Editing Kool Keith (section)

==History==

===Ultramagnetic MCs (1984–1993)===
Thornton began his career with the group [[Ultramagnetic MCs]] under the pseudonym Kool Keith in 1984. Four years later, their release of the album ''[[Critical Beatdown]]'' was critically acclaimed and later became recognized as widely influential for its innovative production, complex rhymes, and chopped sampling. Just after its release, Thornton was reportedly institutionalized in [[Bellevue Hospital Center]].<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite book |editor1=Brackett, Nathan |editor2=Hoard, Christian |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |chapter=Kool Keith |chapter-url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/koolkeith/biography |edition=fourth |year=2004 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/466 466–467] |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/466 }}</ref><ref name="Cooper">{{cite book |last=Cooper |first=Sean |title=All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop |year=2003 |isbn=0-87930-759-5 |publisher=Backbeat Books |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/267 267–268] |chapter=Kool Keith |chapter-url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p200714|pure_url=yes}} |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/267 }}</ref> However, he later said that the idea that he was institutionalized came from a flippant remark made during an interview, and he never expected the story to become so well known.<ref name="AVClub">{{cite news|last=Downs |first=David|title=Kool Keith and KutMasta Kurt|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=November 21, 2008|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/kool-keith-and-kutmasta-kurt-14335|access-date=2008-11-21}}</ref>

Ultramagnetic MCs would release two more albums (1992's ''[[Funk Your Head Up]]'' and 1993's [[The Four Horsemen (album)|''The Four Horsemen'']]) with little commercial success due to [[West Coast hip hop]]'s changing landscape. They went on hiatus for years, leading Thorton to embark on a solo career.

===Dr. Octagon debuts (1995–1996)===
Thornton released his first notable solo single, "Earth People", in 1995, under the name [[Dr. Octagon]]. This was followed by the release of the [[concept album]] ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]'' the following year. The album's production by [[Dan the Automator]] and [[Kutmasta Kurt]], with [[scratching]] by [[DJ Qbert]] was acclaimed by critics, and the album was released nationally by [[DreamWorks Records]] in 1997, after an initial release on the smaller Bulk Recordings label (as, simply, ''Dr. Octagon'') a year prior. ''Dr. Octagonecologyst'' was considered a departure from old school hip hop to abstract hip hop, with surrealistic, horror, science-fiction, and sexual themes.<ref name="Huey">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dr-octagonecologyst-mw0000647337|title=Dr. Octagonecologyst – Dr. Octagon|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=February 26, 2013|last=Huey|first=Steve}}</ref> DreamWorks also issued an instrumental version of the album, titled ''[[Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats)]]''.<ref name="RollingStone"/><ref name="Cooper"/>

===Further releases (1996–2001)===
In 1996, Thornton collaborated with [[Tim Dog]] for the single "The Industry is Wack", performing under the name Ultra<ref name="RollingStone"/><ref name="Cooper"/>—the album [[Big Time (Ultra album)|''Big Time'']] soon followed. The following year, Thornton released the sophomore album, ''[[Sex Style]]'', under the name Kool Keith. Thornton described this [[dirty rap]] concept album as "pornocore", filled with sexual metaphors to diss other rappers.<ref name=AllmusicStyle>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sex-style-r248878/review |title=Sex Style |author=Huey, Steve |date= |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=28 July 2011}}</ref> An instrumental version was also released.<ref name=SexStyleInst>{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7nmtzsgs0G7CHaEZO1qdnn |title="Sex Style" Instrumentals |date=1996 |work=Funky Ass Records/Threshold Recordings |publisher=Spotify |accessdate=25 June 2023}}</ref> This year, a collaborative album with [[Godfather Don]] titled ''[[Cenobites (album)|Cenobites]]'' was released as an LP.

In 1999, he released the album ''[[First Come, First Served]]'' under the name Dr. Dooom, in which the album's main character killed off Dr. Octagon on the album's opening track. The same year, on August 10, 1999, Thornton released ''[[Black Elvis/Lost in Space]]'', under the major record labels [[Ruffhouse Records|Ruffhouse]] and [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]. It peaked at #10 on the [[Heatseekers Albums|''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart]], #74 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart, and #180 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r425836|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards ''Black Elvis/Lost in Space'' |access-date=2008-09-08 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Despite standing out as Thornton's most commercially successful project to date, he was disappointed with the album's delays and promotional efforts, even though a promotional video was made for the lead single, "Livin' Astro", which aired on a few episodes of the [[MTV]] show ''[[Amp (TV series)|Amp]]'' in early 2000. Its sequel, ''[[Black Elvis 2]]'', was released in 2023.

On June 5, 2001, Thornton released the album ''[[Spankmaster]]'' on [[TVT Records|TVT]] and Gothom Records.<ref>{{cite book |title=All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop |year=2003 |isbn=0-87930-759-5 |publisher=Backbeat Books |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/160 160–163] |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/160 }}</ref> It peaked at #16 on the ''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart, #11 on the Top Independent Albums	chart and #48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r533100|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards for ''Spankmaster'' |access-date=2008-09-08 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The album has yet to be on streaming.

===Collaborations (2000–2004)===
On July 25, 2000, Thornton released the album ''[[Matthew (album)|Matthew]]''. It peaked at #47 on the [[Heatseekers Albums|''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart]].<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r490418|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards for ''Matthew'' |access-date=2008-09-08 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The following month, Thornton collaborated with [[Ice-T]], Marc Live, Black Silver and Pimp Rex for the album ''[[Pimp to Eat]]'', under the group name [[Analog Brothers]], with Keith performing as Keith Korg and Ice-T as Ice Oscillator.<ref name="RollingStone"/> The album was re-released by [[Mello Music Group]] on streaming, CD, and LP in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/04/analog-brothers-kool-keith-ice-t-pimp-to-eat/|title=Analog Brothers Featuring Kool Keith, Ice-T, Pimp Rex, Black Silver and Marc Live Are Reissuing 'Pimp to Eat' - XXL|last=C.M.|first=Emmanuel|date=April 12, 2016|website=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> [[Masters of Illusion (group)|Masters of Illusion]], a collaboration with [[KutMasta Kurt]] and Motion Man, followed a few months later.

Thornton, Marc Live and [[H-Bomb (rapper)|H-Bomb]] formed the group KHM, releasing the album ''[[Game (KHM album)|Game]]'' on November 19, 2002. They later changed their name to "[[Clayborne Family]]" by the release of their second album two years later.<ref name="Cooper"/> That year (2004) also saw the release of ''[[Kool Keith Presents Thee Undatakerz]]'' (with Reverend Tom (Kool Keith) Al Bury-U (BIG NONAME), M-Balmer and The Funeral Director) and ''[[Diesel Truckers]]'', another collaboration with KutMasta Kurt.

===Second Dr. Octagon album (2002–2004)===
In 2002, Thornton began recording ''The Resurrection of Dr. Octagon'' with producer Fanatik J,<ref>{{cite news |first=Abbey |last=Goodman |title=All The Voices In Kool Keith's Head Working On New Albums |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453279/20020405/kool_keith.jhtml?headlines=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020814173539/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453279/20020405/kool_keith.jhtml?headlines=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2002 |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=April 5, 2002 |access-date=13 December 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Downs">{{cite news|first=David |last=Downs |title=''Kool Keith CD Scam Exposed'' |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/PrintFriendly?oid=291467 |newspaper=[[East Bay Express]] |date=September 27, 2006 |access-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227142441/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/PrintFriendly?oid=291467 |archive-date=27 February 2009 }}</ref> signing a contract with [[CMH Records]] to release the album, which was eventually completed without much input from Thornton, due to a falling out over contractual terms.<ref name="Downs"/>

On October 12, 2004, [[Real Talk Entertainment]] issued the album ''Dr. Octagon Part 2''. The album was discontinued by court order.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Octagon |url=https://www.bulkrecordings.com/artist/dr-octagon/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Bulk Recordings |language=en-US}}</ref> On June 27, ''[[The Return of Dr. Octagon]]'' was released by [[OCD International]], an imprint of CMH, advertised as the official follow-up to ''Dr. Octagonecologyst''.<ref name="Downs"/> Some critics felt that it was not as good as its predecessor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_06_returnof.html |title=Review of ''The Return of Dr. Octagon''  |access-date=2008-09-06 |last=Hernandez |first=Pedro 'DJ Complejo' |date=June 27, 2006 |publisher=Rap Reviews}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37108/Dr_Octagon_The_Return_of_Dr_Octagon |title=Review of ''The Return of Dr. Octagon'' |access-date=2008-09-06 |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=June 28, 2006 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622010624/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37108/Dr_Octagon_The_Return_of_Dr_Octagon |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Thornton stated that he liked the album, but felt that it hurt his reputation as a musician.<ref name="Downs"/> In August, Thornton performed under the Dr. Octagon billing, but did not acknowledge the release of the OCD album.<ref name="Godfrey">{{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Godfrey |title=''Kool Keith's Bits & Pieces'' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501297.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=C08 |date=August 26, 2006 |access-date=19 January 2009 }}</ref>

===Further collaborations and solo albums (2006–present)===
On April 25, 2006, Thornton released the album ''[[Nogatco Rd.]]'' under the name Mr. Nogatco, and ''[[Project Polaroid]]'', a collaboration with TomC3.<ref name="Cooper"/> ''The Return of Dr. Octagon'', the sequel to ''Dr. Octagonecologyst'', was released two months later, as well as a Dr. Dooom sequel titled ''[[Dr. Dooom 2]]'' being released two years later.

In 2007, Ultramagnetic MCs released the reunion album  ''[[The Best Kept Secret (Ultramagnetic MCs album)|The Best Kept Secret]]''.<ref name="Cooper"/> In 2009, Kool Keith released the concept album ''[[Tashan Dorrsett]]''; a follow-up, ''[[The Legend of Tashan Dorrsett]]'', followed two years later.<ref name="Cooper"/> In 2012, Kool Keith performed at the [[Gathering of the Juggalos]].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 16, 2012 |title=Gathering of the Juggalos 2012 Lineup: Reunited Geto Boys, Danny Brown, George Clinton |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/07/gathering-juggalos-2012-lineup-reunited-geto-boys-danny-brown-george-clinton/ |access-date=26 March 2015 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> He has stated that he is considering retiring from music.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kool-keith-preps-new-album-ponders-retirement-20120507|title=Kool Keith Preps New Album, Ponders Retirement|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> In 2013, Keith appeared as Dr. Octagon on the [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] song "Buried Alive", from their album ''[[Mosquito (Yeah Yeah Yeahs album)|Mosquito]]''. In 2015, Keith released "Time? Astonishing!" with producer L'Orange and began the start of his relationship with [[Mello Music Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20817-time-astonishing/|title=Kool Keith / L'Orange: Time? Astonishing! Album Review – Pitchfork|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref> Since then, Keith also re-issued his group album with the [[Analog Brothers]] (Ice-T, Pimp Rex, Marc Live, Silver Synth) ''Pimp To Eat'' with Mello Music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/people-today-cant-party-because-they-need-a-new-kneecap-a-qanda-with-kool-keith-7134918|title="People Today Can't Party Because They Need a New Kneecap": A Q&A With Kool Keith|first=Jonny|last=Coleman|work=L.A. Weekly |date=14 July 2016|access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref> Kool Keith's recent solo album ''[[Feature Magnetic]]'' was dropped on September 16, 2016 and it features [[MF Doom|MF DOOM]], [[Slug (rapper)|Slug]] from Atmosphere, [[Simon Rex|Dirt Nasty]] and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmg-koolkeith.bandcamp.com/album/feature-magnetic|title=Feature Magnetic, by Kool Keith|access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref> Artwork for the ''Feature Magnetic'' album was produced by [[Marc Santo]].

In 2018, Keith collaborated once again with [[Dan the Automator]] and [[DJ Qbert]] for another [[Dr. Octagon]] album.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/02/15/dr-octagon-kool-keith-moosebumps-sophomore-album-single-premiere|title=Kool Keith, Dan The Automator, and DJ Qbert are reuniting as Dr. Octagon|work=The FADER|access-date=2018-03-10|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2018/02/15/kool-keith-new-dr-octagon-album/|title=Kool Keith, Dan The Automator and Qbert reveal new Dr. Octagon album|date=2018-02-15|work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=2018-03-10|language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation]]'' was released on streaming services on April 6, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berry|first1=Peter|title=DR. OCTAGON PLOT 'MOOSEBUMPS' ALBUM, DROP NEW SONG "OCTAGON OCTAGON"|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/dr-octagon-moosebumps-album-drops-octagon-octagon/|website=xxlmag.com|date=February 27, 2018 |access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref> with the physical release scheduled for [[Record Store Day]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr. Octagon – Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation Deluxe|url=https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/10214|website=recordstoreday.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> April 21, 2018. The Record Store Day release includes both vinyl and CD copies. Using his [[Deltron 3030|Deltron]] persona, [[Del the Funky Homosapien]] guests on "3030 Meets the Doc, Pt. 1". NPR offered a first look at the album on March 29, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wang|first1=Oliver|title=Kool Keith And Dan The Automator Make Rap Weird Again As Dr. Octagon|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/29/597002303/first-listen-dr-octagon-moosebumps-an-exploration-into-modern-day-horripilation|website=npr.org|date=March 29, 2018|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> Kool Keith appears on "Western" by the bluegrass-rap group Gangstagrass, performing as himself. Throughout five years, Thornton released ''Controller of Trap'', ''[[Keith (album)|Keith]]'', ''Computer Technology'', ''Saks 5th Ave'', ''Space Goretex'' (with Thetan), ''Keith's Salon'', ''Subatomic'' (with [[Del the Funky Homosapien]]), ''Serpent'' (with Real Bad Man), and ''Black Elvis 2''.

Thornton's fan site refers to his discography of roughly fifty album releases, most of which have been commercially released. Singles such as "Spectrum" continue to appear online under the artist's name, on sites such as [[SoundCloud]] and [[Spotify]].