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)
In Your Face
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll get my manager crazy as hell he'll pull steel
Show these sheisty people the sawed off the pump is real
Then smack niggaz when they don't feel Keith's right direction
Put niggaz in fear the bullets in they head section
Pick up drug dollars leave rings around niggaz collars
Front me cash you catch them bodies put em in a stash
Never laugh at you explain plans what to do
Don't step to me with shit the candle wax is gettin lit
I'm solo now, and still money I have to fuckin split
Business ain't straight in glamour world, fuckin hellgate
All these things I been through, your skull deserves a metal plates
Not the platinum plaque, just gun staples in your back
Hung from a tree with rusty nails in your rectum crack
Chorus: cool Keith (repeat 3X)
I get personal direct straight, I bring it forward
Where? .. IN YOUR FACE! (In yo' face)
[Kool Keith]
For everybody a problem manager
30% get my photo session ready, songs to the fuckin president
I been spendin my ASCAP, waitin out there brain-walkin
up with hit records on feet, in the fuckin rain
Through merry-go-rounds, past politic circus
Then shift flop first, and now it's time that you work this
Suck my ass, we pass on acts if you think they good
Niggaz ain't platinum, they album still, went barely wood
I bring your ? down, samples now you have to clear it
Niggaz talkin shit like lyric records, I ain't tryin to hear it
Even if I'm deaf no mouth, one fuckin ear left
You think they worth investments, hold your fuckin breath
You might as well bite Kane, Rakim, study G. Rap
I got some new shit, mental secrets for yo' asscrack
Let me get real, before that ass breach that contract
I got witnesses watchin, statements over budget
Don't try to hide behind that fuckin mask now
Throw the pistols away, and hide the shit in the grass now
Chorus
[Kool Keith]
I'm sittin quiet with tons of threats, and Baskin-Rob'
Extortion is over, I cock back, you lose your fuckin job
Two years of my time is precious in my kid's mind
With child support, I drag your coffins in the court
We even Steven, fuck that, my time and rent is short
I've been writin songs, I'm calm, I'm a good sport
One year has gone by, with tecs jam up in your eye
I'm on some clever shit, fuck it man, go 'head lie
I wake up six o'clock with triggers cocked every morning
I'm no joke, you're bound to smell the fragrant gunsmoke
I'll be scrubbin halls, wipin blood off the office walls
Chorus: cool Keith (repeat 4X)
I get personal direct straight, I bring it forward
Where? .. IN YOUR FACE! (In yo' face)
[Kool Keith]
Yeah, yeah
Let's get some fuckin hit records goin right now
East coast to West coast, I don't give a fuck
His shit is wack, their shit is wack
That shit is wack over there
Ain't nuttin fuckin movin
Get some fuckin bullets on the fuckin charts
Fuck that, let's do this (y'all ain't ready)
In "In Your Face," Kool Keith raps about dealing with the challenges of the rap industry, including shady managers, untrustworthy colleagues, and the constant need to stay ahead of the game. He talks about carrying guns, picking up drug money, and putting fear into his enemies. He demands respect and acknowledgment for his talent while also taking aim at those he views as imposters in the industry.
Keith's lyrics reveal a deep sense of frustration and anger at the injustices he's faced throughout his career. He threatens violence against anyone who crosses him, suggesting that he'll do whatever it takes to protect his reputation and his livelihood. At the same time, he acknowledges that the business side of things isn't always smooth, and he's had to deal with his fair share of setbacks and disappointments.
Overall, "In Your Face" is a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred track that showcases Kool Keith's unique style and uncompromising attitude toward the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll get my manager crazy as hell he'll pull steel
If someone messes with me, my manager will get so angry that he will pull out a gun to show them that we are not to be messed with.
Show these sheisty people the sawed off the pump is real
I will use a shotgun to intimidate people who are trying to cheat me.
Then smack niggaz when they don't feel Keith's right direction
If anyone disobeys me, I will hit them to show them that I am serious about getting things done my way.
Put niggaz in fear the bullets in they head section
I will put people in fear by shooting bullets into their heads if they try to cross me.
Pick up drug dollars leave rings around niggaz collars
I will take the money from drug sales and leave marks around people's necks as a reminder not to mess with me.
Front me cash you catch them bodies put em in a stash
If you give me money, I will take care of your problems and make people disappear for you.
Never laugh at you explain plans what to do
I will never mock you, but will explain the plan and what needs to be done to achieve our goals.
Machine guns on tour, pajama for your soft crew
I bring machine guns on tour to protect myself and my crew, while my enemies are soft and weak.
Don't step to me with shit the candle wax is gettin lit
Don't try to start trouble with me, because I am ready and willing to fight back at any moment.
I'm solo now, and still money I have to fuckin split
Even though I am solo now, I still have to split the money and rewards with others who helped me get here.
Business ain't straight in glamour world, fuckin hellgate
Business is not always fair in the glamour world, it can be like going through hell.
All these things I been through, your skull deserves a metal plates
After everything I have been through, you deserve to have metal plates in your head just for thinking you can mess with me.
Not the platinum plaque, just gun staples in your back
You won't be getting a platinum plaque, just staples in your back from being shot for trying to cross me.
Hung from a tree with rusty nails in your rectum crack
If you really piss me off, I will hang you from a tree with rusty nails in your rectum crack. That's how serious I am about getting revenge.
I get personal direct straight, I bring it forward
I directly and honestly confront any problems or issues and present them in a straightforward manner.
For everybody a problem manager
My manager can be a problem for anyone who tries to cross me or get in my way.
30% get my photo session ready, songs to the fuckin president
30% of my time is spent getting my photo sessions and songs ready, even for the president.
Through merry-go-rounds, past politic circus
I have been through a lot of bureaucracy and politics to get to where I am now.
Then shift flop first, and now it's time that you work this
I have switched directions before, and now it's your turn to work with me to achieve our goals.
Suck my ass, we pass on acts if you think they good
I don't care what you think is good, if I don't like it, we're passing on it.
Niggaz ain't platinum, they album still, went barely wood
People aren't buying their music, and their album is not a platinum hit.
I bring your ? down, samples now you have to clear it
I will use samples in my music, and now you have to clear them if you want me to use your music.
Niggaz talkin shit like lyric records, I ain't tryin to hear it
People talk a lot of trash about how great they are with lyrics, but I'm not listening to it.
Even if I'm deaf no mouth, one fuckin ear left
Even if I can't hear, I still have one working ear to listen to you with.
You think they worth investments, hold your fuckin breath
If you think someone is worth investing in, don't hold your breath waiting for me to agree with you.
You might as well bite Kane, Rakim, study G. Rap
You might as well waste your time trying to be like Kane, Rakim or G.Rap, because they already did it better than you ever will.
I got some new shit, mental secrets for yo' asscrack
I have some new ideas and secrets that I will only reveal to people who prove they are worth it.
Let me get real, before that ass breach that contract
Let me be clear and honest with you before you break the contract we have together.
I'm sittin quiet with tons of threats, and Baskin-Rob'
I am being quiet for now, but I have many threats and I am ready to attack at any moment.
Extortion is over, I cock back, you lose your fuckin job
I won't be extorted anymore, I will fight back and make you lose your job and everything you worked for.
Two years of my time is precious in my kid's mind
I value my time because my kids value my time very highly.
With child support, I drag your coffins in the court
If you fail to pay child support, I will drag you to court and make you pay.
We even Steven, fuck that, my time and rent is short
I don't want to hear about us being even, I need to make money to pay my bills and time is running out for me.
I'm on some clever shit, fuck it man, go 'head lie
I am very clever and can see through lies, so don't even try to deceive me.
I wake up six o'clock with triggers cocked every morning
I am always on guard and ready for any threat that may come, so I wake up early every morning to prepare myself.
I'm no joke, you're bound to smell the fragrant gunsmoke
I am not someone to mess with lightly, and if you do, you will smell the aftermath of the gunsmoke.
I'll be scrubbin halls, wipin blood off the office walls
I am not above doing dirty work, like cleaning up blood off of office walls after someone has been killed.
His shit is wack, their shit is wack, That shit is wack over there
I don't like anyone else's music or work, and think it's all terrible.
Ain't nuttin fuckin movin, Get some fuckin bullets on the fuckin charts
Nothing is happening or getting done, so let's put some violent and controversial music on the charts to stir things up.
Cool Keith (repeat 3X)
Chorus: I get personal direct straight, I bring it forward, Where? .. IN YOUR FACE! (In yo' face)
Cool Keith (repeat 4X)
Chorus: I get personal direct straight, I bring it forward, Where? .. IN YOUR FACE! (In yo' face)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, TREVOR RANDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind