KOOL KEITH
Sunday, April 11
Tequila
Twenty years on the forefront of hip-hop offers a unique perspective. The legacy created by Kool Keith, which includes starting Ultramagnetic MCs and collaborating with the likes of QBert and DJ Shadow is something few could match. So what does he think about the state of today’s hip-hop?
"Nothin’ really turns me on about much of it," he says. "Why do I wanna look at another rapper in a ball cap? I mean really, so what? A new guy with a hat and some money – where’s the content? What are they trying to say? A lot of these guys don’t even make their own music, how can they speak on behalf of the music when many of them are manufactured by the music industry? That’s not important to me."
With his roots firmly sewn into the fabric of music, Keith has the perspective to back these comments up. Under his alias Dr. Octagon his first single ignited the underground hip-hop community with a fierce turntable and lyrical style. Also known as Dr. Dooom and the Black Elvis, Keith is notorious for his lyrical flow and innovative approach and his ability to repeatedly reinvent himself. He has a deep belief in a voice for the voiceless and as a spokesperson he’s never pulled any punches, so it’s no surprise he has so much to say about the recent shift in the industry. The focus is no longer on the music but on the celebrity of the latest flavour, popularizing disagreements between factions in the community and between artists.
"You know when I came up, you had all these bands that were like farm teams and you developed there. The artists like (A) Tribe (Called Quest), De La (Soul), Public Enemy – music was the message, they could speak on behalf of the music. Chuck D could go on Leno and sound like he knew. Now it’s guys who might have flow, but can’t speak. So they just end up being guys in ball caps who focus on who’s got an issue with who. People in Paris or Berlin – they don’t care about that stuff. They want to hear music that’s universal, not just localized industry gossip or hype. How can that be a good thing for this music?"
His own attempt to counter the trend has been to broaden the range of his own style. His latest, self-admitted influences root themselves in ambient soundscapes rather than more traditional forms of music.
"I’m trying to keep myself open to the world and to bring in more than what you’d expect. I’ve been listening to a lot of jungle sounds and such – even Sinatra. I’m just trying to keep my mind open to sound." The results of his recent musical endeavours are still in the works, but the Keith, who’s always been on the further edges of this music no doubt has more tricks up his musical sleeve than many of today’s one-hit wonders.
"I just want to make my music, music that’s important to me to keep the music flowing and my mind growing." |
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