1984–present

| label = {{hlist|Bulk|Funky Ass|Ruffhouse|Columbia|Threshold|DMAFT|Insomniac|OCD International|Junkadelic|Mello (current)}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Ultramagnetic MCs|Godfather Don|Tim Dog|KutMasta Kurt|Dan the Automator|Analog Brothers|Masters of Illusion|Jacky Jasper|Thee Undatakerz|The Cenubites|Diesel Truckers|Peeping Tom|Yeah Yeah Yeahs|Chilly Chill|the Prodigy|Spazz|Princess Superstar|Nu:Tone|MF Doom}}

| website = {{twitter}}

| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes

| signature = Kool Keith signature.png

}}

}}

Keith Matthew Thornton (born October 7, 1963), better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper and record producer known for his surreal, abstract, and often profane or incomprehensible lyrics. Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is generally considered to be one of hip-hop's most eccentric and unusual personalities.{{cite web|last1=Barshad|first1=Amos|title=Kool Keith Is Lost in His Own Space|url=http://grantland.com/features/rap-greatest-weirdo-kool-keith-works-be-last-album/|website=Grantland|access-date=11 October 2014}}

Kool Keith was a cofounding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, whose debut Critical Beatdown was released in 1988. After two more albums with the group, Funk Your Head Up and The Four Horsemen, Kool Keith released his critically acclaimed solo debut album, Dr. Octagonecologyst, under the name Dr. Octagon in 1996. He subsequently released a series of further independently released hip hop albums, including Sex Style, First Come, First Served (as Dr. Dooom), and most recently Keith.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kool-keith-announces-new-album-keith|title=Kool Keith Announces New Album KEITH|publisher=Pitchfork|last=Yoo|first=Noah|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=August 2, 2019}}

After releasing only one album on a major label, Black Elvis/Lost in Space, Kool Keith subsequently returned to independently releasing music, producing further efforts as a solo artist and in collaboration with groups such as Analog Brothers, Masters of Illusion, Thee Undatakerz and Project Polaroid. Kool Keith has also made guest appearances in collaboration with Peeping Tom and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He was also featured on the short track DDT on Jurassic 5's album Power in Numbers.

The Prodigy's hit "Smack My Bitch Up" was based on a sample of Kool Keith's voice saying "Change my pitch up. Smack my bitch up" on Give The Drummer Some by Ultramagnetic MCs.

History

=Ultramagnetic MCs (1984–1993)=

Thornton began his career with the group Ultramagnetic MCs under the pseudonym Kool Keith in 1984. Four years later, their release of the album Critical Beatdown was critically acclaimed and later became recognized as widely influential for its innovative production, complex rhymes, and chopped sampling. Just after its release, Thornton was reportedly institutionalized in Bellevue Hospital Center.{{cite book |editor1=Brackett, Nathan |editor2=Hoard, Christian |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |chapter=Kool Keith |chapter-url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/koolkeith/biography |edition=fourth |year=2004 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/466 466–467] |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/466 }}{{cite book |last=Cooper |first=Sean |title=All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop |year=2003 |isbn=0-87930-759-5 |publisher=Backbeat Books |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/267 267–268] |chapter=Kool Keith |chapter-url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p200714|pure_url=yes}} |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/267 }} However, he later said that the idea that he was institutionalized came from a flippant remark made during an interview, and he never expected the story to become so well known.{{cite news|last=Downs |first=David|title=Kool Keith and KutMasta Kurt|newspaper=The A.V. Club|date=November 21, 2008|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/kool-keith-and-kutmasta-kurt-14335|access-date=2008-11-21}}

Ultramagnetic MCs would release two more albums (1992's Funk Your Head Up and 1993's The Four Horsemen) with little commercial success due to West Coast hip hop's changing landscape. They went on hiatus for years, leading Thorton to embark on a solo career.

=Dr. Octagon debuts (1995–1996)=

Thornton released his first notable solo single, "Earth People", in 1995, under the name Dr. Octagon. This was followed by the release of the concept album Dr. Octagonecologyst the following year. The album's production by Dan the Automator and Kutmasta Kurt, with scratching by DJ Qbert was acclaimed by critics, and the album was released nationally by DreamWorks Records in 1997, after an initial release on the smaller Bulk Recordings label (as, simply, Dr. Octagon) a year prior. Dr. Octagonecologyst was considered a departure from old school hip hop to abstract hip hop, with surrealistic, horror, science-fiction, and sexual themes.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dr-octagonecologyst-mw0000647337|title=Dr. Octagonecologyst – Dr. Octagon|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 26, 2013|last=Huey|first=Steve}} DreamWorks also issued an instrumental version of the album, titled Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats).

=Further releases (1996–2001)=

In 1996, Thornton collaborated with Tim Dog for the single "The Industry is Wack", performing under the name Ultra—the album Big Time soon followed. The following year, Thornton followed the release the sophomore album, Sex Style under the name Kool Keith. Being a dirty rap concept album, Thornton described it as "pornocore", filled with sexual metaphors to diss other rappers.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sex-style-r248878/review |title=Sex Style |author=Huey, Steve |date= |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=28 July 2011}} An instrumental version was also released.{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7nmtzsgs0G7CHaEZO1qdnn |title="Sex Style" Instrumentals |date=1996 |work=Funky Ass Records/Threshold Recordings |publisher=Spotify |accessdate=25 June 2023}} This year, a collaborative album with Godfather Don titled Cenobites, was released as an LP.

In 1999, he released the album First Come, First Served under the name "Dr. Dooom", in which the album's main character killed off Dr. Octagon on the album's opening track. The same year, on August 10, 1999, Thornton released Black Elvis/Lost in Space, under the major record labels Ruffhouse and Columbia. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #74 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #180 on the Billboard 200,{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r425836|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards Black Elvis/Lost in Space |access-date=2008-09-08 |website=AllMusic}} Despite standing out as Thornton's most commercially successful project to date, he was disappointed with the album's delays and promotional efforts, even though a promotional video was made for the lead single, "Livin' Astro", which aired on a few episodes of the MTV show Amp in early 2000. Its sequel, Black Elvis 2, was released in 2023.

On June 5, 2001, Thornton released the album Spankmaster on TVT and Gothom Records.{{cite book |title=All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop |year=2003 |isbn=0-87930-759-5 |publisher=Backbeat Books |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/160 160–163] |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/160 }} It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #11 on the Top Independent Albums chart and #48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r533100|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards for Spankmaster |access-date=2008-09-08 |website=AllMusic}} The album has yet to be on streaming.

=Collaborations (2000–2004)=

On July 25, 2000, Thornton released the album Matthew. It peaked at #47 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r490418|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards for Matthew |access-date=2008-09-08 |website=AllMusic}} The following month, Thornton collaborated with Ice-T, Marc Live, Black Silver and Pimp Rex for the album Pimp to Eat, under the group name Analog Brothers, with Keith performing as Keith Korg and Ice-T as Ice Oscillator. The album was re-released by Mello Music Group on streaming, CD, and LP in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/04/analog-brothers-kool-keith-ice-t-pimp-to-eat/|title=Analog Brothers Featuring Kool Keith, Ice-T, Pimp Rex, Black Silver and Marc Live Are Reissuing 'Pimp to Eat' - XXL|last=C.M.|first=Emmanuel|date=April 12, 2016|website=XXL|access-date=November 13, 2017}} Masters of Illusion, a collaboration with KutMasta Kurt and Motion Man, followed a few months later.

Thornton, Marc Live and H-Bomb formed the group KHM, releasing the album Game on November 19, 2002. They later changed their name to "Clayborne Family" by the release of their second album two years later. During the same year (2004) that Clayborne Family was released in, Kool Keith Presents Thee Undatakerz (with Reverend Tom (Kool Keith) Al Bury-U (BIG NONAME), M-Balmer and The Funeral Director) and Diesel Truckers, another collaboration with KutMasta Kurt.

=Second Dr. Octagon album (2002–2004)=

In 2002, Thornton began recording The Resurrection of Dr. Octagon with producer Fanatik J,{{cite news |first=Abbey |last=Goodman |title=All The Voices In Kool Keith's Head Working On New Albums |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453279/20020405/kool_keith.jhtml?headlines=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020814173539/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453279/20020405/kool_keith.jhtml?headlines=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2002 |publisher=MTV News |date=April 5, 2002 |access-date=13 December 2008 }}{{cite news|first=David |last=Downs |title=Kool Keith CD Scam Exposed |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/PrintFriendly?oid=291467 |newspaper=East Bay Express |date=September 27, 2006 |access-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227142441/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/PrintFriendly?oid=291467 |archive-date=27 February 2009 }} signing a contract with CMH Records to release the album, which was eventually completed without much input from Thornton, due to a falling out over contractual terms.

On October 12, 2004, Real Talk Entertainment issued the album Dr. Octagon Part 2. The album was discontinued by court order.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Octagon |url=https://www.bulkrecordings.com/artist/dr-octagon/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Bulk Recordings |language=en-US}} On June 27, The Return of Dr. Octagon was released by OCD International, an imprint of CMH, advertised as the official follow-up to Dr. Octagonecologyst. Some critics felt that it was not as good as its predecessor.{{cite web |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_06_returnof.html |title=Review of The Return of Dr. Octagon |access-date=2008-09-06 |last=Hernandez |first=Pedro 'DJ Complejo' |date=June 27, 2006 |publisher=Rap Reviews}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37108/Dr_Octagon_The_Return_of_Dr_Octagon |title=Review of The Return of Dr. Octagon |access-date=2008-09-06 |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=June 28, 2006 |website=Pitchfork |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622010624/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37108/Dr_Octagon_The_Return_of_Dr_Octagon |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Thornton stated that he liked the album, but felt that it hurt his reputation as a musician. In August, Thornton performed under the Dr. Octagon billing, but did not acknowledge the release of the OCD album.{{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Godfrey |title=Kool Keith's Bits & Pieces |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501297.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=C08 |date=August 26, 2006 |access-date=19 January 2009 }}

=Further collaborations and solo albums (2006–present)=

On April 25, 2006, Thornton released the album Nogatco Rd. under the name Mr. Nogatco, and Project Polaroid, a collaboration with TomC3. The Return of Dr. Octagon, the sequel to Dr. Octagonecologyst, was released two months later, as well as a Dr. Dooom sequel titled Dr. Dooom 2 being released two years later.

In 2007, Ultramagnetic MCs released the reunion album The Best Kept Secret. In 2009, Kool Keith released the concept album Tashan Dorrsett; a follow-up, The Legend of Tashan Dorrsett, followed two years later. In 2012, Kool Keith performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos.{{cite web |date=July 16, 2012 |title=Gathering of the Juggalos 2012 Lineup: Reunited Geto Boys, Danny Brown, George Clinton |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/07/gathering-juggalos-2012-lineup-reunited-geto-boys-danny-brown-george-clinton/ |access-date=26 March 2015 |work=Spin}} He has stated that he is considering retiring from music.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kool-keith-preps-new-album-ponders-retirement-20120507|title=Kool Keith Preps New Album, Ponders Retirement|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=26 March 2015}} In 2013, Keith appeared as Dr. Octagon on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Buried Alive", from their album Mosquito. In 2015, Keith released "Time? Astonishing!" with producer L'Orange and began the start of his relationship with Mello Music Group.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20817-time-astonishing/|title=Kool Keith / L'Orange: Time? Astonishing! Album Review – Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|access-date=19 September 2016}} Since then, Keith also re-issued his group album with the Analog Brothers (Ice-T, Pimp Rex, Marc Live, Silver Synth) "Pimp To Eat" with Mello Music.{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/people-today-cant-party-because-they-need-a-new-kneecap-a-qanda-with-kool-keith-7134918|title="People Today Can't Party Because They Need a New Kneecap": A Q&A With Kool Keith|first=Jonny|last=Coleman|work=L.A. Weekly |date=14 July 2016|access-date=19 September 2016}} Kool Keith's recent solo album Feature Magnetic was dropped on September 16, 2016 and it features MF DOOM, Slug from Atmosphere, Dirt Nasty and many others.{{cite web|url=https://mmg-koolkeith.bandcamp.com/album/feature-magnetic|title=Feature Magnetic, by Kool Keith|access-date=19 September 2016}} Artwork for the "Feature Magnetic" album was produced by Marc Santo.

In 2018, Keith collaborated once again with Dan the Automator and DJ Qbert for another Dr. Octagon album.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/02/15/dr-octagon-kool-keith-moosebumps-sophomore-album-single-premiere|title=Kool Keith, Dan The Automator, and DJ Qbert are reuniting as Dr. Octagon|work=The FADER|access-date=2018-03-10|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2018/02/15/kool-keith-new-dr-octagon-album/|title=Kool Keith, Dan The Automator and Qbert reveal new Dr. Octagon album|date=2018-02-15|work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=2018-03-10|language=en-US}} Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation was released on streaming services on April 6, 2018,{{cite web|last1=Berry|first1=Peter|title=DR. OCTAGON PLOT 'MOOSEBUMPS' ALBUM, DROP NEW SONG "OCTAGON OCTAGON"|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/dr-octagon-moosebumps-album-drops-octagon-octagon/|website=xxlmag.com|date=February 27, 2018 |access-date=17 April 2018}} with the physical release scheduled for Record Store Day,{{cite web|title=Dr. Octagon – Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation Deluxe|url=https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/10214|website=recordstoreday.com|access-date=18 April 2018}} April 21, 2018. The Record Store Day release includes both vinyl and CD copies. Using his Deltron persona, Del the Funky Homosapien guests on "3030 Meets the Doc, Pt. 1". NPR offered a first look at the album on March 29, 2018.{{cite web|last1=Wang|first1=Oliver|title=Kool Keith And Dan The Automator Make Rap Weird Again As Dr. Octagon|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/29/597002303/first-listen-dr-octagon-moosebumps-an-exploration-into-modern-day-horripilation|website=npr.org|date=March 29, 2018|access-date=18 April 2018}} Kool Keith appears on "Western" by the bluegrass-rap group Gangstagrass, performing as himself. Throughout five years, Thornton released Controller of Trap, Keith, Computer Technology, Saks 5th Ave, Space Goretex (with Thetan), Keith's Salon, Subatomic (with Del the Funky Homosapien), Serpent (with Real Bad Man), and Black Elvis 2.

Thornton's fan site refers to his discography of roughly fifty album releases, most of which have been commercially released. Singles such as "Spectrum" continue to appear online under the artist's name, on sites such as SoundCloud and Spotify.

Lyrical and performance style

File:Kool-Keith-2009.jpg]]

Thornton's lyrics are often abstract,{{cite web |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/1996_09_octagon.html |title=Review of Dr. Octagonecologyst |access-date=2009-01-27 |last=Juon |first=Steve |date = September 1996|publisher=RapReviews}} surreal,{{cite book |last=Hess |first=Mickey |title=Is Hip Hop Dead? The Past, Present, and Future of America's Most-Wanted Music |year=2007 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-99461-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ishiphopdeadpast00hess_0/page/75 75–76] |chapter=The Rap Persona |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/ishiphopdeadpast00hess_0/page/75 }} and filled with non-sequiturs, extreme violence, exaggerated braggadocio, and profane shock humor. {{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r235693|pure_url=yes}} |title=Review of Dr. Octagonecologyst |access-date=2009-01-27 |last=Huey |first=Steve |website=AllMusic}} For example, "Technical Difficulties," from the album Dr. Octagonecologyst contains the following lyrics: "Intestines, investments, hide money in your stomach / Who can stop Pepto-Bismol? Only a Gremlin eatin' in Larry Parker like Gizmo." In "Extravagant Traveler" from Matthew, he boasts: "Sautéed fish and shrimp / the Dallas Mavericks want me as a bald-headed five-foot-eight guard with a ninety-five inch vertical / Vince Carter respects my legs, ask Shawn Kemp," whereas on "Miami Mike" from Saks Fifth Avenue he proclaims "I watch you take a shower in my 747 flying over your house / I used to live in the Twin Towers by myself." Thornton is also known for an explicit style focusing on sexual themes, which Thornton has referred to as "pornocore".{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r248878|pure_url=yes}} |title=Review of Sex Style |access-date=2009-02-19 |last=Huey |first=Steve |website=AllMusic}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/dr-octagon-the-return-of-dr-octagon/ |title=Review of The Return of Dr. Octagon |access-date=2009-01-27 |last=Frauenhofer |first=Michael |date=June 29, 2006 |magazine=PopMatters}} In a 2007 interview, Thornton claims to have "invented horrorcore".{{cite web |url=http://www.ukhh.com/features/oldinterviews/kool_keith/index.html |title=Kool Keith Interview |access-date=2008-08-04 |author=Kane |author2=QED |date=July 19, 2007 |publisher=Original UK Hip Hop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222195628/http://www.ukhh.com/features/oldinterviews/kool_keith/index.html |archive-date=December 22, 2014 }}

Alter egos

Kool Keith is known for his many alter egos. As of 2012, Kool Keith had at least 58 such alter egos: these include well-known aliases such as Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, and Black Elvis, which appeared on albums bearing their names; and the more obscure, such as firearms dealer "Crazy Lou" and "Exotron Geiger Counter One Gamma Plus Sequencer," as he introduced himself in an appearance on Marley Marl's radio show In Control.{{cite web |last1=Mlynar |first1=Phillip |title=Top 10 Greatest Kool Keith Aliases |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/top-10-greatest-kool-keith-aliases/ |website=The Village Voice |date=April 5, 2011 |access-date=28 November 2023}} Some of Kool Keith's monikers have only existed on album artwork, such as "Mr. Green" and "Elvin Presley."{{cite news |last1=Batey |first1=Angus |title=20 Years On: Ultramagnetic MCs' Funk Your Head Up |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/08259-ultramagnetic-mcs-funk-your-head-up |access-date=2022-12-19 |work=The Quietus |date=2012-03-20}}

In reference to his relationship between himself and his various stage personalities, Keith has said, "I don't even feel like I'm a human being anymore".{{cite web|url=http://032c.com/2006/kool-keith/|title=KOOL KEITH|last=032c.com|work=032c Workshop |date=December 2006 |access-date=21 July 2014}}

Discography

Solo albums

{{Main|Kool Keith discography}}

Collaborative albums

{{See also|Ultramagnetic MCs#Albums}}

References

{{Reflist}}