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)
No Chorus
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You motherfuckers oughta let me go and finish this motherfuckin album
Dr. Dooom..
Name of this track is called "I Don't Want the Motherfuckin Chorus"
Whatever all the arrangements are we gon' go through
Fuck all the laws..
What the fuck was in your mind when you rapped on that track?
Unplug your mic
You motherfuckers rap under a bunch of fuckin hype
Programmed by the company, makin somethin cheap
Vocals sound like a nigga with no dough and a promo;
makin asses out of yourselves, tryin to rap solo
Suck my dick when you see me; avoid because you want to be me
why'all niggaz write like slouches puffin blunts on studio couches
What's up you fuckin amateur?
Your engineer'll cue in your bullshit cadence
That shit sounds simple; look at this nigga rhymin to hisself
Wack as fuck, smell like shit for one buck
Big crews don't want it -- why'all get it worse
Which one of why'all motherfuckers is waitin for the mic first?
I hope your bitch is in the audience
Your wife too, that's your fanbase -- plus your DJ's in the place
I'm about to boo you, let it be fair; when you come off-stage
ninety percent of the people that came on your guest list
ain't gon' be there
A big dissapointment when I rub your asshole with a verbal ointment
Rappers actin hard, nervous in the dressin room
with a security guard
Groupies standin round with they fuckin face frowned
Lookin like fuckin Homey the Clown
Put that Spring Water down man, you ain't sweatin
You motherfuckers did a ten minute weak show and you jettin;
your fans are mad - your performance was garbage bag
Look at these videotapes
Walkin back and forth grabbin your nuts like the Planet of the Apes
Supervise it, criticize it, why'all don't realize it
where the real guys at
Who's administrating your budget when you takin
that high picture for Right On with your ballroom light on
You know the night is kind of special like Lowenbrau
when I escort you to your car, you breakout bastards
Leave the premises and reminisce on your rookie season after you first started
You try to work hard and you never paid no dues like Cold Crush and Afrika Bambaata
You wack nigga, tryin to act large in the video in Nevada
You fuckin pink maggot; I'll take your mic, you can't have it
You niggaz be runnin around with ears open like fuckin bunny rabbits
That's right, Dr. Dooom
All you motherfuckers around the world sittin in studios with your boys
Hypin your shit up
Motherfuckers don't want to tell you that your shit is wack
because they all yes men
Sittin around, carryin your roadie cases
Bein your fuckin cheerleaders
I'ma tell you straight, look in the fuckin mirror, you wack
That shit don't sound right, your mixdown ain't right
Your vocals are too low.. your fuckin cadence is off
Stage show's weak.. fuck you!
The song "No Chorus" by Kool Keith is a scathing critique on the state of modern rap music. He expresses his frustration with the trend of rapping without any discernible structure or melody, hence the title "No Chorus." He accuses other rappers of sounding "wack" and relying too heavily on their hype and the production of their record label, rather than on actual talent. He even goes as far as saying he hopes their fans (wife, family, and DJ) are in the audience so they can witness their embarrassment when they bomb on stage.
The lyrics are full of insults and criticisms directed at other artists who, in Keith's opinion, lack the skill and originality to make it in the rap game. He calls them "amateur" and accuses them of not paying their dues, unlike the pioneers of the genre Cold Crush and Afrika Bambaata. This can be interpreted as a warning or a call to action for aspiring artists, urging them to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to become respected players in the hip-hop world.
Overall, "No Chorus" is a scathing commentary on the state of modern rap music and the failure of some artists to live up to the standards set by their predecessors.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah..
The song is about to begin
You motherfuckers oughta let me go and finish this motherfuckin album
The singer is frustrated with the people who won't let him finish his album.
Dr. Dooom..
The singer is introducing the track and himself by his nickname.
Name of this track is called "I Don't Want the Motherfuckin Chorus"
The artist is introducing the title of the track and emphasizing his desire not to have a chorus in the song.
Whatever all the arrangements are we gon' go through
The artist is discussing the different arrangements he will go through for the song.
Fuck all the laws..
The singer is expressing his disregard for the rules and opinions of others.
What the fuck was in your mind when you rapped on that track?
The singer is questioning the thought process of the person who recorded the song.
Who possessed you to do that? Who programmed - that shit sound wack
The artist is asking what influenced the person to make the song and criticizing the quality of the sound.
Unplug your mic
The artist is telling the person to stop rapping and turn off their microphone.
You motherfuckers rap under a bunch of fuckin hype
The artist is calling out the hype surrounding the person's music and criticizing their rap style.
Programmed by the company, makin somethin cheap
The singer is accusing the company behind the artist of producing low-quality music to make a profit.
Vocals sound like a nigga with no dough and a promo;
The artist is saying that the vocals sound amateurish and low-budget.
makin asses out of yourselves, tryin to rap solo
The singer is criticizing the person for trying to be a solo artist when they aren't good enough.
Suck my dick when you see me; avoid because you want to be me
The singer is egotistical and saying that the person should bow down to him because he's a better artist.
why'all niggaz write like slouches puffin blunts on studio couches
The singer is insulting the person's writing style and saying that they're lazy and uninspired.
What's up you fuckin amateur?
The artist is insulting the person and calling them an amateur.
Your engineer'll cue in your bullshit cadence
The artist is criticizing the person's engineer for not doing a good job at producing their music.
That shit sounds simple; look at this nigga rhymin to hisself
The singer is insulting the simplicity of the person's music and saying that they have no one else to collaborate with.
Wack as fuck, smell like shit for one buck
The singer is saying that the person's music is terrible and isn't worth the cost of a single dollar.
Big crews don't want it -- why'all get it worse
The artist is saying that the person's music is so bad that even big music groups wouldn't want it.
Which one of why'all motherfuckers is waitin for the mic first?
The artist is asking which person is eager to perform next and offering to criticize them as well.
I hope your bitch is in the audience
The artist is hoping that the person's girlfriend or wife is present in the audience to see their poor performance.
Your wife too, that's your fanbase -- plus your DJ's in the place
The singer is saying that the person's small fanbase is comprised of their friends and family who are present in the audience.
I'm about to boo you, let it be fair; when you come off-stage
The artist is preparing to boo the person when they finish their performance.
ninety percent of the people that came on your guest list
The singer is referencing the fact that most of the guests on the person's guest list won't be present for their performance.
ain't gon' be there
The singer is emphasizing that the person has very little support and turnout for their shows.
A big dissapointment when I rub your asshole with a verbal ointment
The singer is saying that he will insult the person and their music with harsh language.
Rappers actin hard, nervous in the dressin room
The artist is criticizing rappers who act tough but are actually nervous and intimidated offstage.
with a security guard
The artist is saying that the rappers have a security guard to protect them backstage, further emphasizing their vulnerability.
Groupies standin round with they fuckin face frowned
The singer is saying that no one is interested in the rappers or their music, not even their groupies.
Lookin like fuckin Homey the Clown
The singer is referencing a TV character that is ugly and unappealing, comparing the groupies to it.
Put that Spring Water down man, you ain't sweatin
The artist is saying that the rappers aren't working hard enough to break a sweat and therefore can't be using spring water to hydrate.
You motherfuckers did a ten minute weak show and you jettin;
The artist is criticizing the short length and low energy of the person's performance before they left the stage quickly.
your fans are mad - your performance was garbage bag
The artist is saying that the person's fans are angry and disappointed because their performance was terrible.
Look at these videotapes
The singer is suggesting that the person should watch recordings of their performances to see how bad they really are.
Walkin back and forth grabbin your nuts like the Planet of the Apes
The artist is saying that the person's stage presence is weak and animalistic, using a movie reference to emphasize his point.
Supervise it, criticize it, why'all don't realize it
The singer is encouraging the person to take constructive criticism and improve their music.
where the real guys at
The singer is questioning who the truly talented and successful artists are.
Who's administrating your budget when you takin
The singer is asking who is in charge of the person's finances and expenses.
that high picture for Right On with your ballroom light on
The artist is referencing a publication and implying that the person is wasting money on expensive photoshoots with fancy lighting.
You know the night is kind of special like Lowenbrau
The artist is referencing a beer brand and saying that the night is significant and should be treated as such.
when I escort you to your car, you breakout bastards
The singer is saying that he will kick the person out after their mediocre performance.
Leave the premises and reminisce on your rookie season after you first started
The singer is suggesting that the person should leave and reflect on their humble beginnings as an artist.
You try to work hard and you never paid no dues like Cold Crush and Afrika Bambaata
The artist is saying that the person hasn't put in the necessary work to be successful and hasn't earned their place in the industry like other famous artists.
You wack nigga, tryin to act large in the video in Nevada
The artist is saying that the person is terrible at rapping and trying to appear successful in a music video filmed in Nevada.
You fuckin pink maggot; I'll take your mic, you can't have it
The artist is continuing to belittle the person and threatening to take their microphone away.
You niggaz be runnin around with ears open like fuckin bunny rabbits
The singer is saying that the person and their peers are gullible and listen uncritically to anyone who tells them they're doing well.
That's right, Dr. Dooom
The artist is repeating his nickname as the song comes to an end.
All you motherfuckers around the world sittin in studios with your boys
The singer is addressing all of the aspiring rappers around the world who are making music with their friends.
Hypin your shit up
The singer is saying that these rappers are promoting their music excessively and making it seem better than it really is.
Motherfuckers don't want to tell you that your shit is wack
The singer is saying that others are afraid to criticize the rappers' music and tell them that it's bad.
because they all yes men
The artist is saying that the people around the rappers are too supportive and don't offer enough constructive criticism.
Sittin around, carryin your roadie cases
The artist is mocking the people who are supporting the rappers by carrying their equipment around for them.
Bein your fuckin cheerleaders
The singer is saying that the people around the rappers are acting like cheerleaders and blindly supporting them.
I'ma tell you straight, look in the fuckin mirror, you wack
The singer is saying that he is going to be honest with the rappers and tell them that their music is bad.
That shit don't sound right, your mixdown ain't right
The artist is criticizing the production quality of the rappers' music and saying that the sound needs work.
Your vocals are too low.. your fuckin cadence is off
The artist is saying that the rappers need to improve their voice projection and rhythm.
Stage show's weak.. fuck you!
The artist is saying that the rappers' live performance is bad and expressing his frustration with them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, KURT MATLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind