Thornton's early career and lyrics with the Ultramagnetic MC's often referenced his time as a patient of Bellevue, a psychiatric hospital, where he was treated for depression. With Ultramagnetic MC's, 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 the Ultramagnetic MC's broke up, he expanded his resume, experimenting with new styles, including 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. For Dan the Automator, this album laid the foundation for a burgeoning career and accolades as a producer; for Thornton, the success of Dr. 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 Dan the Automator and other collaborators, even though Thornton is credited on the LP with some production duties.
List of projects, groups and alter-egos:
- Ultramagnetic MC's
- Dr. Octagon
- Dr. Dooom
- Sinister 6000 (Dan the Automator)
- Black Elvis
- Masters of Illusion
- Analog Brothers
- Mr. Nogatco
- Project Polaroid
- Tashan Dorset
- Sex Style
- Ultra
- The Cenobites
- Sergei Khmelev
(this list is incomplete)
Baddest M.C.
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
{*DJ scratches: "Kool Keith"*}
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Keith..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Keith Keith..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Baddest, MC!
[Kool Keith]
Velvet robe, body like Hector Comacho
Kissin Puerto Rican girls on they earlobes
Victor Ramosa standin on Fermosa
Big whip, fat you own a orange Rolls Royce
Comin down Pico, up North Lenox
Heads with backpacks
move like they try to act like they don't hear it
System bust, I don't rap freestyle no more
Stopped smokin angel dust
I bring drama to your tour bus, we comin all 800 of us
Project one, project two, project three
My Recena Houses, Jackson Houses, Webster Houses
How that sound to you mouses?
Jamaicans from ??, and Patterson Houses
"Lift up Star, Keith mon, let me know I'll cut 'is t'roat"
Other rappers standin around, jealous lookin broke
Need to be in double dutch, jumpin rope
Y'all Northtown folks - comin down to Manhattan World
Serious soul food made by black girls
Cornbread and beepers above your head
I'ma stop at the red light cause it's red
{*DJ scratches: "Kool Keith"*}
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Keith Keith..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Kool..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Keith Keith..
Baddest, MC!
[Kool Keith]
Fascinatin with the quickness
I make models come to public housing and visit
That's how technical I get exquisite
Bangin on pipes
Lookin at cops walkin up the stairs with flashlights
Most MC's wearin leg-warmers and tights
I come with Dominican girls with bodies like Jennifer Lopez
Wearin tight shorts from Washington Heights
Ride first class with flights to Santo Domingo
with sombrero performin my single
with my hype-man Al Gringo
I'll watch you in the front cat don't let your face get wrinkled
Side effects miss you
Jump around you gonna need a napkin and a tissue
When I gross up the max you count the issue
Buy The Source cover for twelve months
and send other rappers over to pose
and take pictures for some potato chips and Cap'n Crunch
That's how I take suckers out to lunch
Forget the internet, the website, that's no way to step right
I ain't sittin by no computer, I'm goin to Bermuda
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Keith..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Kool..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Yeah..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Yeah..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Keith..
Baddest, MC! {*"Kool Keith"*}
Kool Keith's song "Baddest M.C." is a brag track where he asserts his dominance as the best rapper in the game. He announces his presence with his signature scratch, declaring himself the "Baddest MC" repeatedly. Keith paints a vivid picture of his opulent lifestyle, wearing a velvet robe, kissing Puerto Rican girls, and driving an orange Rolls Royce. He mentions various projects, including Recena Houses, Jackson Houses, and Webster Houses, showcasing his influence and status in the hood.
In contrast to other MCs, he doesn't freestyle anymore, preferring to bring drama to his tour bus with his 800-strong entourage. He also takes a swipe at other rappers, calling them out for being jealous and broke. He notes his ability to attract women, including Dominican girls with bodies like Jennifer Lopez, and how he can make even models come to public housing and visit him. Keith ends the song with a declaration of his superiority, stating that he doesn't need the internet or websites, and he's going to Bermuda instead.
Overall, "Baddest M.C." is a classic Kool Keith track, showcasing his outlandish flow and boisterous personality. The song is brimming with witty wordplay, vivid imagery, and classic Keith humor, making it a standout track in his catalog.
Line by Line Meaning
New! Two-thousand-one..
The song is released in 2001.
Baddest, MC!
Kool Keith declares himself as the best rapper.
Keith..
Kool Keith repeats his name for emphasis.
Velvet robe, body like Hector Comacho
Kool Keith is dressed in a luxurious velvet robe and compares his own physique to that of the famous boxer Hector Comacho.
Kissin Puerto Rican girls on they earlobes
Kool Keith describes his romantic encounters with Puerto Rican girls.
Victor Ramosa standin on Fermosa
Reference to a real-life person named Victor Ramosa standing on Fermosa street.
Big whip, fat you own a orange Rolls Royce
Kool Keith drives a luxurious orange Rolls Royce.
Comin down Pico, up North Lenox
Kool Keith mentions two streets where he is driving his car.
Heads with backpacks move like they try to act like they don't hear it
People wearing backpacks try to avoid looking at Kool Keith's car.
System bust, I don't rap freestyle no more
Kool Keith no longer improvises in his raps due to issues with the music system.
Stopped smokin angel dust
Kool Keith has stopped using the drug angel dust.
I bring drama to your tour bus, we comin all 800 of us
Kool Keith and a large group of people will cause trouble on a rival rapper's tour bus.
Project one, project two, project three
References to different housing projects in New York City.
My Recena Houses, Jackson Houses, Webster Houses
Kool Keith mentions specific housing projects in NYC where he grew up.
How that sound to you mouses?
Kool Keith challenges other rappers by asking if they are intimidated by him.
Jamaicans from??, and Patterson Houses
Kool Keith mentions Jamaican people living in a housing project called Patterson Houses.
"Lift up Star, Keith mon, let me know I'll cut 'is t'roat"
Someone offers to physically harm an unknown person referred to as 'Star' if Kool Keith gives the go-ahead.
Other rappers standin around, jealous lookin broke
Kool Keith feels that other rappers are envious and not as financially successful as him.
Need to be in double dutch, jumpin rope
Kool Keith implies that other rappers should do something other than rap, like playing a children's game of jump rope.
Y'all Northtown folks - comin down to Manhattan World
Kool Keith mentions people from 'Northtown' coming to Manhattan.
Serious soul food made by black girls
Kool Keith enjoys eating soul food made by African American women.
Cornbread and beepers above your head
Kool Keith mentions specific items that are common in African American culture in the 90s.
I'ma stop at the red light cause it's red
Kool Keith is obeying traffic signals while driving.
Fascinatin with the quickness
Kool Keith is captivating with his quick and clever rap style.
I make models come to public housing and visit
Kool Keith boasts about his ability to attract women to public housing projects.
That's how technical I get exquisite
Kool Keith is proud of his rap style, which he describes as technical and refined.
Bangin on pipes
Kool Keith makes noise by hitting on pipes.
Lookin at cops walkin up the stairs with flashlights
Kool Keith observes police officers while he is inside a public housing building.
Most MC's wearin leg-warmers and tights
Kool Keith criticizes other rappers for their fashion choices.
I come with Dominican girls with bodies like Jennifer Lopez
Kool Keith mentions Dominican girls who have a body shape similar to Jennifer Lopez.
Wearin tight shorts from Washington Heights
Kool Keith describes the clothing of the Dominican girls he is with.
Ride first class with flights to Santo Domingo
Kool Keith travels to Santo Domingo in first class flights.
with sombrero performin my single with my hype-man Al Gringo
Kool Keith wears a sombrero while performing his song with his hype man, Al Gringo.
I'll watch you in the front cat don't let your face get wrinkled
Kool Keith warns his audience to pay attention or they might miss out on something worth seeing.
Side effects miss you
Kool Keith claims that his performances have no negative side effects and are always successful.
Jump around you gonna need a napkin and a tissue
Kool Keith promises an energetic performance that might make the audience need a napkin and tissue to wipe away sweat and tears respectively.
When I gross up the max you count the issue
Kool Keith boasts that his financial success will be apparent and visible to others.
Buy The Source cover for twelve months
Kool Keith encourages his fans to buy The Source magazine and see him featured on the cover for a year.
and send other rappers over to pose and take pictures for some potato chips and Cap'n Crunch
Kool Keith implies that other rappers are willing to pose for photos in exchange for small amounts of snacks.
That's how I take suckers out to lunch
Kool Keith sees other rappers who pose for Cap'n Crunch as naive and easy to manipulate.
Forget the internet, the website, that's no way to step right
Kool Keith believes that success as a rapper comes from more than just a strong internet presence.
I ain't sittin by no computer, I'm goin to Bermuda
Kool Keith is not interested in using technology and prefers to travel to Bermuda instead.
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.