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)
Move
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Kool Keith]
Yes
Aww yeah
Navigation defect
Boost out the maximum motherfuckin power
X-ray log intruder, what's the control?
Piss in your tosh system, neon lights shine
Glow in the dark, urination, wet up the computer
Oversearch, cosmic sensational
Watch your bitch squat
Distorters move they thongs off
Who that captain up front? Watch who the kid
Counteract, take a shit in the cockpit
Underarm aroma with the dark pit
Don't let me bounce like
Y'know, catch a clock with
Yeah, people jock shit
My pen control the forces
My stamina burn your sources
[Chorus 2X: Marc Live]
Move, get out, run for cover
Break out, call your mother, stop talkin
Don't come in the area, bomb terrible
Lose your mind, count your blessings, this is mental
[Kool Keith]
Yeah, the song repeat, the public complain
Every jam is whack, the piss, comin on the number ten station
The number one nation, shit turds
On B-E-S spins like Casey Kasem
Hand y'all the records
Shove all that bullshit up your asshole
Local bastard with upset stomach who barely fart gold
On new hot nine, old release the SCUD missile
Shittin the toilet tissue, defecation is the issue
My dick rise up, in the condom with elevation
I make money, like you hustle
My way up, ride planes bitch like you you and you
Open your fuckin package, ground delivery
FedEx KFC bucket full of horse shit
The farm send you motherfuckers the turtles
I give you doodoo, kidnap with voodoo
Hold your diarrhea blast, come straight forth
Bitch, cock your ass, chocolate brown
Cover your white poodle, fuck you
Shove the bullshit playlist up your boo boo
Plastic ass nigga, you ain't accurate ass nigga
That clown-ass buildin beside track, he get sidetracked
Lick dick fast nigga cut grease
Twelve inches fucked up, Marc turn that shit off, they suck
Play me, when you get that grey beard
I don't give a fuck
[Chorus] w/ echo
The lyrics of Kool Keith's song "Move" featuring Marc Live can be interpreted in various ways, but the overall theme seems to revolve around rebellion and asserting one's individuality. The song opens with Keith declaring his independence from the constraints of society's norms, expressing a desire to push beyond boundaries and limitations. He uses a lot of non-conformist imagery throughout the song, painting his rebellion as a kind of hacking or infiltrating of systems.
The lyrics are characterized by a lot of vulgarity and obscenity, which can make them difficult for some listeners to interpret. However, beneath the surface there is a lot of social commentary and criticism. For example, Keith seems to be calling out the music industry for its tendency to churn out the same formulaic songs and acts, labeling them as "whack" and "bullshit." He also criticizes the media's tendency to hype up certain artists or trends just because they are popular, without giving much thought to their artistic value.
Throughout the song, Keith presents himself as an outsider who refuses to be easily categorized or controlled. He brags about his unique style and creative abilities, asserting that he is in control of his own destiny. At the same time, he seems to acknowledge that his rebellion is not always taken seriously by the mainstream, and that he is often dismissed or marginalized because of his unconventional approach to music.
Overall, "Move" is a complex and challenging song that rewards careful listening and interpretation. It offers a glimpse into the mind of a rebellious artist who refuses to conform to the expectations of the music industry or society at large.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes
Acknowledging the start of the song
Aww yeah
Expressing excitement
Navigation defect
Aircraft navigation is flawed
Boost out the maximum motherfuckin power
Increase the propulsion output to the highest level
X-ray log intruder, what's the control?
Identifying a potential unauthorized access to the aircraft's system and asking for instructions
There's your number, leave the three, general justice
Providing a code to access a secure system and giving justice to the rightful user
Piss in your tosh system, neon lights shine
Urinating on the computer system causing the neon lights to reflect
Glow in the dark, urination, wet up the computer
Covering the computer with urine causing it to emit light in the dark
Oversearch, cosmic sensational
Exploring beyond the limits and discovering otherworldly experiences
Watch your bitch squat
Observing a woman squatting
Distorters move they thongs off
Women removing their thongs in excitement
Who that captain up front? Watch who the kid
Questioning the identity of the aircraft's captain and telling someone to observe
Counteract, take a shit in the cockpit
Responding to a threat by defecating in the cockpit
Underarm aroma with the dark pit
A foul smell coming from the armpits and groin area
Don't let me bounce like
Don't let me leave abruptly
Y'know, catch a clock with
Timing a particular event
Yeah, people jock shit
People follow popular trends
My pen control the forces
My writing has immense power
My stamina burn your sources
I outlast and overpower my rivals
Move, get out, run for cover
Flee from danger
Break out, call your mother, stop talkin
Escaping from a threatening situation and calling for help
Don't come in the area, bomb terrible
Stay away from the bombing zone
Lose your mind, count your blessings, this is mental
Become unsettled, but appreciate your blessings, as the situation is crazy
Yeah, the song repeat, the public complain
The repeated song causes people to complain
Every jam is whack, the piss, comin on the number ten station
All the music played is terrible, even the station number ten
The number one nation, shit turds
The country or station that claims to be the best is producing terrible content
On B-E-S spins like Casey Kasem
The radio station is playing old music like Casey Kasem's show
Hand y'all the records
Passing the records to someone else
Shove all that bullshit up your asshole
Stop playing lousy music
Local bastard with upset stomach who barely fart gold
A person who produces mediocre music but believes it is of high quality
On new hot nine, old release the SCUD missile
Playing old music on a supposedly up-to-date station
Shittin the toilet tissue, defecation is the issue
Wiping with too much toilet tissue is a problem
My dick rise up, in the condom with elevation
My sexual prowess is impressive, even when using a condom
I make money, like you hustle
I earn money just like you work hard for it
My way up, ride planes bitch like you you and you
I now travel by plane, just like anyone else
Open your fuckin package, ground delivery
Receive your delivery on the ground
FedEx KFC bucket full of horse shit
Receiving a shipment filled with something disgusting or useless
The farm send you motherfuckers the turtles
The sender is sending something useless, like turtles
I give you doodoo, kidnap with voodoo
I give you something worthless and meaningless
Hold your diarrhea blast, come straight forth
Hurry up and release your bodily fluids
Bitch, cock your ass, chocolate brown
Insulting someone and referring to their skin color
Cover your white poodle, fuck you
Insulting someone and their pet dog
Shove the bullshit playlist up your boo boo
Stop playing terrible music
Plastic ass nigga, you ain't accurate ass nigga
Insulting someone's fake persona and lack of accuracy
That clown-ass buildin beside track, he get sidetracked
Insulting a building and the people who work there
Lick dick fast nigga cut grease
Insulting someone and telling them to leave
Twelve inches fucked up, Marc turn that shit off, they suck
The song being played is terrible and needs to be turned off
Play me, when you get that grey beard
Play my music when you're old and grey
I don't give a fuck
I don't care
Contributed by Makayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
IMP3RI3X
Kool Keith is the best.
tengusensei
thanks for uploading this. I was involved in the making of this track in Brisbane/Australia 2006.
Spacecore
@Peter Piper how it was it? its amazing man.. track is fucking fire
Peter Piper
@Seb Master played on it, helped compose it. Recorded Keith and Mark's vocals in Brisbane Australia.
Seb Master
how were you involved? :)
Anthony Casey
One of Keith’s most based tracks
Santino Chavez
Urination, wet up the computer.
JAYANT
call your mother