Editing K-os (section)

{{Short description|Canadian singer and rapper (born 1972)}}
{{About||other uses|KOS (disambiguation){{!}}KOS|and|Kos (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = k-os
| image            = Kos-publicity-2011.jpg
| caption          = k-os 2011 publicity photo
| birth_name       = Kevin Brereton
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1972|02|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| genre            = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative hip hop]]
* [[reggae]]
* [[funk]]
}}
| occupations       = {{flatlist|
* Rapper
* singer
* songwriter
* producer
}}
| instruments       = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* keyboards
* acoustic guitar
}}
| years_active     = 1995–present
| label            = {{flatlist|
* [[Universal Music Canada]]
* [[Astralwerks Records|Astralwerks]]
* [[Caroline Records|Caroline]]
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* [[EMI|EMI Records]]
* [[Dine Alone Records|Dine Alone]]
* [[Last Gang Records|Last Gang]]
}}
| website          = 
}}

'''Kevin Brereton''' (born February 20, 1972), better known by his stage name '''k-os''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|.|ɒ|s}}; "chaos"), is a Canadian [[alternative hip hop|alternative]] rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. His given name may also be cited as '''Kheaven''', a spelling he later adopted.

The alias "k-os", spelled with a lower case "k", was intended to be less aggressive than the pseudonyms of other rappers whose names were all upper case, such as [[KRS-One]]. It is an [[acronym]] for "[[Self-knowledge (psychology)|Knowledge of Self]]", although in a later interview he said that it originally stood for "Kevin's Original Sound".<ref>
{{cite web
 |author=Sam Morgenstern 
 |title=Q&A with Block Party performer, k-os 
 |url=http://www.dailyorange.com/feature/q-a-with-block-party-performer-k-os-1.1470674 
 |work=Daily Orange 
 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927002949/http://www.dailyorange.com/feature/q-a-with-block-party-performer-k-os-1.1470674 
 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref> k-os' music incorporates a wide variety of music genres, including [[hip hop music|rap]], [[funk]], [[Rock music|rock]], and [[reggae]]. The lyrics frequently focus on promoting a "positive message" while at times expressing criticism of mainstream hip hop culture's obsession with money, fame and glorification of violence.<ref name="bill">
{{cite magazine
|author = Larry LeBlanc
|title = K-OS starts 'Rebellion': Toronto MC wages war against stereotypes with sophomore set.
|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
|date = September 4, 2004
}}</ref>
A musician as well as a producer, k-os has written and produced nearly every part of all four of his albums. k-os usually performs with a live band, which is traditionally uncommon in the hip hop genre. He sometimes plays guitar and keyboard both during live performances and in the studio.<ref>
{{cite news
|author = [[Bartley Kives]]
|title = The gospel according to k-os not about preaching to choir
|work = [[Winnipeg Free Press]]
|date = October 21, 2004
}}
</ref>

k-os received his first musical exposure with the single "Musical Essence", released in 1995. After the release of his second single "Rise Like the Sun" in 1996, he withdrew from the industry because he was dissatisfied with his musical style. He reappeared briefly in 1999 and released his debut album ''[[Exit (k-os album)|Exit]]'' in 2002. The album received positive reviews but sold relatively few copies. He released his second album ''[[Joyful Rebellion]]'' in 2004, which received [[Canadian Recording Industry Association|platinum]] status in Canada. A third album, ''[[Atlantis: Hymns for Disco]]'', was released in 2006 and also went platinum. His fourth album, ''[[Yes! (k-os album)|Yes!]]'', was released in 2009. His fifth album ''[[Black on Blonde]]'' was released in 2013. He released his sixth album, ''[[Can't Fly Without Gravity]]'', in 2015. From 1996 to 2016, K-os was the third best-selling Canadian hip hop artist in Canada (behind [[Drake (musician)|Drake]] and [[Swollen Members]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bdsradio.com/pd/docs/Nielsen_Canadian150_2017_vs2.pdf|title=NIELSEN MUSIC & BILLBOARD PRESENT CANADA 150 CHARTS|website=bdsradio.com|page=28|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102202137/https://bdsradio.com/pd/docs/Nielsen_Canadian150_2017_vs2.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>