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)
Robert Perry
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bronx! (Bronx!) Manhattan (Manhattan) Queens (Queens)
Staten Island (Staten Island) Brooklyn! (Brooklyn!)
Across the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey (Jersey)
You know about the Robert Perry (Robert Perry)
A.K.A., the Double K
Man get off my back
You know the office decomposer
Commercial cleaner, garbage disposer
Hang my underwear in New York on top of your Times Square poster
Pullin your snipes down
Sample you, and your girl bring the Vaseline lotion
Babywipes down, nobody can handle me
Overcrowd 20th to 50th Street
The top ten rappers in the Big Apple work janitor
Clean my defecation off the concrete
My pee stains shock your family, piss on your man's hand
... while your girl make the beats
Y'all nothin but packs of candy and sweets
125th Street (125th Street)
125th Street, Robert Perry (Robert Perry)
The national dominator, urinate on your best hater
The mad people love the vanilla flavor
Take your rap unserious like your movie roles
Don't smile when the Doberman Pinscher
finishes bad work on your sneaker soles, all V.I.P. material
Don't play me, to hype your lyrics
Tear you a new ass, go pay Jay-Z to write your lyrics
Send your girl to dance out of state on spirit
Don't get jealous cause the Avirex DJ usually act like he don't hear it
(I don't hear it) A lot of guys at the station can't play they mother's record
Let alone, their little brother's record
New York is Hollywood, downtown Manhattan is Los Angeles
The truth hurts, everybody in America is sportin them shirts
125th Street (125th Street)
125th Street, Robert Perry (Robert Perry)
125th Street (125th Street)
Y'all still sportin them jerseys, I got Tom laundry gear
Man bring the Stoli's Vanilla over here, girls floss the beer bellies
It ain't sexy drinkin beer
Talk under the Cerwin Vegas
I'ma act like I can't understand your rap, man it's too loud
Foes are whack, I can't hear, watch the cops escort you out the club
Enjoy yourself, man you scared
Ain't nobody thinkin about you let your shoulders rub
Youse a paranoid studio killer
Stayin home by the fireplace and drinkin Miller
Women with fat ugly men sayin "Girl he is fine!"
Lookin at his fake jewelry shine
125th Street... yeah
125th Street (125th Street)
125th Street, Robert Perry (Robert Perry)
125th Street... (125th Street)
Yeah you'll see me walkin down - 125th Street
The lyrics to Kool Keith's song Robert Perry depict the rapper's pride for his hometown of New York City, particularly the boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. The song mentions Robert Perry, also known as the Double K, who is an unknown figure that likely represents the individuality and distinctness of New York City. Kool Keith boasts his rapping abilities and mocks his competitors in the industry through lyrics such as "Y'all sound whack like the 'Brown Sugar' soundtrack" and "Clean my defecation off the concrete, my pee stains shock your family, piss on your man's hand."
The song also highlights the culture and lifestyle of New York City, mentioning landmarks like Times Square and 125th Street, as well as the city's fashion and music scenes. Kool Keith emphasizes his own unique style and disregard for mainstream trends, singing "Y'all still sportin them jerseys, I got Tom laundry gear."
Overall, Robert Perry is a tribute to the city that shaped Kool Keith's identity as an artist and an individual. It celebrates the city's diversity, creativity, and authenticity while also criticizing aspects of the mainstream culture that attempt to conform and homogenize.
Line by Line Meaning
Robert Perry (Robert Perry)
Kool Keith starts the song by shouting out Robert Perry, also known as Double K.
Bronx! (Bronx!) Manhattan (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Staten Island (Staten Island) Brooklyn! (Brooklyn!)
Kool Keith names all the boroughs of New York City, emphasizing the relevance of Double K in the New York rap scene.
Across the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey (Jersey)
Kool Keith highlights the location of Double K's roots in relation to New York City.
Man get off my back
Kool Keith addresses people who criticize his music or opposed him in any way.
Y'all sound whack like the 'Brown Sugar' soundtrack
Kool Keith is dissing his haters and anyone who doubted his musical abilities who isn't even worth a listen, comparing them to the whack soundtrack of the movie 'Brown Sugar.'
You know the office decomposer
Kool Keith refers to himself as the 'office decomposer,' referencing his talent in dismantling his opponents' lyrics and delivering unique, unorthodox lines.
Commercial cleaner, garbage disposer
Kool Keith refers to himself as a 'commercial cleaner' and a 'garbage disposer,' emphasizing that he is taking care of other rappers' messes and cleaning up the rap game.
Hang my underwear in New York on top of your Times Square poster
Kool Keith brags about his relevance in New York, to the point where he can hang his underwear there on top of musical posters.
Pullin your snipes down
Kool Keith is getting ready to crush his competition and take them down.
Sample you, and your girl bring the Vaseline lotion Babywipes down, nobody can handle me
Kool Keith taunts his opponents and their partners, saying that he is so powerful that nobody can handle him, even with the help of Vaseline and baby wipes.
Overcrowd 20th to 50th street
Kool Keith is so big in New York that he can overfill a large chunk of Manhattan's streets.
The top ten rappers in the Big Apple work janitor
Kool Keith believes he is so much better than all the other rappers in New York that even the top 10 acts aren't worth further recognition and instead work menial jobs.
Clean my defecation off the concrete My pee stains shock your family, piss on your man's hand ... while your girl make the beats Y'all nothin but packs of candy and sweets
Kool Keith intends to shock listeners with crude, vulgar comparisons of his opponents and everyone around them. He believes his opponents rather make light-hearted songs and are weak and worthless.
125th Street (125th Street) 125th Street, Robert Perry (Robert Perry)
Kool Keith emphasizes the location of Double K's roots on 125th street and highlights its importance in New York's musical landscape.
The national dominator, urinate on your best hater
Kool Keith pokes fun at himself, claiming that he is powerful enough to urinate on his best haters.
The mad people love the vanilla flavor
Kool Keith claims that his music, like the flavor of vanilla, is loved by countless people.
Take your rap unserious like your movie roles
Kool Keith belittles his opponents, calling them unserious like their movie roles.
Don't smile when the Doberman Pinscher finishes bad work on your sneaker soles, all V.I.P. material
Kool Keith warns other rappers, saying that even their VIP status isn't enough to save them when a Doberman Pinscher finishes bad work on your sneaker soles.
Don't play me, to hype your lyrics Tear you a new ass, go pay Jay-Z to write your lyrics
Kool Keith is making it clear that he's not someone to be used for advertisement or hyping up anyone's lyrics, and that his verses will tear the other rappers apart. He suggests that they should pay Jay-Z to write more appealing lyrics for them.
Send your girl to dance out of state on spirit Don't get jealous cause the Avirex DJ usually act like he don't hear it
Kool Keith may be taunting someone for sending their partner to dance outside the state on spirit, and claims that even the Avirex DJ does not want to hear about them.
(I don't hear it) A lot of guys at the station can't play they mother's record Let alone, their little brother's record
Kool Keith implies that other rappers are not even good enough at their craft to play their own family members' music on the radio.
New York is Hollywood, downtown Manhattan is Los Angeles The truth hurts, everybody in America is sportin them shirts
Kool Keith believes that everyone in the US wears shirts made in New York, as people outside the city see it as Hollywood, while Downtown Manhattan is Los Angeles.
Y'all still sportin them jerseys, I got Tom laundry gear Man bring the Stoli's Vanilla over here, girls floss the beer bellies It ain't sexy drinkin beer
Kool Keith is taking jabs at the fashion choices of other rappers and people around him, boasting about wearing more expensive and stylish clothing. He also teases party-goers for drinking beer, saying it's not a sexy drink.
Talk under the Cerwin Vegas
Kool Keith is referencing the artist stack system, Cerwin-Vega, highlighting that he and his subjects are always talking in front of the powerful speakers.
I'ma act like I can't understand your rap, man it's too loud Foes are whack, I can't hear, watch the cops escort you out the club
Kool Keith dismisses any opponent and mocks them if they think they are better than him with incomprehensible music played so loud. He warns that he'll laugh as they're escorted by police from the club.
Enjoy yourself, man you scared Ain't nobody thinkin about you let your shoulders rub Youse a paranoid studio killer
Kool Keith tries to intimidate another artist, telling them to enjoy their time out, but insinuating that no one is paying any attention to them, and calls them a 'paranoid studio killer.'
Stayin home by the fireplace and drinkin Miller Women with fat ugly men sayin "Girl he is fine!" Lookin at his fake jewelry shine
Kool Keith is mocking someone who spends their time drinking beer and staying home, while their significant other is overweight, but still complimenting them. He emphasizes the fake nature of their jewelry.
125th Street... yeah 125th Street (125th Street) 125th Street, Robert Perry (Robert Perry) 125th Street... (125th Street) Yeah you'll see me walkin down - 125th Street
Kool Keith emphasizes how important 125th Street is to the New York rap scene and the success of Robert Perry, and he would be seen walking down it.
Contributed by Dominic C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.