An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's… Read Full Bio ↴An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's, "Kool" Keith Thornton is best known as a solo rapper. His signature style is stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow and complex vocals, two skills that earn him a perennial nod from the underground hip-hop community. The average Kool Keith album is peppered with bizarre, disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, as well as major record labels.

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)

Taking Pictures
Kool Keith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Whassup baby?
C'mere let me feel your pussy a lil' bit
Turn around, that's right
Let me see that pretty ass
Lean over
Let me put a little grease in your ass
Knahmsayin baby?
Fine-ass bitch

Bitch let me see one of the titties
Hit you in the face with one of these fitties
Watch pictures, pass out
In the leather sofa with the ass out
Piss in your pocketbook
with a patch over my eye like Captain Hook
Fuck all the romance and love books
Still they help your pussy like a crook
Break you down to the name of your asshole
Connected to the Chevron station and the gas cable
Motherfuckers cooperate, don't be hateful
Lotion your ass up, you're ungrateful
Take a shit in the underground picture
Make it commercial
More tasteful, parental advisory
Clean your vagina with ammonia and ivory

Piss in your face
Piss in the right place
Piss in your face
Piss in the right place

Raisin mutilation
Reynolds and Wrap, Tupperware
New Jersey sexy shit
Hype nipples, eatin your own defecation
Vicks in my nose
Sniffin glue while you smell ass
I specialize in bitches who communicate - and sell ass
If I'm upset, I get a ride and tell ass
Put your ass in a butt-cast
Fingerpop you with my Jason mask
You can't sleepover and crash
Ginseng up yo that's right
Everybody's gettin pissy, with chronic and hash
Waterbed and the table
Leave urine in the back of your Taurus Sable
Tie my underwear to the back of your car
Spray your ass with {?}
Dress you up and grab the Vaseline jar

Piss in your face, girl you know
Pissin in your face, pissin in your face
Pissin

Your eyes feel my dick in the dark
Part of your bathroom, you think I'm sick
I fill the soggy shit and you split
Over 40 to 50 plus
Old bitches who smoke PCP and dust
Fuck the lust, pour milk on your Bally with Orange Crush
Cover your asshole with a Slurpy slush
Orgy over here, that's right they doin it over there
But I'm the director with a camera, everywhere
I'm the photographer, Jim take pictures
Yo, y'all be first, cause there's seven of us
And I'm not gonna do this
I'm gonna get through this, and do this like Brutus

Taking pictures
Photographers, Nikon and Pentax

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kool Keith's "Taking Pictures" are sexually explicit and controversial. The song speaks about engaging in lewd acts with women and condones misogyny. It is important to note that the lyrics are not meant to be taken literally and should be viewed as satirical commentary on the hip-hop industry's commercialization of sex and explicit content.

The first verse highlights the objectification of women by focusing on their body parts and describing sexual acts in vulgar terms. It promotes an aggressive and dominant sexual attitude towards women. The second verse includes references to scatological fetishes, BDSM, and substance abuse. The lyrics are meant to shock and provoke a reaction from listeners.

The chorus of "Piss in your face, piss in the right place" is a literal representation of the song's provocative nature. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the song's fetishistic content and reinforces the objectification of women.

Overall, "Taking Pictures" is a controversial song that pushes the boundaries of acceptable content in hip-hop. While some listeners may be offended by the lyrics, others appreciate the satirical commentary on the commodification of sex in the music industry.

Line by Line Meaning

Whassup baby?
Kool Keith greets his female partner and initiates sexual advances

C'mere let me feel your pussy a lil' bit
Kool Keith requests to touch his partner's genitals

Turn around, that's right Let me see that pretty ass Lean over Let me put a little grease in your ass Knahmsayin baby? Fine-ass bitch
Kool Keith instructs his partner to showcase her body and prepares to engage in anal sex

Break you down to the name of your asshole Connected to the Chevron station and the gas cable Motherfuckers cooperate, don't be hateful Lotion your ass up, you're ungrateful Take a shit in the underground picture Make it commercial More tasteful, parental advisory Clean your vagina with ammonia and ivory
Kool Keith objectifies his partner, reducing her identity to a sexual body part. He then suggests commercializing their sexual acts and offers advice on hygiene

Piss in your face Piss in the right place Piss in your face Piss in the right place
Kool Keith enjoys urinating on his partner during sexual acts

Raisin mutilation Reynolds and Wrap, Tupperware New Jersey sexy shit Hype nipples, eatin your own defecation Vicks in my nose Sniffin glue while you smell ass I specialize in bitches who communicate - and sell ass If I'm upset, I get a ride and tell ass Put your ass in a butt-cast Fingerpop you with my Jason mask You can't sleepover and crash Ginseng up yo that's right Everybody's gettin pissy, with chronic and hash Waterbed and the table Leave urine in the back of your Taurus Sable Tie my underwear to the back of your car Spray your ass with {?} Dress you up and grab the Vaseline jar
Kool Keith describes various sexual acts and fetishes involving his partner, expressing his inclination towards sadism and domination

Your eyes feel my dick in the dark Part of your bathroom, you think I'm sick I fill the soggy shit and you split Over 40 to 50 plus Old bitches who smoke PCP and dust Fuck the lust, pour milk on your Bally with Orange Crush Cover your asshole with a Slurpy slush Orgy over here, that's right they doin it over there But I'm the director with a camera, everywhere I'm the photographer, Jim take pictures Yo, y'all be first, cause there's seven of us And I'm not gonna do this I'm gonna get through this, and do this like Brutus Taking pictures Photographers, Nikon and Pentax
Kool Keith describes an orgy in progress, where he assumes the role of a director and photographer. He expresses his preference for older women and bizarre sexual acts while comparing himself to the infamous Roman emperor Brutus

Contributed by Gianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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