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)
N.B.A.
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The National, Basketball, Association
We begin ("well that's alright")
Your man is a tourin nigga, six-foot-eight floss nigga
who carries champagne in the club with Coogi sweaters
Borin nigga, no game havin
Less rap skill, N.B.A. nigga with a studio you ill
Six-foot-three guards on the microphone, my lyrics kill
Why don't you awkward niggaz stop rhymin and take a birth control pill
Jackson got you gassed, ask Phil
I'm not impressed with your full court press
Girls with Tyra Banks weaves, and Lisa Raye's complexion
can step up to the foul line for an AIDS test
My jewelry like big trucks
I don't care if you flash your Milwaukee Bucks
Even bodyguards couldn't protect you ducks
I care less if you a Trailblazer
My cris-cross on girls is sharp, why'all get cut off with a razor
Even if you have braids like Latrell
I got more numbers in my system than Pacific Bell
Pass the basketball around and go tell
Smoother than Rick Fox puttin on his hair gel
Groupies don't have to know me, just swallow my sperm when you blow me
Keith look in the club for your celebrity jump shooters
Tall lean men who can't read books to they kids need tutors
You cats got the nerve to try to stop my tomahawk dunks
by e-mailing, golddiggers on computers
Leap over why'all with color and fashion
Lame assholes in black pinstripe suits, keep steppin and passin
Beyond the youse-a-baby, you broke finished payin for them car notes
I'm the championship nigga youse a loser ("well that's alright")
P.I.S.S., on the N.B.A. ("well that's alright")
N.B.A. niggaz!
National Basketball Association
N.B.A. bitches! (N.B.A. play)
National Basketball Association
(The N.B.A. Association..)
{*singer ad libs*}
(N.B.A. niggaz, house niggaz, slave owner niggaz..)
In the song N.B.A. by Kool Keith, he sends a message to the National Basketball Association (N.B.A.). He starts by dissing a specific famous basketball player who is "a six-foot-eight floss nigga who carries champagne in the club with Coogi sweaters." Keith goes on to critique the lack of game and rap skill of many N.B.A. players who try to pursue a music career. He boasts his own lyrical skills and even suggests that some players should stop rapping and "take a birth control pill".
Keith continues his attacks on the N.B.A. by referencing Michael Jordan as an inflated ego basketball coach and Phil Jackson as having his players too confident in their abilities. He then takes a dig at Milwaukee Bucks fans and bodyguards who are unable to protect the players from his sharp tongue. He also mentions various celebrities like Tyra Banks, Lisa Raye, and Rick Fox. He then ends the song by declaring himself as the "championship nigga" while the N.B.A. players are all "losers".
Overall, the lyrics of N.B.A. are tongue-in-cheek but showcase Kool Keith's cleverness and ability to deliver witty insults. He does not hold back in criticizing the N.B.A. and its players, while suggesting that he is a superior talent.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah... a message to the N.B.A. ("well that's alright")
The artist is addressing the National Basketball Association and has a message for it, but feels indifferent towards it.
We begin ("well that's alright")
The artist is starting his message, and still feels indifferent.
Your man is a tourin nigga, six-foot-eight floss nigga
The basketball players being referenced are rich and have expensive jewelry, cars, and other possessions.
who carries champagne in the club with Coogi sweaters
They even bring champagne to clubs while wearing designer Coogi sweaters.
Borin nigga, no game havin
The artist thinks these NBA players lack any sort of interesting or unique qualities.
Less rap skill, N.B.A. nigga with a studio you ill
They may be successful in basketball, but wouldn't stand a chance against the artist in rap.
Don't you know my game terrorize
The artist is confident and sure of his abilities in rap and warns those who will test him.
Six-foot-three guards on the microphone, my lyrics kill
The artist challenges anyone to compete with him on the microphone, regardless of their basketball skills.
Why don't you awkward niggaz stop rhymin and take a birth control pill
Those who try to rap around him are described as awkward and incompetent to the point that they should stop bothering him.
Jackson got you gassed, ask Phil
The artist believes that the basketball players' egos are boosted by coaches like Phil Jackson.
I'm not impressed with your full court press
The artist is unimpressed with their skills and abilities in basketball.
Girls with Tyra Banks weaves, and Lisa Raye's complexion
can step up to the foul line for an AIDS test
Even attractive girls will find no value in these NBA players, as they are poorly equipped to deal with issues such as sexually transmitted diseases.
My jewelry like big trucks
The artist has large, expensive jewelry pieces which he considers like big trucks because of their size and value.
I don't care if you flash your Milwaukee Bucks
He doesn't care if you flaunt your Milwaukee Bucks (referring to the basketball team from Milwaukee), because your money and success mean nothing to him.
Even bodyguards couldn't protect you ducks
Even if NBA players were to hire bodyguards, they would not be effective enough, and they are being called ducks, meaning they are incompetent or unimpressive.
I care less if you a Trailblazer
Even if the person is a Trailblazer (referring to the basketball team from Portland) or has some other title, it doesn't impress the artist.
My cris-cross on girls is sharp, why'all get cut off with a razor
His relationships with women are described as smooth, but he is merciless to those who disappoint him or cross him.
Even if you have braids like Latrell
Even if you have braids like Latrell (referring to NBA player Latrell Sprewell) or any other characteristic, you won't impress the artist.
I got more numbers in my system than Pacific Bell
The artist has more ways to contact his people in his cell phone than the phone company itself.
Pass the basketball around and go tell
The artist believes that NBA players should stick to playing basketball and should not bother him.
Smoother than Rick Fox puttin on his hair gel
The artist is smoother than Rick Fox, a former NBA player, putting on hair gel and is therefore superior to him.
Groupies don't have to know me, just swallow my sperm when you blow me
The artist describes himself having groupies who do not need to know who he is, but will still please him sexually.
Keith look in the club for your celebrity jump shooters
The artist is looking for celebrities who are good jumpers to jump with him in the club.
Tall lean men who can't read books to they kids need tutors
The artist insults wealthy, athletic NBA players, hinting that they prioritize their physical abilities over their intellectual abilities and should learn to read.
You cats got the nerve to try to stop my tomahawk dunks
by e-mailing, golddiggers on computers
The artist complains that gold diggers are trying to stop him from doing his tomahawk dunks by emailing complaints.
Leap over why'all with color and fashion
The artist believes he is fashion-forward and superior to others.
Lame assholes in black pinstripe suits, keep steppin and passin
The artist insults people dressed in black pinstripe suits and tells them to keep walking.
Beyond the youse-a-baby, you broke finished payin for them car notes
The artist emphasizes his success and mocks anyone who is stuck paying off their car.
I'm the championship nigga youse a loser ("well that's alright")
The artist believes that he is the ultimate champion, but still feels indifferent towards the NBA players who don't match up.
P.I.S.S., on the N.B.A. ("well that's alright")
The artist's final message is essentially that he doesn't care about the NBA and that he is superior to it.
N.B.A. niggaz!
Reiteration of insult towards NBA players.
National Basketball Association
Reference towards the basketball league.
N.B.A. bitches! (N.B.A. play)
Continued insult towards NBA players, referencing their incompetence in both basketball and rap.
(*singer ad libs*)
Ad-libbing sounds by the singer
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, SCOTT SANTOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jason B.
Deserves a Grammy
Gene Schwartz
i was just thinking that too
membersonlydave
the nba association
Jason B.
P i s s on the nba