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)
Lived In The Projects
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah motherfucker.. that's right..
The motherfucker in the house.. Kool Keith..
Fuck all the bullshit, let's get to the real shit..
Yeah..
Your rhyme touch is soft kid
like a stripper's ass with a touch of plastic
talkin about competitive shit you never mastered
Youse a wannabe thug nigga, you ain't bugged nigga
I cut your bitch-ass up, leave your legs under the rug nigga
Who want the whiplash?
Cigarette burns, broken face hair pinned up in a cast
Me standin on the top of your tour bus
Butt-naked with a fuckin hockey mask
Slicin your cashmere with a sharp 7-Up glass
Don't you know I'm sick nigga? Lick my dick nigga!
Forty-four caliber killer gun-toter
Hide your kneecaps in a Lexus motor
Pack your stomach in a compartment
Old dingy fucked up Bronx apartment
Don't piss me off with a tec-9 loaded in a bullshit street argument
I don't care how hard you get
You just another man that never lived in the projects poppin shit
You ain't stoppin shit, fuck that Batman and Robin shit
and what block you with
Kneel down, make a nigga like you call me Big Ernest
Bake your intestines, throw your stomach in the furnace
Watch the thermostat, you ain't no fuckin fat cat
Chorus: Kool Keith
[sung] You never lived in the projects!
You ain't no drug dealer
*repeat Chorus 3X*
[Kool Keith]
Rude bwoy with a temper like a Jamaican off a Haitian boat
Carribean ruckus - with an Elvis wig
slap the piss out of one of you untalented rap motherfuckers
Bodyguards won't work
with a 30-shot car bomb under my Dominican shirt
Submachine in the duffle bag
Watchin Sesame Street with my daughter, peepin Ernie and Bert
With backstage passes, wearin a long trenchcoat
Get Morris in your projects
and Jackson in a Madison Square Garden concert
Ready for CBS and NBC, to do a big network
The average guy, havin a product manager
and a female publicist wearin a fuckin bulletproof vest
I got time for motherfuckers actin like Elliot Ness
Winchester sawed off blow your Rolex through your fuckin chest
Splatted body pieces while blood drips off your girl's dress
I'm ready for more progress
Have your head sent home
and a piece of your leg sittin on the record company desk
Extort like a mad nigga Western Union
You don't have a clue men how I get through men
*repeat Chorus 4X*
In "Lived in the Projects," Kool Keith expresses his disdain for rappers who talk about tough content but have never lived it. He opens the song by ridiculing these types of rappers, accusing them of having a weak touch when it comes to rhyming. He points out that their rhymes lack authenticity and are full of competitive talk which they have never really mastered. He suggests that they are nothing but wannabe thug rappers with no real street credibility.
Keith's level of aggression and anger are evident as he continues on to say that he could easily destroy any rapper with his sharp lyrical skills. He threatens to cut them up and leave their legs under the rug, thus implying that they will never have the power and might he possesses. He boasts about his killer gun-toting skills, hiding kneecaps in a Lexus motor, and throwing stomachs in the furnace. Keith emphasizes his point, insisting that these rappers must kneel down and call him "Big Ernest". In conclusion, Keith emphasizes his point by asserting that these untalented rappers never lived in the projects and they are merely spouting nonsense.
Line by Line Meaning
Your rhyme touch is soft kid
Your lyrics are weak and ineffective
like a stripper's ass with a touch of plastic
Compared to a fake buttocks from a strip club
Writin with a local style
You sound like every other rapper in town
talkin about competitive shit you never mastered
You boast about skills you don't really have
Youse a wannabe thug nigga, you ain't bugged nigga
You pretend to be tough, but you're not really a gangster
I cut your bitch-ass up, leave your legs under the rug nigga
I will harm you severely and hide your remains
Who want the whiplash?
Who wants to experience extreme pain?
Cigarette burns, broken face hair pinned up in a cast
I will inflict severe physical damage on you
Me standin on the top of your tour bus
I have the upper hand and am in control
Butt-naked with a fuckin hockey mask
I am willing to engage in bizarre behavior
Slicin your cashmere with a sharp 7-Up glass
I will destroy your prized possessions
Don't you know I'm sick nigga? Lick my dick nigga!
I am twisted and perverse, and you better not mess with me
Forty-four caliber killer gun-toter
I am heavily armed and dangerous
Hide your kneecaps in a Lexus motor
I will dismember you and dispose of your body
Pack your stomach in a compartment
I will mutilate your corpse
Old dingy fucked up Bronx apartment
I am from a rough neighborhood and it shows
Don't piss me off with a tec-9 loaded in a bullshit street argument
Do not provoke me or I will kill you
You just another man that never lived in the projects poppin shit
You are a phony who has no idea what real life is like
You ain't stoppin shit, fuck that Batman and Robin shit
You have no power over me, and your partnership means nothing
and what block you with
I don't care where you're from
Kneel down, make a nigga like you call me Big Ernest
I demand respect and submission
Bake your intestines, throw your stomach in the furnace
I am capable of committing unspeakable violence
Watch the thermostat, you ain't no fuckin fat cat
I am in control and you are powerless
You never lived in the projects!
You have no idea what hardship and struggle are like
You ain't no drug dealer
You pretend to be something you're not
Rude bwoy with a temper like a Jamaican off a Haitian boat
I am aggressive and unpredictable
Carribean ruckus - with an Elvis wig
I am a wild and eccentric character
slap the piss out of one of you untalented rap motherfuckers
I will physically assault anyone who disrespects me
Bodyguards won't work
No one can protect you from me
with a 30-shot car bomb under my Dominican shirt
I am armed with explosives and will use them
Submachine in the duffle bag
I have a powerful weapon on me
Watchin Sesame Street with my daughter, peepin Ernie and Bert
I have a soft side, but it doesn't negate my violent tendencies
With backstage passes, wearin a long trenchcoat
I have access to high-profile events
Get Morris in your projects
I can get things done even in the most difficult circumstances
and Jackson in a Madison Square Garden concert
I am well-connected and influential
Ready for CBS and NBC, to do a big network
I am prepared for any level of media exposure
The average guy, havin a product manager
Most people in the industry are not as powerful as I am
and a female publicist wearin a fuckin bulletproof vest
Even your best protection won't save you from me
I got time for motherfuckers actin like Elliot Ness
I am not impressed by people who try to bring me down
Winchester sawed off blow your Rolex through your fuckin chest
I am willing to destroy your possessions and your body
Splatted body pieces while blood drips off your girl's dress
I will commit graphic acts of violence and enjoy doing it
I'm ready for more progress
I am always moving forward and seeking new challenges
Have your head sent home
I will decapitate you and send your head to your family
and a piece of your leg sittin on the record company desk
My brutality knows no bounds
Extort like a mad nigga Western Union
I will take your money by any means necessary
You don't have a clue men how I get through men
You cannot comprehend my methods or my madness
Contributed by Mateo B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Scott Wilson
This whole album is slept on compared to the rest of his work. This is basically his "gangsta" rap album, in my opinion it's one of his best albums.
[hyaku]2 (stream archive+other)
It's his fucking angriest album and that's why it stands out and one of my favorite ever
MultiMrMiles
in the end...Keith is the greatest....really
mmmyeah7bro
You know that 😎
[hyaku]2 (stream archive+other)
TRUTH
Donny Donnybrook
The start
The middle
The End
The Beyond
Still the Best East 2 West
Michael Gibbons
Best MC period. Â The only MC that KRS ONE said he could never beat in a battle. Â
Steve Perry
+Gibbons Gibbons YES SIR
Anthony Montero
Word
MrLongduckdoong
ME STANDING ON TOP OF YOUR TOUR BUS BUCK NAKED WITH A HOCKEY MASK!!!!