Editing Kool Keith

{{Short description|American rapper and producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Kool Keith
| image            = Kool Keith 2011 (cropped).jpg
| caption          = Kool Keith performing in 2011
| birth_name       = Keith Matthew Thornton
| alias            = {{hlist|[[Dr. Octagon]]|Dr. Dooom|Black Elvis|Dr. Ultra|Crazy Lou|Robbie Analog|Poppa Large|Rhythm X|Keith Korg|Dicky Long Docking|Platinum Rich|Underwear Pissy|Number One Producer|Exotron Geiger Counter One Gamma Plus Sequencer}}<!--This section is for official stage names only.-->
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1963|10|7}}
| birth_place      = New York City, U.S.
| genre            = [[hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| occupation       = {{hlist|Rapper|producer}}
| discography      = [[Kool Keith discography]]
| current_member_of= [[Ultramagnetic MCs]]
| years_active     = 1984–present
| label            = {{hlist|Bulk|Funky Ass|[[Ruffhouse Records|Ruffhouse]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|Threshold|DMAFT|Insomniac|[[OCD International]]|Junkadelic|[[Mello Music Group|Mello]] <small>(current)</small>}}
| associated_acts  = {{hlist|[[Ultramagnetic MCs]]|[[Godfather Don]]|[[Tim Dog]]|[[KutMasta Kurt]]|[[Dan the Automator]]|[[Analog Brothers]]|[[Masters of Illusion (group)|Masters of Illusion]]|[[Jacky Jasper]]|[[Thee Undatakerz]]|[[The Cenubites]]|[[Diesel Truckers]]|[[Peeping Tom (band)|Peeping Tom]]|[[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]]|[[Chilly Chill]]|[[the Prodigy]]|[[Spazz (band)|Spazz]]|[[Princess Superstar]]|[[Nu:Tone]]|[[MF Doom]]}}
| website          = {{twitter}}
| module           = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
 | signature       = Kool Keith signature.png
}}
}}

'''Keith Matthew Thornton''' (born October 7, 1963), better known by his stage name '''Kool Keith''', is an American rapper and record producer known for his surreal, abstract, and often profane or incomprehensible lyrics. Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is generally considered to be one of hip-hop's most eccentric and unusual personalities.<ref name=Grantland>{{cite web|last1=Barshad|first1=Amos|title=Kool Keith Is Lost in His Own Space|url=http://grantland.com/features/rap-greatest-weirdo-kool-keith-works-be-last-album/|website=[[Grantland]]|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref>

Kool Keith was a cofounding member of [[Ultramagnetic MCs]], whose debut ''[[Critical Beatdown]]'' was released in 1988. After two more albums with the group, ''[[Funk Your Head Up]]'' and ''[[The Four Horsemen (album)|The Four Horsemen]]'', Kool Keith released his critically acclaimed solo debut album, ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]'', under the name [[Dr. Octagon]] in 1996. Subsequently he independently released a series of further hip hop albums, including ''[[Sex Style]]'', ''[[First Come, First Served]]'' (as Dr. Dooom), and most recently ''[[Keith (album)|Keith]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kool-keith-announces-new-album-keith|title=Kool Keith Announces New Album KEITH|publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Yoo|first=Noah|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref>

After releasing only one album on a major label, ''[[Black Elvis/Lost in Space]]'', Kool Keith subsequently returned to independently releasing music, producing further efforts as a solo artist and in collaboration with groups such as [[Analog Brothers]], [[Masters of Illusion (group)|Masters of Illusion]], [[Thee Undatakerz]] and [[Project Polaroid]]. Kool Keith has also made guest appearances in collaboration with [[Peeping Tom (band)|Peeping Tom]] and [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]]. He was also featured on the short track DDT on [[Jurassic 5]]'s album ''[[Power in Numbers]]''.
[[The Prodigy]]'s hit "[[Smack My Bitch Up]]" was based on a sample of Kool Keith's voice saying "Change my pitch up. Smack my bitch up" on ''[[Critical Beatdown|Give The Drummer Some]]'' by Ultramagnetic MCs.

==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]].

==Lyrical and performance style==
[[File:Kool-Keith-2009.jpg|thumb|right|Kool Keith performing at Mezzanine in San Francisco, California during the 2009 [[Noise Pop Festival]]]]
Thornton's lyrics are often [[Abstract art|abstract]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/1996_09_octagon.html |title=Review of ''Dr. Octagonecologyst'' |access-date=2009-01-27 |last=Juon |first=Steve |date = September 1996|publisher=RapReviews}}</ref> [[surrealism|surreal]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Hess |first=Mickey |title=Is Hip Hop Dead? The Past, Present, and Future of America's Most-Wanted Music |year=2007 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-99461-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ishiphopdeadpast00hess_0/page/75 75–76] |chapter=The Rap Persona |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/ishiphopdeadpast00hess_0/page/75 }}</ref> and filled with [[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequitur]]s, extreme violence, exaggerated braggadocio, and profane [[shock humor]]. <ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r235693|pure_url=yes}} |title=Review of ''Dr. Octagonecologyst'' |access-date=2009-01-27 |last=Huey |first=Steve |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> For example, "Technical Difficulties," from the album ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]'', contains the following lyrics: "Intestines, investments, hide money in your stomach / Who can stop [[Pepto-Bismol]]? Only a Gremlin eatin' in [[Larry H. Parker|Larry Parker]] like Gizmo." In "Extravagant Traveler" from [[Matthew (album)|Matthew]], he boasts: "Sautéed fish and shrimp / the [[Dallas Mavericks]] want me as a bald-headed five-foot-eight guard with a ninety-five inch vertical / [[Vince Carter]] respects my legs, ask [[Shawn Kemp]]," whereas on "Miami Mike" from ''Saks Fifth Avenue'' he proclaims, "I watch you take a shower in my [[Boeing 747|747]] flying over your house / I used to live in the [[Twin Towers]] by myself." Thornton is also known for an explicit style focusing on [[sexual intercourse|sexual]] themes, which Thornton has referred to as "[[pornocore]]".<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r248878|pure_url=yes}} |title=Review of ''Sex Style'' |access-date=2009-02-19 |last=Huey |first=Steve |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/dr-octagon-the-return-of-dr-octagon/ |title=Review of ''The Return of Dr. Octagon'' |access-date=2009-01-27 |last=Frauenhofer |first=Michael |date=June 29, 2006 |magazine=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref> In a 2007 interview, Thornton claims to have "invented [[horrorcore]]".<ref name=ukhh>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukhh.com/features/oldinterviews/kool_keith/index.html |title=Kool Keith Interview |access-date=2008-08-04 |author=Kane |author2=QED |date=July 19, 2007 |publisher=Original UK Hip Hop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222195628/http://www.ukhh.com/features/oldinterviews/kool_keith/index.html |archive-date=December 22, 2014 }}</ref>

==Alter egos==

Kool Keith is known for his many alter egos. As of 2012, Kool Keith had at least 58 such alter egos: these include well-known aliases such as Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, and Black Elvis, which appeared on albums bearing their names; and the more obscure, such as firearms dealer "Crazy Lou" and "Exotron Geiger Counter One Gamma Plus Sequencer," as he introduced himself in an appearance on [[Marley Marl]]'s radio show ''In Control''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mlynar |first1=Phillip |title=Top 10 Greatest Kool Keith Aliases |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/top-10-greatest-kool-keith-aliases/ |website=The Village Voice |date=April 5, 2011 |access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref> Some of Kool Keith's monikers have only existed on album artwork, such as "Mr. Green" and "Elvin Presley."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Batey |first1=Angus |title=20 Years On: Ultramagnetic MCs' Funk Your Head Up |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/08259-ultramagnetic-mcs-funk-your-head-up |access-date=2022-12-19 |work=The Quietus |date=2012-03-20}}</ref>

In reference to his relationship between himself and his various stage personalities, Keith has said, "I don't even feel like I'm a human being anymore".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://032c.com/2006/kool-keith/|title=KOOL KEITH|last=032c.com|work=032c Workshop |date=December 2006 |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref>

==Discography==

'''Solo albums'''
{{Main|Kool Keith discography}}
*''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]'' (1996)
*''[[Sex Style]]'' (1997)
*''[[First Come, First Served]]'' (1999)
*''[[Black Elvis/Lost in Space]]'' (1999)
*''[[Matthew (album)|Matthew]]'' (2000)
*''[[Spankmaster]]'' (2001)
*''[[Nogatco Rd.]]'' (2006)
*''[[The Return of Dr. Octagon]]'' (2006)
*''[[Dr. Dooom 2]]'' (2008)
*''[[Tashan Dorrsett]]'' (2009)
*''[[Love and Danger (Kool Keith album)|Love & Danger]]'' (2012)
*''[[Demolition Crash]]'' (2014)
*''[[El Dorado Driven]]'' (2014)
*''[[Feature Magnetic]]'' (2016)
*''[[Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation]]'' (2018)
*''Controller of Trap'' (2018)
*''[[Keith (album)|Keith]]'' (2019)
*''Computer Technology'' (2019)
*''Saks 5th Ave'' (2019)
*''Keith's Salon'' (2021)
*''[[Black Elvis 2]]'' (2023)
*''Mr. Controller'' (2023)
*''World Area'' (2023)

'''Collaborative albums'''
{{See also|Ultramagnetic MCs#Albums}}
*''[[Big Time (Ultra album)|Big Time]]'' (with [[Tim Dog]] as Ultra) (1996)
*''[[Cenobites (album)|The Cenobites]]'' (with [[Godfather Don]] as The Cenobites) (1997)
*''[[Pimp to Eat]]'' (with [[Ice-T]], Black Silver, Marc Live and Pimpin' Rex as [[Analog Brothers]]) (2000)
*''[[A Much Better Tomorrow]]'' (with [[Dan the Automator|Dan The Automator]]) (2000)
*''[[Masters of Illusion (album)|Masters of Illusion]]'' (with [[Kutmasta Kurt|KutMasta Kurt]] and Motion Man as [[Masters of Illusion (group)|Masters of Illusion]]) (2000)
*[[Game (KHM album)|''Game'']] (with [[Jacky Jasper]] and Marc Live as KHM) (2002)
*''[[Kool Keith Presents Thee Undatakerz]]'' (with M-Balmer, The Funeral Director and Al Bury-U as [[Thee Undatakerz]]) (2004)
*''Kool Keith Official Space Tape'' (with DJ Junkaz Lou)  (2004)
*''[[Diesel Truckers]]'' (with [[KutMasta Kurt]] as The Diesel Truckers) (2004)
*''[[Clayborne Family]]'' (with [[Jacky Jasper]] and Marc Live as Clayborne Family) (2004)
*''[[Project Polaroid|The Original SoundTrack Album of Project Polaroid]]'' (with TomC3 as Project Polaroid) (2006)
*''Idea of a Masterpiece'' (with 57-41) (2009)
*''Bikinis N Thongs'' (with Denis Deft) (2009)
*''Stoned'' (with [[H-Bomb (rapper)|H-Bomb]] as 7th Veil) (2009)
*''Magnetic Pimp Force Field'' (with Big Sche Eastwood) (2013)
*''Time? Astonishing!'' (with L'Orange) (2015) 
*''A Couple of Slices'' (with Ray West) (2015)
*''Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation The SP 1200 Remixes'' (with Dan The Automator) (2018)
*''The Foundation Album'' (2019)
*''Space Goretex'' (with Thetan) (2020)
*''Subatomic'' (2022, with FNKPMPN)
*''Serpent'' (2023, with Real Bad Man)
*''Lonnie Parachute'' (2023, with Your Best Friend Jippy)
*''STRIKE! eMERGENCY heARTS Mix'' (with scott crow, [[Ceschi]], [[Xiu Xiu]])(2024)(Emergency Hearts)
*''STRIKE! Mark Pistel Mix'' (with scott crow, [[Ceschi]], [[Mark Pistel]], [[Xiu Xiu]])(2024)(Emergency Hearts)
*''STRIKE! AwareNess Remix'' (with scott crow, [[Ceschi]], AwareNess, [[Xiu Xiu]])(2024)(Emergency Hearts)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{cc}}
* {{AllMusic}}
* {{discogs artist}}

{{Kool Keith}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kool Keith}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[Category:American hip-hop record producers]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Records artists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Psychedelic rappers]]
[[Category:Rappers from the Bronx]]
[[Category:Underground rappers]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Guitarists from New York City]]
[[Category:20th-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:American male songwriters]]