KOOL KEITH Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The story of Kool Keith's latest project is as peculiar and unpredictable as the man himself. For decades, he's thrived on the outskirts of hip-hop, carving out a singular lane where eccentricity, sci-fi alter egos and razor-sharp wordplay collide. If rap had its own multiverse, Keith would be one of its most elusive figuresidrifting between dimensions, reinventing himself with each new project, all while maintaining a presence that feels both legendary and underrated. His first full-length release since Black Elvis 2 reunites him with longtime collaborators and fresh voices alike. Hip-hop mainstays Tash (Tha Alkaholiks) and Marc Live (Analog Brothers/Black Elvis) bring their unmistakable styles to the mix, while rising talents like Dear Derrick and Yah Zillah add new energy. The production, handled by Grant Shapiro, is an exercise in classic boom bap craftsmanship: chunky drum loops, hypnotic samples and that signature off-kilter bounce that Keith navigates so well. If anything, this release reminds us that Keith exists in his own creative galaxy, unbothered by trends or mainstream validation. The lead single, 'Super Hits', arrives with a video directed by Wayne Campbell, a frequent collaborator known for his work with Benny The Butcher. The tracklist alone reads like a cryptic message from Keith's mind: 'Pierre 9', 'Body Rock', 'Pissing', 'Jim Kelly'ieach title a doorway into his endlessly surreal world. J-Styles and Steve "Steve B" Baughman shape the sonics into something urgent and tactile, where every drum hit and vocal nuance pops. Keith, as always, plays by his own rules. He's been doing it for so long that any attempt to pin him down feels futile. Instead, you just press play and let the madness unfold.

Review: Kool Keith, Jazz T and Doctor Zygote deliver a lyrical gem with 'Heavyweights.' This track isn't a diss, but a declaration of superior MC skills, featuring a heavy bassline and a jazz-infused, ominous mood reminiscent of a detective movie soundtrack. Kool Keith's standout chops make this a classic. Side-2 offers the instrumental version, showing the intricate production and allowing the dark, jazzy atmosphere to shine on its own sounding like an eerie detective show. 'Heavyweights' is a great addition to any hip-hop/r&b collection, highlighting the artistry of these heavy-hitting collaborators.

Review: Kool Keith's album Keith's Salon was a big hit when it came out back in 2001. It was produced by the talented electronic mainstay Bruno Pronsato and now it has been remixed with just as much elan by a stellar team assembled by French label Logistic. First to reimagine Kool Keith's hip-hop hit 'Wiggle' is the masterful micro-house don Losoul who keeps it deft and abstract. Ben Nevile then brings crunchy texture and slow motion beats to his version. Last of all, Flabbergast (aka Vincent Lemieux and Guillaume Coutu Dumont) keep things elegant with lovely hits riding a skeletal rhythm and with shuffling pads down low.

Review: Prolific Philly rap eccentric Lynx 196.9 teams up for a first-time collaboration with the un-knock-downable legend Kool Keith for an incendiary new mini-album, 'Bandoleros', a concept piece intended as a modern spaghetti Western soundtrack. The rat-helmeted wordsmith and the surrealist vigilante prove an unsurprisingly wicked combo, as both emcees glide suavely over boom-bap centrepieces sampled from various spaghetti film sources, while detailing the blueprints of their various forthcoming jailbreaks.