An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's… Read Full Bio ↴An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's, "Kool" Keith Thornton is best known as a solo rapper. His signature style is stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow and complex vocals, two skills that earn him a perennial nod from the underground hip-hop community. The average Kool Keith album is peppered with bizarre, disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, as well as major record labels.

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)

Kiss My Ass
Kool Keith Lyrics

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[Kool Keith]
Yeah, motherfuckin Kool Keith
I'm doin this motherfucker
I'ma get in this motherfucker
I'm worser than chocolate Ex-Lax kid
I'll blow out your asshole
On some Mt. Helen volcano type shit
Dare your girl to try to act fly at the Nassau Coliseum concert

Defend your emotions when I attack
Fuck the words of the monkeys back and forth
Singers and rappers, I'm guaranteed like "5 Fingers of Death"
Reach in your stomach with the iron fist
You can't fuck with the iron wrist
Cup of soup noodle niggaz
Talkin shit, you on my lyin list
Your makeup is Mac
Everybody against the wall, before I piss on your buttcrack
Plastic bastards
I cover your staff members with battery acid
Five people in one motherfucker I'm drastic
Like a bitch who do a fast kick

[Chorus]
Kiss my ass nigga (kiss my ass nigga) {*repeat 3X*}

[Kool Keith]
You get meaner, with that bullshit you talk
Tie rappers up in the basement like preacher
Scrub your fuckin forehead with brillo pads
Gasoline is my ammo
Wipe you motherfuckers up with glass cleaner
Three bottles of Pine Sol, shit on your mixtape
I'll catch you at the mall
Lookin more fake whack-ass wigga
I used to shit on your babysitters
Shut the fuck up, piss all over your transmitters
Motherfuck a garbage-ass nigga
Screamin over your music, FUCK YOU
New York makes you bitter, type of faggot ass nigga
To sit in cat litter, everybody suck my dick
Playin one or two niggaz
Look in the mirror doc, I'm on your time clock
Always inkin a deal
Urinate on your paper when I sign dots
Your CD's up at Universal in a cardboard box
Stop fuckin borin me
With overnight niggaz, with no stories
Motherfuckers gettin they first model bitch
I'm on Simmons level, I shit on your Pave jewelry
From the Brightling to the Jacob to the Rolex
None of these Sesame Street Big Bird Oscar niggaz can fool me
Been eatin chinese food, with Greg Nice
Can't stop the fuckin hustle, my lyrics are Smooth B

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In the song "Kiss My Ass" by Kool Keith, he is claiming his dominance and superiority over other rappers in the game. He uses aggressive and vulgar language to assert himself as the top dog in the industry. He refers to himself as "worser than chocolate Ex-Lax kid," which means he is more brutal than a harsh laxative. He boasts about his strength and power, comparing himself to Mt. Helen volcano, saying that he can blow out someone's asshole. Keith is daring other rappers and their girlfriends to try and act fly at his concerts. He is unfazed by their words and emotions, threatening to reach into their stomachs with an iron fist. He believes he is guaranteed to succeed, like "5 Fingers of Death." He ends with a strong message - if you mess with him, you'll regret it.

This song is a testament to Kool Keith's confidence in his own abilities as a rapper. He is unapologetic and unafraid to stand up for himself, even against the biggest names in the industry. He puts himself on a pedestal above other rappers, using language that is meant to intimidate and belittle his competition. Ultimately, "Kiss My Ass" is a call to action for other rappers to either step up and compete with Kool Keith or back down and acknowledge his superiority.

Kiss My AssKool Keith Lyrics

Kiss My Ass
Kool Keith Lyrics