An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's… Read Full Bio ↴An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's, "Kool" Keith 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 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)

Big Frank
Kool Keith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, two-thousand-two
I don't hear you no more
The K-double-O-L, the K-E-I-T-H
Check it out

I trust talent, whattup Flex, JoJo and K-Ci put me on next
Eighteen times let my record play like Dr. Dre and Jay-Z
All man headline like Beenie Man; work it out this time - don't bother

Make hits like "Planet Rock" Bambataa

Dance floor stiff beat break your jaw
I cancelled the Limp Bizkit tour
Let your braids and afro grow more
One year I hear about you, next year I don't hear about you no more

Got people in Oakland, Bronx Lebanon to Fillmore
Carry updated trunk funk
That stuff you program is for punks
I can't lay up big shots gotta pay up move in the penthouse way up
(Way up, way up..)

Big Frank drivin - leanin to the side
Side, side, sa-sa-side, side
Big Frank drivin - leanin to the side
Side, side, sa-sa-side, side
Big Frank drivin - leanin to the side
Side, side, sa-sa-side, side
Big Frank drivin - leanin to the side
Side, side

Brother move your feet, don't front on my funk shit
Jealous cats like you should jump ship
Right from my left nut like a vice grip
Cognac take a sip you look burnt out

I don't like the two-way pager stickin out my hip
No time for voicemail
I bring heat in the city on Amtrak and monorail
Why you makin tracks like L.A. Reid and Babyface?

How that gin and tonic taste?
Korg adapter, Yamaha in the suitcase
Just dance, don't look and nobody two-faced
Brown man, all head like Tupac

Cadillac frost blue, yellow convertible rag top
Girls enter the club with Lonnie Rich
Chevrolet Impala green SS on dubs
Don't front on me one bit I pull ladies out of fly cars with love

Big Frank drivin - leanin to the side
Side

Overall Meaning

In Kool Keith's song "Big Frank", he starts off by saying that he doesn't hear the people he used to listen to anymore, and then he introduces himself as K-double-O-L KEITH. He mentions that he trusts talent and nods to Flex, Jojo, and K-Ci who put him on next. He boasts that he has had eighteen hit songs, which play over and over like Dr. Dre and Jay-Z's music. He further goes on to say that he headlines like Beenie Man and works hard on his hits. Keith draws a parallel between his "Planet Rock" and that of Bambataa, indicating that he wants to make hits like his as well. He challenges the listeners to work hard and not complain, dance to his music and let their braids and afros grow.

Keith tells us that he has fans all over from Oakland, Bronx Lebanon to Fillmore, and he carries updated trunk funk. He makes it clear that the music people program is for punks and that he cannot lay up big shots, so he has to pay up to move in a penthouse way up. He introduces Big Frank, who is driving and leaning to the side. He asks the listeners to move their feet and not front on his funk because jealous cats like them should jump ship. He questions why people are making tracks like L.A. Reid and Babyface and what the gin and tonic tastes. Keith goes on to say that he is always on the go and brings heat in the city on Amtrak and monorail.

The chorus of the song is catchy, and it is repeated several times. The instrumental is excellent, and it is easy to dance to the beat. Overall, Kool Keith's "Big Frank" is a great song with a great flow that is worth listening to.

Line by Line Meaning

I trust talent, whattup Flex, JoJo and K-Ci put me on next
I rely on my own talent, but I am giving credit to Flex, JoJo and K-Ci for helping me in my career so far.

Eighteen times let my record play like Dr. Dre and Jay-Z
I want my records to have as much success as Dr. Dre and Jay-Z's; the number 18 serves as a metaphor for the extent of their success.

All man headline like Beenie Man; work it out this time - don't bother
I plan on making headlines like Beenie Man, but without compromising my work ethic or quality.

Make hits like "Planet Rock" Bambataa
I aspire to make hits similar in success to Bambataa's "Planet Rock."

Dance floor stiff beat break your jaw
The strong beat in my music can be overwhelming enough to figuratively break jaws on the dance floor.

I cancelled the Limp Bizkit tour
I cancelled my tour with Limp Bizkit due to creative differences.

Let your braids and afro grow more
I encourage self-expression and different hairstyles.

One year I hear about you, next year I don't hear about you no more
People can be fleeting in the entertainment industry; one year, everyone knows your name, the next, they don't.

Got people in Oakland, Bronx Lebanon to Fillmore
I have fans in different regions.

Carry updated trunk funk
I bring fresh music that people can enjoy.

That stuff you program is for punks
Those who follow a formula for their music, without any originality, are unimaginative.

I can't lay up big shots gotta pay up move in the penthouse way up
I can't just coast on previous successes; I have to work hard to up my game and move up in the world.

Big Frank drivin - leanin to the side
This line is repeated the most throughout the song, representing the central focus of the song.

Brother move your feet, don't front on my funk shit
I encourage people to dance to my music and not pretend like they don't feel the groove.

Jealous cats like you should jump ship
If you're feeling bitter and jealous towards me, you should distance yourself.

Right from my left nut like a vice grip
I have a firm hold on my career and will protect it at all costs.

Cognac take a sip you look burnt out
If you're stressed out, relax and take a sip of cognac.

I don't like the two-way pager stickin out my hip
I don't like flashy technology, like a two-way pager, as part of my image.

No time for voicemail
I don't have the time or patience for voicemail.

I bring heat in the city on Amtrak and monorail
I make an impact on the music scene, whether I'm traveling by train or monorail.

Why you makin tracks like L.A. Reid and Babyface?
Why are you trying to emulate the successful formula of L.A. Reid and Babyface instead of creating something original?

How that gin and tonic taste?
I'm curious if you're enjoying your drink.

Korg adapter, Yamaha in the suitcase
I travel with my equipment packed in a Korg adapter and Yamaha suitcase.

Just dance, don't look and nobody two-faced
Just enjoy the music and dance, without worrying about others who may have ulterior motives.

Brown man, all head like Tupac
I have a large head like Tupac, who was known for his distinct appearance.

Cadillac frost blue, yellow convertible rag top
I drive a frost blue Cadillac with a yellow convertible roof.

Girls enter the club with Lonnie Rich
Women come to clubs with men who have money or power.

Chevrolet Impala green SS on dubs
I have a green Chevrolet Impala with custom dubs.

Don't front on me one bit I pull ladies out of fly cars with love
I don't want anyone to underestimate my ability to attract women with my charm.

Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, MARK GIVEAND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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