Kool Keith

An original member of New York's new school pioneers Ultramagnetic MCs and sometime patient of Bellevue asylum, Kool Keith Thornton is also a somewhat controversial solo rapper known for pornographic and brutal yet also very abstract lyrics. Under the name Dr. Octagon, Keith recorded the album Dr. Octagonecologyst, which was released by the English trip hop label Mo' Wax. Kool Keith has released albums under various non-secret pseudonyms (such as Dr. Octagon), and has also performed as part of project acts such as Masters of Illusion and the Analog Brothers.

Keith's style is considered unique in the rap world, earning him a perennial nod from the underground hip-hop community. Bizarre, often seemingly disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references tend to season the average Kool Keith track or album. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, which he finds to be devoid of any heart. Similarly, nearly all of his works lambast major labels and the glory of being famous.

Perhaps to illustrate his point, Keith estranged himself from a substantial portion his fan base after the release of his Automator-produced Dr. Octagonecologyst. Released under the persona of "Dr. Octagon", the album received heavy critical acclaim, getting widespread play especially among non-traditional indie rock and underground hip-hop crowds. Due to disagreements with Automator and other collaborators over who was benefitting more from the success of the album (especially after an instrumental version of the album, Instrumentalyst, which showcased the production rather than Thorton's lyrics, also became a rising success), Keith abandoned the character by his next album, the KutMasta Kurt-produced First Come, First Served. Released under the persona Dr. Dooom, it opens with the track "Who Killed Dr. Octagon?" in which Keith's new identity literally kills off the Dr. Octagon persona for good. (Perhaps as a jab at Instrumentalyst's success, Keith has released instrumental versions of many post-Octagon albums.)

Thorton dabbled again in the Automator-inspired sci-fi rap theme in part of his subsequent album, Lost In Space/Black Elvis, which included the Octagon-esque single "Lost In Space", but not with much dedication, as he moved on to the "Black Elvis" persona in the latter half of the album.

He returned to his commercialism-critical bitterness in the subsequent album, 2001's Matthew, including the widely-cited anti-label rant "Test Press", lambasting mainstream rap record labels as being "white" and damning them for performing devious, duplicitous tricks with acts, artistic decisions, and profits.

Discography

With Ultramagnetic MC's

• Critical Beatdown (1988)
• Funk Your Head Up (1992)
• The Four Horsemen (1993)
• Brooklyn to Brixton (live) (1996)

With Ultra (Kool Keith and Tim Dog)

• Big Time (1996)

As Dr. Octagon

• Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996)
• The Instrumentalyst: Octagon Beats (1996)

As Dr. Dooom

• First Come, First Served (1999)
• First Come, First Served (Instrumental) (2000)

With Analog Brothers

• Pimp to Eat (2000)

As Kool Keith

• Erotic Man (1996)
• Sex Style (1997)
• Black Elvis/Lost in Space (1999)
• Matthew (2000)
• Matthew (Instrumental) (2000)
• Spankmaster (2001)
• Game (2002)
• Lost Masters (2003)
• The Personal Album (2004)
• Official Space Tape (2004)

With Kutmasta Kurt

• Diesel Truckers (2004)
• Diesel Truckers: Instrumental (2004)

With Masters of Illusion (Kool Keith and Motion Man)

• Masters of Illusion (2000)
• Instrumentals (2001)

With Thee Undatakerz

• Kool Keith Presents Thee Undatakerz (2004)