KeyKool
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Key-Kool | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin |  North Torrance, California, United States |
|
| Genre(s) | Hip hop | |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Producer | |
| Years active | 1989–Present | |
| Label(s) | Up Above Records | |
| Associated acts |
The Visionaries | |
| Website | Offical Label Site myspace Site |
|
Contents |
[edit] The Early Years
Key-Kool is a a third generation Japanese-American that got involved in hip-hop in the early '80s when he began pop-locking and breakdancing and picked up DJing in 1983. Key-Kool lived behind the Roadium Swapmeet in Torrance, CA where a record stand owned by Steve Yano had a wide selection of vinyl from both the East and West Coast. As a young hip-hop fiend, Key-Kool hung out at the Roadium record stand every weekend, and witnessed the forming and explosion of N.W.A., (Steve Yano is credited for introducing Eazy E to Dr. Dre, which spawned N.W.A.), which would later influence Key-Kool in releasing records independantly.
Key-Kool gained recognition as an up and coming DJ and by the young age of 15, Key was DJing college parties, clubs, and various gigs. In 1989, Ice T Rhyme Syndicate Management recruited Key to be in a group, called the United Nations Committee, (where he met fellow Visionaries member LMNO , introducing him to the music industry. After the UNC broke up, Key would continue his ventures in the music industry.
[edit] Up Above
Key-Kool partnered with Intellect (aka Captiol I) and signed a record deal to an indie label Wild West Records. Unhappy with the situation, Key opted out of the contract. Around the same time, Key met USC business grad Doug Kato, and Doug became Key's manager. Key decided to go solo and began recording demo songs when Doug ran into an old friend DJ Rhettmatic. Key and Rhett began working together and eventually formed a group Kozmonautz. Reluctant to deal with major labels at the time that suggested Key and Rhett negatively exploit their Asian-American heritage, Key, Rhett, and Doug with the mentoring of industry power-player Violet Brown, decided to release their record independantly starting the label, Up Above Records.
[edit] Kozmonautz
Key-Kool, & DJ Rhettmatic were nationally recognized as one of the first Asian-Americans to release a hip-hop album. In 1995 they released Kozmonautz received critical acclaim in national publications such as The Source, Rap Sheet, Rappages, and URB magazine. The Source Magazine refer to Key-Kool & Rhettmatic as "Asian hip-hop soldiers" and call their b-side posse cut E=MC5 "an underground classic" (Feb. ’96) . In the academic world, "Reconcentrated," Key-Kool's lyrical thesis on the incarceration of Japanese in America during World War II, , has been used in classrooms from coast to coast including: NYU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Loyola University Chicago, Columbia University, to name a few. The Kozmonautz album had the first official song released by the The Visionaries, entitled "Visionaries (Stop Actin' Scary)." With fellow members and friends, LMNO]], Lord Zen, Dannu, and 2Mex. Visionaries have gained a large following releasing their four albums, touring the U.S., Europe, Japan, and continue picking up momentum with their energetic live show and infectiously uplifting music.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Key-Kool & Rhettmatic
- Kozmonautz (1995)
[edit] Visionaries
- Galleries (1997-8)
- Sophomore Jinx (2000)
- Pangaea (2004)
- We Are The Ones (We've Been Waiting For) (2006)
[edit] Lyrically appears on
- "Ubiquity" (with DJ Rhettmatic, Evidence, Divine Styler) (1998)
- "Rob One Tribute" (with Rob One All Stars) (2000)
- "Time to Grow Up" (with Mum's The Word) (2000)
- "Upside Down" (with Mind Clouders) (2000)
- "Associated Somehow" (with Urbanites) (2001)
- "Truth Serum" (with Writer's Block) (2001)
- "Next Stop" (with Writer's Block) (2001)
- "Frail Beats" (with Subtitle) (2001)
- "Lifted-Tek-Knowledge-G" (LRG 7" Exclusive with LMNO & DJ Rhettmatic) (2001)
- "Loud Telepathy" (with LMNO) (2004)
- "Itinuous Blessings" (with LMNO) (2004)
- "Hands On" (with DJ Numark) (2004)
- "Forgive Us" (with LMNO) (2005)
- "Negotiate" (with LMNO) (2005)
- "SonGodSuns At Night" (with SonGodSuns aka 2Mex) (2005)
- "Get It Together" (with LD & Ariano) (2006)
- "SonGodSuns At Night" (with SonGodSuns aka 2Mex) (2005)
