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)
Clifton
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Yeah, straight from the ranch
Motion Man {*echoes*}
J. Reno, cool Keith {*echoes*}
cool Keith
I used to rock a booty butt banger with a hanger
Snap back with back slaps, bypass them corny raps
Unique investigator, sportin More alligators
From here to Virginia, clubs when I step up in ya
Tell the maid from my toes, to my shoulder blade
Extreme act up on front stage, make em back up
You get that workout, that head piece gettin slapped up
Now turn yo' lip up, you drop that mic you turn yo' lip down
I spin on stage like, blowin mics, make you sit down
From here to North Carolina, 95 to South Carolina
Atlanta Georgia Florida flowin down, like I'm water
Mexican Indian, fly girls, the Puerto Ricans
Pum-pum-pump the eight-oh-eight-oh-eight-oh-eight-oh peakin
Now start spectacular, expert, them legs will work
Bronx Bomber watch em strip, Eddy tip that fine mama
Hydraulics expand, while drums bang like Gap Band
I clap hand, take his mic, give him five to my man
Switch his work to talent shows, I do concerts
Light up shirts like 4th of July atomic fireworks
Extraction attack, white backpacks on wack macks
Yeahhhhhhhh...
Chorus: Motion Man cool Keith (repeat 2X)
[M] Clifton! Santiago
[K] Keith, Telavasquez (PSYCH!)
[Clifton Santiago]
My name is Cadillac Clifton Santiago
At the bodega, I need a fat sandwich major
You know my switches, Impala drop, scrapin sparks
I mack these bitches, white Asian Puerto Rican
Black Russian Haitian, with jungle fever, I ain't hatin
A cup more Coppertone, I'm cappin on your kinky ear
Bitches they stare, cause I'm WILD cock diesel
Boy hopin that I recognize they
In this song, Kool Keith and Motion Man are spitting rhymes about their success in the rap game and their prowess on stage. Kool Keith starts off by reminiscing about his early days rapping, and how he used to use household items like a hanger to create beats before he made it big. He then goes on to describe himself as a unique investigator, sporting expensive alligator gear and making waves in clubs from Virginia down to Florida. He boasts about his ability to rock the mic and make the audience go wild, referencing his performances in North and South Carolina and Georgia.
After Kool Keith finishes his verses, the song switches to a chorus where Motion Man and Kool Keith repeat the names "Clifton Santiago" and "Keith Telavasquez." The next verse is delivered by a new voice, that of Clifton Santiago himself. He introduces himself as a man who rides in a souped-up Impala, attracting the attention of women of various races, including black, white, Asian, and Puerto Rican. He references his muscular physique, with the ladies staring at his "cock diesel" body. He ends his verse by saying he hopes that the boys trying to get his attention recognize his status and don't disrespect him.
Overall, the song is a braggadocious and somewhat absurd celebration of masculinity and success in the rap game. It features multiple voices, switching between Kool Keith, Motion Man, and Clifton Santiago, and boasts about everything from expensive clothing to impressive car modifications to irresistible sex appeal.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, KURT MATLIN, PAUL LASTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
illagen1
KEITH THE KING ALWAYS.. 1000 YRS AHEAD OF HIS TIME. TOP 5 ALLTIME!
PEZ
Rap goes on to the year 3000
gasparyangahijo
I can't get enough of this song.
andrew davis
so ahead of his time nobody still could get it. no cred hardest bitten rapper ever.
Eglinton West
@Taylor Kerwin couldn't listen to KK at 15. I understood and became a fan a decade later. Probably the best MC that exists
klifton santiago
there is a note on the inside of the "sex style" album that addresses that topic. put andre 3000 on blast.
Taylor Kerwin
facts i was young when this came out and was like this dope but at 33 in 2019 its fucking fire
Clifton Cameron
Kool Keith is something else. Motion Man and Kool Keith really handle business here. No fear and bringing the heat. Amazing
draughnwill2
Best song on the album.
Bernanna
This takes me back to skating as a youth