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)
Haters
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Very different - and he wants to talk to you
Admire his immaturity
Took you away to better places
Brazil, Costa Rica you seen new faces
Covered the bills you struggled to pay - gave you life
No more kid with a scarf around his beatin you up every day
Because he was confused, you lay while he play
Cleanin my house, you look gorgeous in lingerie
Is that the kid on the phone? Hardcore
Hawkin you in front of the building everyday
When is he gonna learn? It's over, it's my turn
You're pregnant with my kid
By the fireplace, we watch his doo-rags burn
I remodeled you, gave you the diamonds he couldn't wisely concern
Always talkin bout the cash he got
The little pesos for shows
And God knows his materialistic raps and wack flows
are like Stay Free pads, fake V.I.P. rappers get garbage disposed
Unrecouped for his flamboyance and reflection
He's leasin rentin and frontin - yeah, yeah..
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Stop the chorus back to your Bentley
Your wife is gone, she's with me
On a first class flight in the Bahamas, grab your bags quickly
Sorry top ten rapper on the answering machine
You're over like Al Green
This song is written for the 2003 team
V.I.P. with Ben Vareen
Cancel your A&R meeting light you up like Heatwave - central heating
Eject your premature CD in the whirlpool while we're eating
Shut down all material, new tracks fall on your head like a crane
All you offered to women is sound of weak drums
Fill they hearts with pain
I'm in your dungaree jacket like a bleach stain
Girls cry on my arm, he was cheap and silly don't complain
He's a nerd with a hardcore twist, playin with racing cars
We look out the window and count the rain on the window pane
(Count the rain on the window pane)
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Here's a tissue for the tears
He gave you hard times over hard rhymes for years
Shattered your career
like an uncomfortable thong twisted in your rear
He was eight years behind, I was already advanced, I've been here
Denim suits with alligators
Your man sports black all the time with no flavors
From castle to castle, hassle to hassle
House to house, man to mouse (man to mouse)
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
Haters come around from downtown
I get surround sound - I get big!
In the song "Haters" by Kool Keith, the rapper discusses a tumultuous relationship with a woman, whom he has rescued from an abusive relationship. The first verse relates how he has taken the woman to exotic places and paid her bills, making her feel safe and secure, and how he has given her breast implants to correct the damage done to her body by her previous partner. The second verse deals with the fallout from this relationship, as Kool Keith mocks the rival who has lost his woman to him, and feuds with other rappers, dismissing their materialistic and musically weak offerings. His lyrics contain an element of braggadocio, claiming that he has outsmarted and outperformed his rivals, as evidenced by his "surround sound" and "big" status.
The song appears on the 2004 album "The Personal Album," which features contributions from various producers and includes a wide range of lyrical themes. While "Haters" is not one of the better-known tracks from the album, it is a good example of Kool Keith's distinctive flow and lyrical style. Keith's wordplay and use of metaphors are often complex and surprising, and his delivery is characterized by a rough, unpolished quality that sets him apart from many other rappers.
Line by Line Meaning
Two-thousand-three baby, Kool Keith, I'm up in here
The year is 2003 and Kool Keith is announcing his presence.
Very different - and he wants to talk to you
Kool Keith's style is unique and he has a message to share.
Admire his immaturity
Kool Keith's unconventional approach is refreshing and interesting.
Took you away to better places
Kool Keith took his love interest on trips to exotic locations.
Brazil, Costa Rica you seen new faces
The couple visited Brazil and Costa Rica and met new people.
Covered the bills you struggled to pay - gave you life
Kool Keith helped pay bills and improved his love interest's life.
No more kid with a scarf around his beatin you up every day
Kool Keith's love interest is no longer being bullied by her ex-boyfriend.
Plastic surgery breast implants the small hustler made you cry
The previous man made Kool Keith's love interest feel insecure about herself and even cry with unneeded plastic surgery.
Because he was confused, you lay while he play
Kool Keith's love interest slept with her previous man because he was confused, and even played with her emotions.
Cleanin my house, you look gorgeous in lingerie
Kool Keith's love interest is attractive even while she was cleaning the house wearing lingerie.
Is that the kid on the phone? Hardcore
Kool Keith is referring to his love interest's ex-boyfriend as a hardcore kid calling on the phone.
Hawkin you in front of the building everyday
Kool Keith's love interest constantly gets bothered by her ex-boyfriend in front of their building.
When is he gonna learn? It's over, it's my turn
Kool Keith is tired of his love interest's ex-boyfriend and it's now his turn to be with her.
You're pregnant with my kid
Kool Keith impregnated his love interest.
By the fireplace, we watch his doo-rags burn
Kool Keith and his love interest relax by the fireplace and burn items belonging to her ex-boyfriend.
I remodeled you, gave you the diamonds he couldn't wisely concern
Kool Keith gave his love interest diamonds and even upgraded her lifestyle compared to her previous man.
Always talkin bout the cash he got
Kool Keith's love interest's ex-boyfriend always talks about his money.
The little pesos for shows
The ex-boyfriend only makes a small amount of money from his shows.
And God knows his materialistic raps and wack flows
Kool Keith believes that the ex-boyfriend's raps are fake and unimpressive.
are like Stay Free pads, fake V.I.P. rappers get garbage disposed
Kool Keith finds the ex-boyfriend's raps disposable, like Stay Free pads.
Unrecouped for his flamboyance and reflection
The ex-boyfriend has no gain from his flamboyance and self-reflection.
He's leasin rentin and frontin - yeah, yeah..
The ex-boyfriend is merely pretending to have ownership or control of luxury items.
Stop the chorus back to your Bentley
Kool Keith is indirectly addressing his love interest's ex-boyfriend, telling him to leave in his Bentley.
Your wife is gone, she's with me
Kool Keith has taken his love interest from her ex-boyfriend and is now with her.
On a first class flight in the Bahamas, grab your bags quickly
Kool Keith and his love interest are flying first class while the ex-boyfriend is left in the dust.
Sorry top ten rapper on the answering machine
Kool Keith is mocking his love interest's ex-boyfriend for being called a 'top ten rapper' on his answering machine.
You're over like Al Green
The ex-boyfriend is like the once-popular singer Al Green, who is now past his prime.
This song is written for the 2003 team
Kool Keith is dedicating this song to his fans in 2003.
V.I.P. with Ben Vareen
Kool Keith is referring to himself as a V.I.P. and Ben Vareen, a famous actor, helps emphasize his status.
Cancel your A&R meeting light you up like Heatwave - central heating
Kool Keith is threatening to cancel the ex-boyfriend's A&R meeting and heat him up like central heating or heatwaves.
Eject your premature CD in the whirlpool while we're eating
Kool Keith describes his love interest and himself eating while destroying the ex-boyfriend's CD in a whirlpool tub.
Shut down all material, new tracks fall on your head like a crane
Kool Keith is telling the ex-boyfriend to stop being materialistic as new tracks fall on his head like a crane.
All you offered to women is sound of weak drums
Kool Keith thinks the ex-boyfriend's music is weak and unimpressive to women.
Fill they hearts with pain
The ex-boyfriend's music only causes emotional pain for his listeners.
I'm in your dungaree jacket like a bleach stain
Kool Keith has taken something of the ex-boyfriend's (his jacket) and won't let him forget it.
Girls cry on my arm, he was cheap and silly don't complain
Kool Keith's past love interests, who suffered from the same ex-boyfriend, now cry on his shoulder and complain about how cheap and foolish he was.
He's a nerd with a hardcore twist, playin with racing cars
Kool Keith describes the ex-boyfriend as a geek with a hardcore attitude, who likes to speed his cars.
We look out the window and count the rain on the window pane
Kool Keith and his love interest enjoy each other's company even while doing the most simple things like counting the rain on the window pane.
Here's a tissue for the tears
Kool Keith is mocking his love interest's ex-boyfriend and handing him a tissue for his tears.
He gave you hard times over hard rhymes for years
The ex-boyfriend not only caused his love interest emotional pain but also provided poor music for years.
Shattered your career
Kool Keith's love interest's career was destroyed by her ex-boyfriend's poor influence.
like an uncomfortable thong twisted in your rear
Kool Keith uses a thong as an analogy for how his love interest's ex-boyfriend 'twisted' her career and caused her pain.
He was eight years behind, I was already advanced, I've been here
The ex-boyfriend was behind in the music game and it is Kool Keith's time to shine.
Denim suits with alligators
Kool Keith is wearing a high-end denim suit with alligator skin details.
Your man sports black all the time with no flavors
The ex-boyfriend wears plain black clothing with no style or originality.
From castle to castle, hassle to hassle
Kool Keith is successful and moving from one castle to another while the ex-boyfriend is just experiencing trouble.
House to house, man to mouse (man to mouse)
Kool Keith is moving from one luxurious house to another while the ex-boyfriend is falling from grace.
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: KEITH THORNTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sean Morris
One of the greatest hooks of all time
SY H
Nah it is the greatest hook of all time.
dudenhtown
one of the most underrated albums of all time...
King Simpson
When this album dropped, I thought “in 20 years, music will catch up to what Keith is already doing.” Nope. Not even closes. In fact, it’s moving further away from this all the time.
MikeydaShank
Fav track on the album
princereznor1
This bang hard asf with head phones,This knock hard as hell,great production
Chetty Baxterman
Dopest song of the decade
Dimebag David Abbott
Perfect Album Cover😎🔥🔥🔥🔥
word vert
5 haters don't got surrounded sound or get big.
Spenn
I GET BIG