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)
Can't Fuck Wit This
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Intro]
Yeah! This goes out to all you fake-ass motherfuckers
Doin your bullshit-ass parties (yeah, we in here)
You motherfuckers are fake, you look like it
We know you look like it
Look at your fuckin familiar face
The nine can't fuck with this, Hot 97 smell like piss (Casanova)
Latex on my dick, {?} on my wrists (on my wristssss)
Can't fuck with this, Hot 97 smell like piss (Gun Hill Road)
Latex on my dick, {?} on my wrists
Can't fuck with this, Hot 97 smell like piss (Newark, New Jersey)
Latex on my dick, {?} on my wristssss
[Kool Keith]
Hypin up niggaz too much, bullshit's goin down
I don't give a fuck about Howston Street
That's where they suckin dicks all day, niggaz meet
Play what you told to play, Flavmaster-ass nigga
You can't even cut straight, a DJ fast nigga
Y'all niggaz is monkeys with cups!
With that bullshit playlist, Arbitron even say you SUCK
Billboard hate you
The lyrics of Kool Keith's "Can't Fuck Wit This" are directed towards those who pretend to be something they're not, particularly those who throw "bullshit-ass parties." Kool Keith doesn't hold back in calling out the fake personalities of these individuals and their familiar faces, essentially exposing them as frauds. He boasts about his superiority, making it clear that those who oppose him and his style are no match for the skills he possesses. Kool Keith then goes on to reference Hot 97, a New York City radio station that has a reputation for playing rap and hip hop music. He mocks the station, claiming that it smells like piss, while also referencing his latex condom and wrist accessories.
Throughout the song, Kool Keith takes a confrontational approach, calling out anyone or anything that he feels is standing in his way. He takes particular aim at a DJ who he feels is not cutting it, using the derogatory term "Flavmaster-ass nigga" to describe him. The lyrics also seem to take a dig at the Houston Street area of New York City, suggesting that the individuals in that area are not credible and are "sucking dicks all day." Overall, the lyrics of "Can't Fuck Wit This" are a showcase of Kool Keith's bravado and confidence, asserting that he is a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah! This goes out to all you fake-ass motherfuckers
The singer is addressing a group of people who pretend to be something they are not
Doin your bullshit-ass parties (yeah, we in here)
The singer is criticizing the parties hosted by the addressed group of people claiming they are terrible and not worth attending
You motherfuckers are fake, you look like it
The singer is stating that the people he is addressing are not authentic and it is evident just by looking at them
We know you look like it
The artist is confident that the group of people he is talking about are visibly inauthentic
Look at your fuckin familiar face
The artist is insinuating that everyone in the addressed group of people looks the same
The nine can't fuck with this, Hot 97 smell like piss (Casanova)
The singer is suggesting that his music is so superior that no one can compete with him, even at a popular radio station, Hot 97
Latex on my dick, {?} on my wrists (on my wristssss)
The singer is describing his personal style; wearing latex on his penis and a particular item on his wrists
Can't fuck with this, Hot 97 smell like piss (Gun Hill Road)
The artist continues his criticism of Hot 97 saying that they can't impact his career negatively
Latex on my dick, {?} on my wrists
The artist reiterates his quirky fashion sense
Can't fuck with this, Hot 97 smell like piss (Newark, New Jersey)
The artist mentions another location, Newark, New Jersey, and asserts that Hot 97's poor reputation wouldn't affect him there either
Latex on my dick, {?} on my wristssss
The singer mentions his eccentric style one more time
Hypin up niggaz too much, bullshit's goin down
The artist believes that overhyping anyone, including other artists or DJs, leads to negative outcomes
I don't give a fuck about Howston Street
The singer is saying that he is not interested in the street mentioned
That's where they suckin dicks all day, niggaz meet
The singer uses crude language to imply some people on Howston Street engage in inappropriate sexual behavior
Play what you told to play, Flavmaster-ass nigga
The singer is calling out a specific DJ, telling him to stick to the routine music that he is supposed to play
You can't even cut straight, a DJ fast nigga
The artist is disparaging the DJ's ability to mix songs properly and calling him a fraudulent artist
Y'all niggaz is monkeys with cups!
The artist is saying that other artists and DJs are just monkeys with cups
With that bullshit playlist, Arbitron even say you SUCK
The singer accuses the DJ of creating a terrible playlist, citing Arbitron, a media rating company, as evidence
Billboard hate you
The singer implies that the DJ is not well-liked by Billboard, a popular music chart
Writer(s): Thornton Keith Mathew, Giveand Marc
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.