I see there's a lot of hype over Andre 3000 at the moment, many comparisons to Prince and Funkadelic, but personally I think that Andre Bit a lot of his style from Kool Keith.

Keith is a true innovator and was writing abstract lyrics and writing under various pseudonymes when Dre was still doing that southernplayalistic shit. It's sad to see an aritst like Keith not get his due. I see a lot of Keith style in Dre's style, from singing falsetto to multiple personalities and cosmic aspiratations. Keith in the liner notes of "spank master" made reference to a rapper down in atlanta biting his stlye, it was obvious he was referring to Dre.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Dre I'm just saying that Keith may have influenced his style. True hip-hop fans know of Keith's first group "Ultramagnetic Mc's" and the part they played in shaping the genre.





I'll admit Keith has lost his edge but he's still able to shine when some of his old classics are stumbled across. It's unfortunate that Keith was never able to maintain a contract with a major label for with the proper people around him I think he could've been one of the greatest artist in hip hop. I read somewhere that he recorded the whole Dr. octagon album in one session and most of his lyrics were freestyled.

Keith may be a little to bizzare or eccentric for some but for those who are adventurous I suggest you pick up some of his releases. I would start with Ultra-Big Time and Sex Stlyes and go backwards though there is some good stuff on Dr. Doom.




















[This message was edited Wed Sep 24 21:27:17 PDT 2003 by magnificentsynthesizer667]

I've been thinking about Kool Keith's ass a lot today.

Anxiety said:

That made 2 of us.

Thanks Keith.

There are bound to be similarities if you look hard enough but you're stretching it. It's all about timing. For you... err.. Keith, it just wasn't meant to be-- Atleast not on the same level as Andre.

whodknee said:

Oh for me he is on the same level, actually a little bit higher.
I didn't have to stretch to hard to find the similarities.

magnificentsynthesizer667 said:

Finally someone who's acknowledging some REAL hip-hop instead of all these commercial clowns nowadays...
Dr. Octagon is the true essential hip-hop shit man and of course The Ultra Magnetic's and Tim Dog!

Neversin.

magnificentsynthesizer667 said:

It's all about pushing that ass boundary.

Anxiety said:

Yeah you know how Keith obsessess over rectum cracks and doo doo.

"yeah, kool keith should keep it real
He should rap about space and mars..."

[kool keith]
Yo, i'm tired of looking at everybody. same boots, skully hats in
90 degree weather, looking to get into clubs for free. i'm not
Smoking blunts, or looking for jazz records at the roosevelt.

I left new york, the city itself was stress depression
High boots and urban beats, that wasn't my direction
Producers filtering join in with r&b
A million rappers, some clones trying to sound like me
Biting my space styles, biting my horror-core
All i saw was kool keiths on my thaw
Record companies had g'd-off all my royalties
Watching vinyl spin, local groups' wack mc's
Some try to rap with that perpetrate mobster crap
Karl kani jeans, fat stomachs in the limosines
Mixtapes by wack dj's adds doo doo play
I'm on the turnpike, the city drifting down the highway
Like a mirage, the style there is all illusion
On videos out of town, peoples buy confusion
Rolling high with cash pulled over down my eye
Since i've been out, y'all can't see

Chorus:
Is the world made of plastic?
Is the city buried in dreams? (yeah)
Is the world made of plastic?
Cause that's the way is seems (owww)

Watching tv so bored, while imbiciles hold the mic cord
Graffiti playgrounds are played out, yo how'd that sound?
Army fatigues are weak, is for the minor leagues
No rapping cyphers or brothers in the rented benz
Crews on stage, acting hard with a thousand friends
I saw the place turn plastic, crackers looping beats
People with no deals, walkmen rappin on the streets
I turned my back, 90% of the city sounded wack
Payola scams switched dj's like a rubber band
Everybody clear with beats trying to be premier
Clearing samples, your sp-12 fake examples
My money grows with green from my own label
While you act rich with no cash on the bigger label
Your tri-state ways are shut down by barricades
In fact i packed my bags, and listened to e-40
Mac mall, c-bo, and other rappers you don't know
You're narrow-minded and styles of mind you won't find it
My sound proceeds with moog and undertone bass
No comic gimmicks with beats rapping in my face
I come back real, solid rock razor steel
Tap your program, show the world i'm the man
You copy poppa large, the industry is large

Chorus x2

As i do see sorta rugged wack beer commercials
Some rappers are bought and puppeteered like the ninja turtles
From manhattan i heat up, yo light up times square
I make noise like open high hats on your cheap snare
No promotional shows, girls wear corn rows
People with hooded sweaters on crack keep me on my toes
I walk with straw hats, fake glasses in the projects
Bring my ghost image so tense on the line of scrimmage
Playing my numbers, waiting for the five to come
Spaghetti out the window, people acting dumb
Fire hazards wake the neighbors, your family's nosy
I come and go as i please on blockhead mc's
You bought new sneakers, no car, scrambling on the corner
I'm not the star you are, the city's fallen far
By mechanism, you're on my tip
Stay off my penis, you've duplicated me for years

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you are the one

Chorus x2

Keith is my favorite. He is just too damn tight and nothing will ever beat that Dr. Octagon album.

Andre is tight but not even on the same page as Keith. But it is like comparing apples to oranges.

magnificentsynthesizer667 said:

This video is hilarious-The whole concept of it is Keith going room to room in a hotel and in each room there something different happening-In one he's filming his own Porn-In the last he walks in and Michael Jackson is sitting there, He hands Mike his glove and he puts it on-Mike then proceeds to pour Keith a bowl of cereal and hands the bowl over to Keith and Keith starts eating it while rapping. Classic!

chemmie said:

That's what I'm saying!

Neversin said:

But do you have "Funk Your Head Up" on CD? I sold Keith one of two copies I found second hand in 1998. He didn't even have one...

PossumSlimm said:

Care to sell that 2nd copy?

PossumSlimm said:

A "Funk Your Head Up" CD from only Kool Keith??
I only have one of the Ultra Magnetic's...

Neversin.