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)
Extravagant Traveller
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Checkin out of the venetian hotel
That's right, flight to africa
Mastercharge
Yeah..
Chorus: kool keith
[kool keith]
Mc's is wack, I'm lookin at the robb report
Eighty-thousand-sixty-two bentley
Owner of the houston astrodome, don king represent me
(? ) bus with gold trim and you can't act up frontin on your lemon
Legend status with keys to the mgm grand
Got your wife and kids holdin my poster, grabbin my hand
All I hear is a bunch of wack primetime mc's sayin
I hate him cause he's great
He's on all the billboard and the highway
Face is on soup cans and milk crates
Resteraunts with movie theaters in 'em
Continental airlanes, planes we buyin off the lot
While y'all rent 'em
Excursion flights with bill clinton
Takin fine girls out to washington to get they extensions
Usin my tv phone I see girls in they thongs
Fantasizin while they home alone
Pack my bags - I need room service
Chorus
[kool keith]
Cause my face is in the newspaper every week
Pronounce words right - ask jesse jackson how I speak
Sign my autographs for jagged edge and sisqo on 125th street
Red carpet on the sidewalk
I gotta step on it before I talk
Part investor of the utah jazz, I'm the real king of new york
London cashmere, walkin around with guiliani regular football shirt
Tailors grab my armani, maids cook dinner
Sauteed fish and shrimp
Dallas mavericks want me as a baldheaded five-eight guard
With a ninety-five inch vertical, vince carter respect my legs
Ask shawn kemp; wes unseld and the nba commissioner
Takin pictures of me in front of nell's
Special election day got chocolate girls with flowers dresses on
You would swear they naomi campbell and nia long from section 8
Yes, I guess
Chorus
[kool keith]
Bustin no freestyles, lookin at you in the back of the car
Rappin for twenty miles
I'm sittin in the back of the limo with the fly brim-o
Me in a black cadillac, elliot ness
Sendin rappers with doo-rags an s.o.s.
You wanna rap big man? take mickey mouse off your chest
I let you wear your vest; plaid shirts or stripes
Is that the way your stylist make you dress?
She should be sued for that
Contract renewed for that
And on stage, you should be booed for that
I'ma tap you in the back and let everybody know they wack
Yo skycab hand me my platinum suitcases
Chorus
The song "Extravagant Traveller" by Kool Keith is an ode to his lavish and luxurious lifestyle, boasting of his wealth, fame, and status. The lyrics are a testament to his successful career and indulgent lifestyle, as he name drops his own success and wealth while mocking other MCs for their lack of success. The chorus of the song repeats the title phrase, "Extravagant Traveller, Puerto Rico out to Africa," which reinforces the message that Kool Keith is always traveling the world and experiencing the finer things in life.
Throughout the song, Kool Keith asserts his status as a legend and a mogul, owning a Bentley and the Houston Astrodome while chartering an entire bus with gold trim. He also name drops various celebrities like Don King, Bill Clinton, and Naomi Campbell, implying that he is connected and respected in their circles. He mocks other "wack" MCs who hate him for his success and puts himself above them, citing his status on billboards and soup cans. The song paints a picture of a man who has achieved great success and enjoys every minute of his extravagant lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Checkin out of the venetian hotel
Leaving a luxurious hotel in Las Vegas
That's right, flight to africa
Taking a flight from Las Vegas to Africa
Mastercharge
Using a credit card to make the transaction
Extravagant traveler, puerto rico out to africa (4x)
Describing himself as a lavish traveler who has gone from Puerto Rico to Africa
Mc's is wack, I'm lookin at the robb report
Not impressed with other rappers and reading a luxury lifestyle magazine (Robb Report)
Eighty-thousand-sixty-two bentley
Referring to a specific luxury car model
Owner of the houston astrodome, don king represent me
Claiming to have ownership of a famous sports venue and having boxing promoter Don King represent him
(? ) bus with gold trim and you can't act up frontin on your lemon
Driving a bus with gold details and not tolerating anyone who tries to show off their inferior car
Legend status with keys to the mgm grand
Being famous enough to have access to the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas
Got your wife and kids holdin my poster, grabbin my hand
Claiming to have many fans, including wives and children who hold his poster and want to meet him
All I hear is a bunch of wack primetime mc's sayin
Hearing other mediocre rappers criticize him
I hate him cause he's great
Suggesting that others are envious of his success
He's on all the billboard and the highway
Being heavily promoted and advertised
Face is on soup cans and milk crates
Being so famous that his image is used on various products
Resteraunts with movie theaters in 'em
Dining at restaurants that have movie theaters inside
Continental airlanes, planes we buyin off the lot
Traveling on expensive planes and buying them without hesitation
While y'all rent 'em
Suggesting that others do not have the means to own the same planes
Excursion flights with bill clinton
Taking special flights with former US President Bill Clinton
Takin fine girls out to washington to get they extensions
Going on dates with attractive women to Washington, DC to get their hair extensions done
Usin my tv phone I see girls in they thongs
Using technology to observe women in revealing clothing
Fantasizin while they home alone
Indulging in fantasies while watching these women
Pack my bags - I need room service
Preparing to leave and requesting luxurious room service
Cause my face is in the newspaper every week
Being constantly in the media
Pronounce words right - ask jesse jackson how I speak
Being a good speaker and using Jesse Jackson as an example
Sign my autographs for jagged edge and sisqo on 125th street
Signing autographs for famous musicians on a street in New York City
Red carpet on the sidewalk
Being treated like a celebrity with a red carpet waiting for him
I gotta step on it before I talk
Making sure to stand on the red carpet before speaking
Part investor of the utah jazz, I'm the real king of new york
Investing in an NBA team and declaring himself as the true king of New York
London cashmere, walkin around with guiliani regular football shirt
Wearing expensive clothing and mixing it with a regular sports shirt
Tailors grab my armani, maids cook dinner
Having personal tailors and maids to cater to his needs
Sauteed fish and shrimp
Eating gourmet seafood
Dallas mavericks want me as a baldheaded five-eight guard
Claiming to be wanted by an NBA team despite being short and bald
With a ninety-five inch vertical, vince carter respect my legs
Implying that he can jump very high and even a famous NBA player respects his ability
Ask shawn kemp; wes unseld and the nba commissioner
Naming some famous basketball players and the commissioner of the NBA
Takin pictures of me in front of nell's
Having photos taken of himself in front of a popular nightclub
Special election day got chocolate girls with flowers dresses on
Describing an event where attractive women are dressed up in florals on election day
You would swear they naomi campbell and nia long from section 8
Comparing the women to famous models and actresses despite coming from a low-income housing project
Bustin no freestyles, lookin at you in the back of the car
Not needing to freestyle rap but instead observing and criticizing others
Rappin for twenty miles
Being so confident in his rapping abilities that he could rap for miles
I'm sittin in the back of the limo with the fly brim-o
Sitting comfortably in the back of a fancy limousine with a stylish hat
Me in a black cadillac, elliot ness
Driving a black Cadillac and referencing a famous law enforcement agent
Sendin rappers with doo-rags an s.o.s.
Imagining other rappers experiencing distress while wearing doo-rags
You wanna rap big man? take mickey mouse off your chest
Telling other rappers to stop pretending and remove any clothing with cartoon characters on them
I let you wear your vest; plaid shirts or stripes
Acknowledging that others have the right to express themselves through fashion
Is that the way your stylist make you dress?
Imagining others having stylists who put them in undesirable clothing
She should be sued for that
Jokingly suggesting that the stylist should be held accountable for the fashion choices
Contract renewed for that
Being so famous that companies would still want to work with him despite his jokes
And on stage, you should be booed for that
Suggesting that audiences would dislike the fashion choices and respond accordingly
I'ma tap you in the back and let everybody know they wack
Asserting his dominance over other rappers by calling them out for their lack of talent
Yo skycab hand me my platinum suitcases
Being so rich that he owns suitcases made of platinum and requesting them from the airport staff
Contributed by Alaina W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mane Volent
Kool Keith]
MC's is wack, I'm lookin at the Robb Report
Eighty-thousand-sixty-two Bentley
Owner of the Houston Astrodome, Don King represent me
Prevost bus with gold trim and you can't act up frontin on your lemon
Legend status with keys to the MGM Grand
Got your wife and kids holdin my poster, grabbin my hand
All I hear is a bunch of wack primetime MC's sayin
I hate him cause he's great
He's on all the billboard and the highway
Face is on soup cans and milk crates
Restaraunts with movie theaters in 'em
Continental airlanes, planes we buyin off the lot
While y'all rent 'em
Excursion flights with Bill Clinton
Takin fine girls out to Washington to get they extensions
Usin my TV phone I see girls in they thongs
Fantasizin while they home alone
Pack my bags - I need room service
Chorus
[Kool Keith]
Cause my face is in the newspaper every week
Pronounce words right - ask Jesse Jackson how I speak
Sign my autographs for Jagged Edge and Sisqo on 125th Street
Red carpet on the sidewalk
I gotta step on it before I talk
Part investor of the Utah Jazz, I'm the real king of New York
London cashmere, walkin around with Guiliani regular football shirt
Tailors grab my Armani, maids cook dinner
Sauteed fish and shrimp
Dallas Mavericks want me as a baldheaded five-eight guard
With a ninety-five inch vertical, Vince Carter respect my legs
Ask Shawn Kemp; (?) and the NBA commissioner
Takin pictures of me in front of Nell's
Special election day got chocolate girls with flowers dresses on
You would swear they Naomi Campbell and Nia Long from Section 8
Yes, I guess
Chorus
[Kool Keith]
Bustin no freestyles, lookin at you in the back of the car
Rappin for twenty miles
I'm sittin in the back of the limo with the fly brim-o
Me in a black Cadillac, Elliot Ness
Sendin rappers with doo-rags an S.O.S
You wanna rap big man? Take Mickey Mouse off your chest
I let you wear your vest; plaid shirts or stripes
Is that the way your stylist make you dress?
She should be sued for that
Contract renewed for that
And on stage, you should be booed for that
I'mma tap you in the back and let everybody know they wack
Yo SkyCab hand me my platinum suitcases
Vernell Thomas
Man I swear KK gave us so much game about the industry. At the same time making fun of it with the wack album covers(but dope to those who know) the aliases, while giving us dope lyrics. Most wont understand his music until the future like 20 years from now
Fuck The System
Lol, some dumb comments here, Kool Keith was the a member of the Ultra Magnetic Emcees, way before the Wu Tang ffs!
Ringolero
Busting no freestyles looking at you in the back of the car rapping for 20 miles. I can seriously see Kool Keith doing this for real, rapping hard too.
haggel fuggui
for all you who dont know, if its hot in rap, kool keith did it first. jerseys, space rap, off beat, rhyme without rhyme, alter egos, comic books..........anything. keith did it first
Jpegeriano
Soulja boy did it first 🥱
insanemacbeth
KOOL KEITH perfected the offbeat flow.
Adam Biggers
The same cadence that's in-sryle today. Keith was an innovator
Randy Lahey
SICK beat
Tristan Lawrence
I need room service
a1n3o1n3
kool keith is a genius