Starting off in the group of Ultramagnetic MC's with Tim Dog, Moe Luv, T.R. Love, and producer Ced-Gee, Kool Keith clearly helped Ultramagnetic MC's to rise as one of the best groups representing New York. They've had several albums starting from the mid 80's, smashing with their debut Critical Beatdown (1988) and staying active for a whole decade, until 1998 with their last record, Smack My Bitch Up.
During the projects on Ultramagnetic MC's, Kool Keith released an EP with Da Beat Terrorists releasing one of his first alias (though most likely not the first): Big Willie Smith (EP).
In 1996 was when he released The Cenubites along with Godfather Don. Shortly after, he released the completely successful album, Sex Styles. Upon this, he labeled the genre of "pornorap" (in which somehow not alot of hip-hop/rap artists somehow take pure work to excluding artists i.e. Blowfly though considered Funk Rap).
With the release of the Ultra album along with Tim Dog (who was found famous for dissing Compton), Kool Keith had a project released rather different not just to him, but to the whole hip-hop genre itself: Dr. Octagonecologyst.
The debut album of Dr. Octagon was mainly produced by Dan the Automator Nakamura (boosting popularity points), Kutmasta Kurt, and DJ Q-Bert, with appearances such as DJ Shadow and Sir Menelik. Octagonecologyst, though, probably the most successful album Kool Keith has ever sold, it didn't really gain as much as expected to what Kool Keith wanted. Because of many problems (apparently with Sony) not to mention credentials (on the Instrumentalyst: Octagon Beats album), Kool Keith left the Octagon project.
Making a comeback purely insulting (and murdering) Dr. Octagon, Kool Keith released the Dr. Dooom album in 1999 which had it's type of success to new and gaining fans. Also, the production was mainly made by him (notice he's usually on credits for Bass usually); starting from here that there is alot more instrumental albums by him.
One of his most appealing alias, Black Elvis (Black Elvis/Lost in Space which released in '99), had Kool Keith taking more popularity but also more depth and creativity. Unfortunately, not even alot of acknowledgment that deserves its place to Kool Keith that he originated the cape, wig, and sunglasses even go to him. However, he even continues while he still originates.
It was in this time, when he started collaborating with Kutmasta Kurt and started having albums with him. In 2000, was "Kutmasta Kurt Presents: Masters of Illusions".
On solo projects, Kool Keith even hit with his album Matthew (which, in may, comes alot from him). In 2001, Kool Keith released Spankmaster (apparently, even Esham helped on this album).
Alongside his solo albums, Kool Keith has always helped forming groups together such as The Cenubites (Kool Keith & Godfather Don), Masters of Illusion (Kool Keith & Noggin Nodders), The Analog Brothers (Kool Keith, Ice-T, Mark Moog, Silver Synth), KHM (Kool Keith, H-Bomb, Marc Live), Thee Undertakerz (Kool Keith aka Reverend Tom, The Funeral Director, M-Balmer, Al Buryu & The Pallbearer) Clayborne Family (Kool Keith, Marc Live, Jacky Jasper), Cyclops 4000 (apparently a group with Sir Menelik and more), chronically continues.
In 2004, Kool Keith releases the album White Label Mix Series, Volume 1, with following artist Nancy Des Rose. In the same year, with Kutmasta Kurt, they release Diesel Truckers where it seems they may continue making album releases for a while longer.
From start, Kool Keith has always featured in albums with many artists that's almost as hard to remember to fans just as much as his aliases. He's been in guest appearances with artists like DJ Red Alert, Bazooka Joe, Dan the Automator, Chino XL, Sir Menelik (aka Scaramanga, Chewbacca, General Beta Live, etc.), Guru (of Gang Starr), The Prodigy (vocals in the famous "Smack My Bitch Up"; Diesel Power), Motion Man (in which also Motion Man has featured in Keith albums), Esham, Princess Superstar, Ice-T, Jurassic 5, Smut Peddlers, MF Doom (Viktor Vaughn; Venomous Villain), Bucc Rogers, Awol One, 2Mex, and alot more in which it continues as well.
It seems here alot of old school based fans who want Kool Keith to come to his ways with Ultramagnetic MCs (which hasn't at this time been overlooked yet what will happen) and alternative fans who just urge until they hear another Dr. Octagon album. However, it's realized only to fans who truly listen to him and people who glare at Kool Keith's music that he's something probably most of the hip-hop artists aren't: innovative.
Bio written by: HumptyHump |
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