#rewindreview: Kool Keith ‘Sex Style’ 1997
This Bronx M.C. has had one of the most interesting careers in HOP music that he has been in complete control of. From Ultramagnetic M.C.’s to a spaced out horrorcore act as Dr. Octagon, Kool Keith created a lane for an acquired listener, while paving a path for the “alias” within the existing character, music acts already portray. ‘Sex Style’ is the debut solo album for “Kool Keith” and if one is not familiar with the rapper EVERYTHING about this album, from it’s cover art to the content will feel confusing or cheap. How do I know this, because I was that outsider at one point. I would constantly see this album in stores and look past it as around this time the era of “bad cover art” (certain record labels shall remain nameless) was in full effect along with horrible rappers on those albums. Kool Keith’s name I knew of in passing but did not KNOW him like that. At the time a college radio show I listened to was playing tracks like ‘Sly We Fly,’ ‘Lovely Lady’ and ‘Plastic World.’ These songs all seemed strange and I could not wrap my head around their purpose. Ironically around this time is when “Keith” was appearing on different projects and it was almost destined for me to delve into his back catalog up to this point. I finally get around to ‘Sex Style’ and between understanding the Kool Keith brand and hearing those songs I initially heard on college radio, I can appreciate the album for what it is. The record is an “anti-underground Hip-Hop” album that plays (or jokes depending one’s point of view) on the over sexualized corner of HOP music. In the many personas of Kool Keith we get the pimp that controls all the prostitutes of the industry (rappers) and has them doing the wildest acts while also getting songs of comedic filth that goes against the grain of any “truskool” HOP music listener. Kool Keith has always been about disruption and destroying barriers within HOP music while also being one of the most abstract acts in the genre. ‘Sex Style’ creates the sound of Kool Keith and his many personas from the Kut Master Kurt and T.R. Love production but beware when “soundbombing” this album while driving in your car or in your residence. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Don’t Crush It,’ ‘Wanna Be A Star,’ & ‘Plastic World’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO