The alias "k-os" is pronounced "chaos" and is an acronym for "Knowledge of Self," although in a later interview he also said that it stands for "Kheaven's Original Sound." His music incorporates a wide variety of music genres including but not limited to rap, funk, rock, and reggae. The lyrics frequently focus on promoting a "positive message" while at times expressing criticism of mainstream hip hop culture's obsession with money, fame and glorification of violence. A musician as well as a producer, k-os has written and produced a large portion of all four of his albums. k-os usually performs with a live band, something that is uncommon in the hip hop genre. He sometimes plays guitar and keyboard both during live performances and in the studio.
k-os received his first musical exposure with the single "Musical Essence," released in 1993. After the release of his second single "Rise Like The Sun" in 1996 he withdrew from the industry because he was dissatisfied with his musical style. He reappeared briefly in 1999 and released his debut album Exit in 2002. The album received positive reviews but sold relatively few copies. He released his second album Joyful Rebellion in 2004, which received platinum status in Canada. Joyful Rebellion received positive reviews, but at times was criticized for speaking extensively on the state of hip hop. k-os's third album, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, was released in 2006, and his fourth album entitled Yes! was released in April of 2009.
Black Ice
K-OS Lyrics
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Cuz were dancin by the pale moon light
I wake up in the morning and I get delirious
Cuz of something that I did last night
But then the neighbor came on to me
She said that life is more than we see
You've got to be the change that should be
So don't die, just try...
Open your gun in two
And turn in up the moon
I play it cool till the night is over
When are you comin back
To save this heart of mine
Time to take it slow
Black ice, white snow
What if the truth is we don't really know
If so then life is a mystery
This could be then end of all history
But wait the sun rises in the east
And the world still spins three hundred and sixty degrees on its axis
This isn't the galactic practice
Of rhymin, cruises no beginning of ending of timing
Reminds like the sun to take your back off the wall
People in the party in the light game show
Once again be dummin down the e's off the globe
Once a definition of this thing called black
I had a premonition eighteen way back
That black is the color of the universe from whence we came
I wonder if my soul is on ice again
Who put the light song open your gun in two
And turn in up the moon
I play it cool till the night is over
When are you comin back
To save this heart of mine
In "Black Ice," Canadian rapper K-OS (real name Kevin Brereton) discusses the complexities and uncertainties of life. The first verse addresses the idea that sometimes we take ourselves too seriously and need to lighten up. He talks about waking up feeling delirious from something he did the night before, which suggests a theme of self-reflection and introspection. The second verse explores the idea that life is a mystery and we don't really know the truth. K-OS ponders the end of history, but in the next line refers to the cyclical nature of life with the rising of the sun. His final verses address his premonition that black is the color of the universe and wonders if his soul is on ice again. The overall message of the song is about finding the balance between taking life seriously and finding joy and meaning in the moment.
K-OS is known for his genre-bending music that incorporates elements of hip-hop, funk, rock, and soul. He initially gained attention with his debut album "Exit," which earned him a Juno Award (the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy) for Best Rap Recording. "Black Ice" appears on his third album, "Atlantis: Hymns for Disco," which was released in 2006.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes the way we look at life can be too serious
Life can be too heavy if we take it too seriously at times.
Cuz were dancin by the pale moon light
We are living life carefree and dancing under the moonlight.
I wake up in the morning and I get delirious
I wake up and feel confused because of something I did the previous night.
Cuz of something that I did last night
The reason for my confusion is because of my actions the previous night.
But then the neighbor came on to me
My neighbor approached me in conversation.
She said that life is more than we see
She told me that there is more to life than we may realize.
You've got to be the change that should be
We have the power to make a positive impact on the world.
So don't die, just try...
We should strive to make a difference in life and not give up easily.
Were just some fool with the light song
We are just some individuals with a happy tune.
Open your gun in two
We should open our minds and let new ideas in.
And turn in up the moon
We should embrace the beauty of the night.
I play it cool till the night is over
I stay calm and collected until the night ends.
When are you comin back
When will you return?
To save this heart of mine
To heal my wounded heart.
Time to take it slow
It's time to slow down and enjoy life.
Black ice, white snow
The colors of the winter season.
What if the truth is we don't really know
What if the reality is that we really don't know anything?
If so then life is a mystery
If that were true, then life would be full of unknowns.
This could be then end of all history
It would be the end of all that we know.
But wait the sun rises in the east
But we know that the sun rises in the east every morning.
And the world still spins three hundred and sixty degrees on its axis
And the world continues to rotate 360 degrees on its axis.
This isn't the galactic practice
This isn't some kind of universal procedure.
Of rhymin, cruises no beginning of ending of timing
Rhyming and music knows no time.
Reminds like the sun to take your back off the wall
We should remember to let loose in life and not be too rigid.
People in the party in the light game show
People are enjoying their time in the party and dance floor.
Once again be dummin down the e's off the globe
Once again, people are making the world less intelligent.
Once a definition of this thing called black
Once there was only one definition of what is black in color.
I had a premonition eighteen way back
I had a vision eighteen years ago.
That black is the color of the universe from whence we came
I believe that black is the color of the universe from which we originated.
I wonder if my soul is on ice again
I wonder if my soul is experiencing sadness or depression again.
Who put the light song open your gun in two
Who came up with this happy tune that's making us open our minds?
And turn in up the moon
And making us appreciate the beauty of the night.
I play it cool till the night is over
I remain calm and collected until the night ends.
When are you comin back
When will you return?
To save this heart of mine
To heal my wounded heart.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: J. GAHUNIA, KEVIN BRERETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind