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)
Rockets on the Battlefield
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raising levels Jim
Flight seven oh four three two one red four
Green expanding to one
Moving two point liters down
All systems go red lights are off
Greens are showing
Coming through
Levels shifting get swift on analog sounds pounds of rocket tars
Microchips incredible antibiotic medicine better than Octo
Although created by the master genius
You seen this when I take your mind out to Venus
With the formats on DAT tape you can't remake or duplicate
Hesitate for a minute on deck like Brenlee Stinnit
Pittsburgh Pirate, admire it, you can't hire it
Job applications for rappers with weak shows
Weak flows, by most inherited weakness
You can't stop my uniqueness
Complication altitudes built in compartments
Digital gizmo made by Continental Lincoln keepin you thinkin
Better made than European's robot John H. Thomas
Model seven decimal put out by Jaguar
without the automatic chemical release
emergency vomit regurgitates any system
Regular or even more antique products, put out by top, companies
MCA Warner Brothers Loud the Polygram enterprise
Virgin masters get melted, you felt it
through my radiation, foes move on buses
Planes leave the train station, evacuate quick!
Mechanical legs, mechanical legs
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
(Now, meow, blah!)
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
(Goin wild with our sound now!)
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Release date M6, photographs on Columbia/Ruffhouse description green
with blue ears sky blue shirt that work by remote controls
Burn up Billboard charts, deactivating 1975 music, old soul
will never go gold, while records warp
Insulting your duplicating of a sample
You will become an example, uncreative peasants
by the lessons of the untalented ones
signed by your most stupidest A&R
We'll see how far representation information
Documents while I stand like monuments
Stun your area like a airborne carrier
United Parcel deliver parts for a start
Cold blooded with a mechanical heart, standin like the Tinman
Aluminum kneecaps release raps like rayguns, destroyin territories
Toys, pterodactyl dinosaurs get bombed in space wars
Layin on galactic floors, amputated, disconnected collections
in more than, fifty seconds, wherehouse with skulls
Land amphibians, welfare recipients
with beautiful women from the Caribbean
The ships need repair
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Not compared to no rappin high flight, member of the A.S.S.R.
Immigrants stand in factories, endorsements, six MC's
You seen what The Source meant
Cover stories from the government left you standin
holdin the mic with one hand and
handicapped with damage you can't manage style nine-nine
2000 B.C. the sneakers in spascious me in 3-D
Wireless radius, MC's outdated, completion deleted
Japan newspapers in Australia, did you read it?
Over and out, movin with swift celsius, I melted him down
Jet movin up, level seven seven six oh
with Darth Vader and 3P0
R2-D2, me too, comin to see you
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
Rockets on the battlefield
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
"Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven"
In "Rockets on the Battlefield," Kool Keith takes on the role of a spaceship pilot, communicating with his assistant as they prepare to launch into space. However, the lyrics quickly move beyond this narrative to touch on larger themes of creativity, invention, and control. Kool Keith emphasizes his own uniqueness and creativity, particularly in contrast to other rappers with "weak shows" and "weak flows." He also references various technological advancements and companies, suggesting a level of expertise or familiarity with these concepts.
However, Kool Keith also seems to critique the limits and dangers of technology. He describes various products as being "better made" or more advanced than competitors, but also notes issues such as "emergency vomit regurgitates any system." This suggests that even the most advanced, well-designed technologies can still have flaws or negative consequences. Additionally, Kool Keith's references to government cover stories and other conspiracies hint at a larger concern about who is really in control of these technologies and their impact on society.
Line by Line Meaning
Raising levels Jim
Preparing for launch
Flight seven oh four three two one red four
Countdown to launch
Green expanding to one
All systems ready to launch
Moving levers up at seven decimal eight
Adjusting settings for takeoff
Moving two point liters down
Checking fuel levels
All systems go red lights are off
Ready for liftoff
Greens are showing
Launch is proceeding as planned
Coming through
Preparing to launch into space
Levels shifting get swift on analog sounds pounds of rocket tars
Rocket engines are powering up
Microchips incredible antibiotic medicine better than Octo
Our technology is advanced and superior to Octo's
Although created by the master genius You seen this when I take your mind out to Venus
Our technology is so advanced you'll feel like you're on Venus
With the formats on DAT tape you can't remake or duplicate
Our technology is unique and can't be replicated
Hesitate for a minute on deck like Brenlee Stinnit Pittsburgh Pirate, admire it, you can't hire it Job applications for rappers with weak shows Weak flows, by most inherited weakness You can't stop my uniqueness
We are unique and top-tier; we're too good for other rappers to compete with us
Complication altitudes built in compartments Digital gizmo made by Continental Lincoln keepin you thinkin Better made than European's robot John H. Thomas Model seven decimal put out by Jaguar without the automatic chemical release emergency vomit regurgitates any system Regular or even more antique products, put out by top, companies MCA Warner Brothers Loud the Polygram enterprise Virgin masters get melted, you felt it through my radiation, foes move on buses Planes leave the train station, evacuate quick!
Our technology is unparalleled; we're even better than the European and top American companies. Their technology will fail when compared to ours.
Mechanical legs, mechanical legs Rockets on the battlefield Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven
Preparing for launch and deploying our advanced technology
Release date M6, photographs on Columbia/Ruffhouse description green with blue ears sky blue shirt that work by remote controls Burn up Billboard charts, deactivating 1975 music, old soul will never go gold, while records warp Insulting your duplicating of a sample You will become an example, uncreative peasants by the lessons of the untalented ones signed by your most stupidest A&R We'll see how far representation information Documents while I stand like monuments Stun your area like a airborne carrier United Parcel deliver parts for a start Cold blooded with a mechanical heart, standin like the Tinman Aluminum kneecaps release raps like rayguns, destroyin territories Toys, pterodactyl dinosaurs get bombed in space wars Layin on galactic floors, amputated, disconnected collections in more than fifty seconds, wherehouse with skulls Land amphibians, welfare recipients with beautiful women from the Caribbean The ships need repair
We are releasing an album and it will dominate the charts. Our music is unique and superior to old music. We are creative and unmatchable, and we'll prove it through our music. We'll stun our fans and solidify our legacy. We are like a machine, destroying all obstacles in our way. Our fans will love our music, and we'll continue to deliver more.
Not compared to no rappin high flight, member of the A.S.S.R. Immigrants stand in factories, endorsements, six MC's You seen what The Source meant Cover stories from the government left you standin holdin the mic with one hand and handicapped with damage you can't manage style nine-nine 2000 B.C. the sneakers in spascious me in 3-D Wireless radius, MC's outdated, completion deleted Japan newspapers in Australia, did you read it? Over and out, movin with swift celsius, I melted him down Jet movin up, level seven seven six oh with Darth Vader and 3P0 R2-D2, me too, comin to see you
We are the elite and unmatched; even other rappers and publications acknowledge our superiority. Our style is unique and impressive, and we can't be compared to anyone else. We are modern and innovative, making all other MCs outdated. We are global and our fame is spreading everywhere. We are unstoppable and will continue to produce hit after hit.
Rockets on the battlefield Tango three left turn ahead, taxi to port control seven
We're launching rockets and preparing for liftoff.
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: KEITH THORNTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@darenunlimited
This was on non-stop "repeat" in 1999-2000. 12-13 years later, it's STILL futuristic. Long live real hip hop.
@kenyoutharchibald6051
This is one of my favorite KK joints. Alongwith weapon world.
@MelchiorAkihary
Classic album and waaaay ahead of it's time! Bumped this hundreds of times since '99! Long live REAL hiphop!
@andrewlee6886
YES!
@princeekeson12
If I were to go to war against an army by myself bare-handed, this is the track I'd want pumping through my headphones.
@Steely_Fran
The first time I saw Kool Keith was on this tour. He came out with a space helmet, a cape, and plastic hair like DEVO used to wear. It was awesome.
@astrojazzman
Franomaly great times
@gmac2558
Steely_Fran. Hair like Mr. Chi Pig of SNFU!
@jethro784
I COME TO LISTEN TO THIS AND I SEE YOUR PFP AFTER SHOPPING FOR CLUTCH MERCH WHAT IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTERALL!!!!!
@gregorygriffin6341
Jesus Christ this beat is UNBEARABLY DOPE!!!!!!!!