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KOOL KEITH
Keith Matthew Thornton (born October 7, 1963), better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper and record producer from The Bronx, New York City, 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.
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, Kool Keith released his critically acclaimed solo debut album, Dr. Octagonecologyst, under the name Dr. Octagon in 1996. He subsequently released a series of further independently released hip hop albums, including Sex Style, First Come, First Served (as Dr. Dooom), and most recently Keith
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, Thee Undatakerz and Project Polaroid. Kool Keith has also made guest appearances in collaboration with 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 Give The Drummer Some by Ultramagnetic MCs.
In 2018, Keith collaborated once again with Dan the Automator and DJ Qbert for another Dr. Octagon album. Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation was released on streaming services on April 6, 2018, with the physical release scheduled for Record Store Day, April 21, 2018. The Record Store Day release includes both vinyl and CD copies. Using his 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. Kool Keith appears on “Western” by the bluegrass-rap group Gangstagrass, performing as himself. Throughout five years, Thornton released Controller of Trap, 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.
Links: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
MC HOMELESS
MC Homeless is a rapper and punk artist who has been releasing independent music, touring the US and the world for the last two decades. Homeless grew up attending punk and hardcore shows in Youngstown, Ohio. After listening to rap all his childhood, he decided to pick up the microphone in 11th grade. Homeless would hone his skills at Kent State University, sharing the stage with acts such as The Coup, MC Chris, Ceschi Ramos, Astronautalis, and many more. The handmade Pink Unicorns EP was released around this time which earned him a review in Cleveland Scene magazine.
Homeless toured across the Midwest and Northeast, eventually linking up with DIY Bandits who would release his first full length album Trapped Under An Ohio Sky. DIY Bandits previously only released folk punk such as Johnny Hobo aka Pat The Bunny and Ghost Mice but Trapped was a sleeper hit for Homeless and ended up getting a rave review in Alternative Press magazine. This led to relentless touring and a split 12 inch with Indonesia’s Homicide. All while also fronting a hardcore band and working in the film world. His documentary “Destroy Cleveland” about the Cleveland hardcore scene received global acclaim with features in The Guardian, Vice, and Noisy when originally released in 2015.
After many tours of America, Europe, and beyond, Homeless disappeared from hip hop for six years. He suddenly reemerged in 2017 and released Sex & Death on Fake Four Inc which is also home to Ceschi, Moodie Black, Sadistik, among others. His sound had matured and changed from a more traditional underground hip hop style into a dark industrial hip hop sound. Homeless is now working on multiple projects which combine his love for industrial, hip hop, and punk rock.
Homeless has had releases on standout independent labels such as Fake Four Inc., Milled Pavement, worked and toured with artists from Project Blowed, Geto Boys, and is known for combining the intensity of punk rock and underground hip hop into something unique. Homeless has been collaborating with Kool Keith since 2019 and was national opener with DJ HALO for the Black Elvis National tour Fall 2023.
Links: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
