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)
Operation Extortion
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You fucked it up for everybody
When I see you I'ma punch you in your fuckin face
You and that other faggot ass nigga that rap witchu
I'ma catch you (?) Ensoniq or Platinum Factory
I know you be in fuckin Chung King
I'ma search around motherfuckin D&D
Fuck you nigga, criticizin my shit, talkin behind my back
Youse a weak nigga, don't speak nigga, face the trigger
What you know about my shit?
Why you reviewin it, why you ratin it? You fuckin hatin it
Backpack ass nigga, how you figure?
Fuck a cypher, I get live on your favorite ass corny ass niggaz
I'm a survivor, no village ass shit
Motherfuckers walkin around tryin to be Bob Marley and Lenny Kravitz
That scarf shit around everybody's head is for faggots
Get on stage I throw lettuce and cabbage
You fuckin with bad habits
Run up on you like 10 Puerto Ricans gettin out a fuckin Chevrolet
I don't play, fuck your bodyguard Big Rae
I chop your hands off and throw your fuckin fingers in the ashtray
Dead-end, no backup, comin down to one-way
Chorus: Kool Keith
Operation.. extortion (4X)
[Kool Keith]
Why you curse so much nigga? Fuck you, duck you
loadin this motherfuckin tec up, there's a lot of things I must do
click up, shut the fuck up, bukka, bukka, bukka
Fake-ass cast, counterfeit bitch-ass
I'ma see how long that choreographer dance shit last
Make you take the CD's out the shelf
Come to your record release party, show you some shit
and make you piss on yourself
No guest list, I better get past this
type of motherfucker to wait outside the club
for your black dumb-asses, I'ma have a contest
See which bitch-ass nigga get in they car the fastest
Strongarm your bodyguards with armed freebase smokers in a stolen Dodge
Pour gasoline down your shirt in the car garage
Yo black burn this nigga
Watch how Kentucky Fried I turn this nigga
Watch you sizzle like a well done (?) Frank
That's what you get for fuckin with Hank
Give all your fuckin credit cards, niggaz with ski masks
took your mink coats at Chemical Bank
Visa America take this shit fill up the gas tank
I told y'all I was gon' slap that motherfucker
and baseball bat that motherfucker
Your man with his bullshit mixtape ran out Hot 97 like a sucker
I'ma send a crackhead that needs money bad
at least to get one of you motherfuckers
You owe me for damage
I know a Dominican that's ready to stab your fuckin manager
Catch a homicide and catch a Greyhound bus out to Canada
Chorus
In "Operation Extortion," Kool Keith expresses his frustration and anger towards those who have criticized his music. He threatens to physically harm those he believes are responsible and vows to go after them in various locations in New York City. Kool Keith also touches on his disdain for trends he sees in the music industry, such as artists trying to be like Bob Marley or Lenny Kravitz, and the wearing of scarves as a fashion statement. He boasts about his own skills and warns that he is not to be underestimated.
The lyrics of "Operation Extortion" demonstrate Kool Keith's willingness to defend himself and his music at all costs. He uses violent language to threaten those who he feels have disrespected him and assert himself as an artist not to be trifled with. The song speaks to the often-hostile environment of the music industry and the pressures artists face to conform to certain styles and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I'ma cancel all the studios, I'ma find you in New York
I will shut down your recording studios and hunt you down in New York.
You fucked it up for everybody
Your actions negatively impacted everyone involved.
When I see you I'ma punch you in your fuckin face
I will physically harm you when we meet.
You and that other faggot ass nigga that rap witchu
You and your fellow rapper are derogatory terms and I dislike you both.
I'ma catch you (?) Ensoniq or Platinum Factory
I will locate you at Ensoniq or Platinum Factory.
I know you be in fuckin Chung King
I know you frequent Chung King studios.
I'ma search around motherfuckin D&D
I will search the D&D studios for you.
Why you curse so much nigga? Fuck you, duck you
Why do you swear so often? I don't like you and I don't care about you.
Make you take the CD's out the shelf
I will force you to remove your CDs from store shelves.
Come to your record release party, show you some shit and make you piss on yourself
I will attend your record release party and humiliate you so much that you will urinate on yourself.
No guest list, I better get past this
I don't need an invitation to your event, I will force myself in.
Strongarm your bodyguards with armed freebase smokers in a stolen Dodge
I will overpower your bodyguards with drug addicts carrying weapons in a stolen car.
Watch how Kentucky Fried I turn this nigga
I will cook you alive like Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Give all your fuckin credit cards, niggaz with ski masks took your mink coats at Chemical Bank
I will demand all of your credit cards and my associates will steal your fur coats at Chemical Bank while wearing ski masks.
I'ma send a crackhead that needs money bad at least to get one of you motherfuckers
I will send a desperate drug addict after you to exact revenge.
Catch a homicide and catch a Greyhound bus out to Canada
I will commit murder and flee to Canada.
Operation.. extortion (4X)
The repeated refrain emphasizes the artist's intention to seek revenge and cause damage to those who have wronged him.
Contributed by Chase T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
veroviewer
sooooooo underrated he should be top 5 on every ones list so creative
Carlee Boyd
he's the best lyricist ever
Dontblink 89
He's God tier...
Ryan Kines
Definitely up there
Vernell Thomas
Keith snapped on this beat! He warned us about how dirty the industry is. Shout out to one of the most uniquely emcees to exist
turntableterrorist
I believe Kool Keith produced this one himself, i can just see him punching piano keys angrily while rapping this wild track.
Variant
Lol yeah I love it. It's as street as Kool Keith gets. Underrated album imo.
thomas pavone
Keith was pissed columbia botched the roll out of his Black Elvis album. That's why he is so pissed on this album, he made it let off some steam. I love this album
AssGas OrGrass
he's at his best when he's pissed off.
Sloth Beats
YOU FUCKED IT UP FOR EVERYBODY AND WHEN I SEE YOU IMA PUNCH YOU IN YOUR FUCKIN FACE