October 10, 2006
k-os Alleges Racism Over Album Review
Canadian rapper k-os has questionably hinted at a racist agenda at NOW Magazine after receiving a mediocre review.
This week, NOW published a review of the new k-os album, "Atlantis: Hymns For Disco." Writer Jason Richards commented that the abundance of mainstream guests- including Sam Roberts and Buck 65 - "will only strengthen [k-os's] detractors' case that he's a crossover pop artist disguised as a true-school b-boy." Even so, Richards gave the album three N's out of a possible five:
"Though the music is instrumentally rich and well-produced, the big frustration here is lyrical. k-os has no shortage of philosophical ponderings and ambiguous rhetoric about the nature of self and the universe, but it's hard to squeeze much meaning out."
k-os responded on his Myspace page:
"its plain to see that a black man at NOW mag. is being manipulated by his indie rock nerd bosses. As i sat down to talk with Jason Richards a so-called Trinidadian .. it was so easy to see how he has easily became 'the used!'.. a fall out boy. Reading my review in NOW was carthartic because once again it proved that their agenda is clearly personaL and NOT musicaL. (sic)"
"The truth is that on a sambo level this young gentlemen is making sure he keeps in good favour with the NOW editor and sadly enough disses a 'brother' in the process. ... You love Uncle Tom!"
k-os closed by writing, “Eat a dick!”, though the message was taken off his Myspace page shortly thereafter.
The ensuing story on canada.com further confused matters by taking the original review somewhat out of context ("Richards called k-os 'a crossover pop artist disguised as a true-school b-boy' and criticized the artist's lyrics") and neglecting to address the ethnic slurs used in the response. These are significant errors, because the situation is not a conflict between a harsh reviewer and an upset artist. According to the grading system at NOW, a rating of NNN means, "Swell." So really, k-os' response is not only racist in content, but is all the more inappropriate given that it is sparked from not receiving a rating of "Sizzling" or "Stratospheric".
Of course, this is not the first time k-os has lashed out at the media and, er, non-media- in 2005 the in-need-of-a-hobby artist took offense to a fan's concert review included in their personal blog.
While the quotations from k-os suggest he fancies himself as a Kanye-West-style critical artist, he comes across sounding more like Tracy Morgan's portrayal of Harry Belafonte:
|
K-OS = total ass clown
Fascinating.
Oh K-OS...you used to work at Family Kartways in Whitby.
He should get one N taken away for whining on MySpace. 3 Ns in NOW is still really good. Have you read the reviews for things they give 2 or 1 N to?
K-OS got more N's than Bob Dylan and he's complaining?
I've always liked the music itself but I've also found it frustrating that he talks about being philosophical a hell of a lot more than he actually 'philosophizes'. Also, pretty funny that he enrolled indie talent (and associated 'cred'...) for the new album, yet damn's the indie, white editors for influencing a 'brother'.
I've met K-Os both personally and professionally, and he seemed like a pretty cool guy, but I really do think he's getting a little touchy.
He's freaking out on bloggers, accusing Now of racism and had a little blow-out with Kardi last summer. You'd think with his moderate commercial success and massive critical accolades after "Joyful Rebellion" he'd just chill out and let the haters hate and not worry about it. I wish he'd just let the criticism roll off his back a little more easily.
Dear K-OS,
You are a herb and you will always be a fucking herb. People like me haven't forgotten about your 1st shitty single "Essence" Remember when you failed at trying to reach the growing hip-hop scene in Toronto back in the 90's? Remember how you got clowned for being such a pussy-ass wack wanna be q-tip circa ATCQ? Well I sure do. Just because you are trying to cop out now and get street cred through the indie rock scene, doesn't mean you still aren't that same lame ass nigga from the 90's. K-OS or 'Kevin' you are wack, please stop making horrible music. Also, please don't blame racism for a bad record review. If you choose to be in the public eye, be prepared to roll with the punches and accept criticism of your art. The fact that you whine about a bad record review on your myspace page still asures me you were the same weak-ass nigga then as you are now.
CREEPS LO!
PS. Who even cares what NOW magazine has to say about anything anyways? They are like ran by 40 something has-beens
seems a couple folk are breakin' the following:
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I'm gonna have to concur with creeps lo
I totally agree with the album review. I love hiphop of all types. Especially conscious. But when you're being philosophical (which is much of K-OS's content) you DO have to "squeeze" come content out. K-OS rhymes philosophical fragments, which he never really elborates on. At the end of a song you're just thinking "what the hell did he just say?" Dude still got a nice flow, and I'm feeling the old school vibe. But realistically - let's be more clear lyrically!
what is with all you haters?
about k-os not being cool in the 90s, or him working at family kartways in whitby?
who the hell cares?
the sound on his latest album is great -- there aren't too many albums like it. and why does everyone try to classify music, or critique someone for 'crossing over' who really cares if he is crossing over to the indie rock scene? music is music. he's trying to be innovative. the beastie boys used to do punk before doing hip hop. who cares? whitby -- last time i checked there were a lot of white people up there so given that i think there should be a rock influence in his music...
people change and so does their music. u guys obviously aren't music lovers.
so to all you haters... Who cares? you don't have to buy his music or madonna's or michael jackson's.
K-Os has a record contract and you don't. end of the story.
tell me you didnt just compare k-os to michael jackson and madonna.
anywho, the point is that if you are going to subject yourself to public scrutiny you're going to be scrutinized. ya dig? whether his music is good or not is really irrelevant, he is just making himself look like a fool for getting all butthurt over another person's opinion. and you are basically following in his footsteps.
p.s. dont make assumptions on the people behind screennames
remember k-os has done this before... he wrote a very racialized letter to eye in which (i later found out) 'eat a dick' was also present. i wrote about it at the time:
torontoist.com/archives/2005/08/drama_alert_k-o.php
I'm sorry, I think you misunderstood my reference. Family Kartways was AWESOME.
In fact, so is the phrase "Eat a Dick". Rock on, K-OS.
"u [sic] guys obviously aren't music lovers."
What a hilarious assumption.
Maybe recording a song called "Eat A Dick" (a la the late Wesley Willis) will convince the people at Now that they should give him a 'NNNN' review.
K-OS has zero cred in my books when he pulls this crap. I never heard Ice-T whine to media outlets about negative reviews of LGBNAFT.
For someone who has marketed themselves towards the VICE mag set. - they do distribute him still right? - you would think he would have learned something from Gavin and crew. You certainly don't see them crying whenever someone says something bad about Vice in the media.
BTW what's with these 'men' in Toronto and their weak skins? First BJL and now K-OS...
My advice to you K-OS, and we all know you are reading this; SUCK IT UP. You are an artist in the spotlight and shit like this is bound to happen either out of truth or spite. When you whine it makes you look like a weak skinned individual and playing the race card makes you look even more so.
It seems quite hypocritical and retarded to call out Jason Richards on his "blackness" and his "indie rock influence" when K-OS himself creates music with Broken Social Scene and has cameos by Sam Roberts.
The reaction's goofy, but the music still holds. I'd still rather hear K-OS on the radio than many, many other artists. Anyone else remember k-os doing that salad days indie rock fest after party? Sounds like that scene shows him love, he shouldn't be so harsh on 'em. Plus the racism ain't cool. Great video clip! rip tracy morgan circa snl.
K-OS...you are the most innovative artist that Toronto has seen in a long time. Never mind the haters and the back-biters..just keep on doing what your doing brother...Make good music that everyone in Canada can enjoy and you will make crazy coin and later you can look back and laught at these so called critics....
I personally like when artists aren't afraid to step up and run their mouth. Sometimes I disagree with k-os when I see him being interviewed, but I always find him interesting and I'm glad he's not bowing to a publicist's pressure not to be opinionated. He's got a soapbox -- why not use it?
If an artist is going to express an opinion, he would do himself good to back it up with some facts though. In my view, baseless personal attacks are a much bigger waste of a soapbox than silence.
THERE IS OBVIOUSLY MUCH TALK SPAWNED FROM THIS ARTICLE, BUT THE FUNNY THING IS, BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, EVERYONE WILL BE SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS WONDERING WHAT EVER BECAME OF K-OS. GET READY TO SEE K-OS AS A LOCAL/CANADIAN B-SIDE CELEB IN THE LIKES OF MAESTRO FRESH-WES, AND THAT GUY FROM JACKSOUL. OH WAIT, HE ALREADY IS A LOCAL/CANADIAN B-SIDE CELEB!
I don't think we should be wishing that on anybody, Creeps. Getting hip hop off the ground in this country-- whatever its sound-- is hard enough already. You don't have to like everything, and Jason Richards doesn't have to like everything, and I definitely don't like everything, but we can at least root for the scene as a whole to succeed. Gunning for the failure of our most visible artists isn't going to help that. Enough with the screwface, already. If you want to see something else succeed, go ahead and put it out there and give us a reason to buy it.
JILL,
I AM NOT WISHING THIS UPON HIM. I AM MAKING AN EARLY PREDICTION ABOUT HIS CAREER. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. BESIDES, I DON'T WANT K-OS TO REPRESENT TORONTO AT ALL, AND IT'S OK FOR ME TO VOICE THAT. HE DOESN'T REPRESENT MY IDEA OF WHAT TORONTO HIP-HOP IS ON A GLOBAL SCALE. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET INTO SPECIFICS, HE ISN'T EVEN FROM TORONTO. GTA AND ALL, WHITBY IS NOT TORONTO. ANY REAL TORONTONIAN WILL TELL YOU THAT.
SCREWFACED FOREVER.
Actually, I think he moved out of Whitby before he started his music career.
You just don't have time to lay down fresh beats when you're working the 10-6 at Kartways.
Kartwayz hip-hop fo-eva!
Creeps Lo, I wish you were right but this is the Canadian music industry, where established careers go on forever. A few years from now he'll be a judge on Canadian Idol or some bullshit.
1. Creeps Lo, please stop yelling. It makes my head hurt. Even the worst rappers have some clue about dynamics...pianissimo, dude, or at least mezzo forte.
2. Y'know, for a guy who said he was giving up on being a part of the music industry after Exit, k-os is kinda oh-i-dunno, involved. But everybody says stuff that they wish they could take back [me and a coupla doozie the other day, matter of fact], but the internet means it all gets remembered forever. Also, being popular means it gets talked about a lot more.
3. Jill, mostly I agree, but there are occasions where it is just flat-out bad publicity. Some folks are just not beneficial to a scene. F'r instance, should I ever attempt to sell an album of me rapping, you'll be eating your words desperately hoping for any fame I may garner to fade faster than sunsets in December.
4. Why does someone of k-os' reputation use the insult "eat a dick"? He knows better; it's just laziness on his part to keep it in his vocab.
Can we put this to rest? the more we talk about K-OS...for better or for worse...the more credence we give his abysmal career.
Plain and simple: dude is a terrible rapper.
Here's the hard and brutal truth. He's got no credibility in the hip hop world. Canadian or American. And the only demographic that slighlty validates his existence are hipsters or white indie kids that dress like Rivers Cuomo and masturbate to Dinosaur Jr. And sorry if i offended any white people, but has anyone been to a K-OS show? 90% of the crowd are young, caucasian indie nerds.
Even MF DOOM has more hip hop kids at his shows and my man is pretty much the poster boy for hipster rap.
Hmmm...
I can't say that I've heard the FULL K-OS album "Atlantis: Hymns For Disco" yet, but I did get to check out the snippit on the VIRGIN/EMI website and I was kind of relieved to hear K-OS singing on most of the tracks - as I, like many of the individuals commenting on this thread, think that K-OS is a pretty horrible emcee (notice I didn't say rapper).
K-OS with some solid production on this album, regardless if it's headnod "keep-it-real beats" or not, holds some great potential in terms of global success.
I just don't know if you can consider it as Canada's big hip hop success at that point though - especially when he's pretty much as far from being a B-BOY than anyone can be in this country. Maybe he can pull off a B-BOY "stance", but he sure doesn't represent the life and essence of a true B-BOY, sadly enough.
KRS-One jumping off stage last week (at The Guvernment) in the midst of rocking "Ah Yeah!" off the Panther Sountrack to help clear a circle for the local b-boy's in the spot was something that I would consider a characteristic of a true b-boy, a true emcee, and true to hip hop!
K-OS I can see unfortunately totally ignoring the breakers at his concert, as they may be getting a bit too much shine-on, and take away from his performance.
Well... unless it was part of the rehearsal...
didn't k-os say he was going to retire a few albums ago? he feels like he is too big for the city of toronto and he is better than us. i can't see myself buying his music cuz i don't like him as a person and i don't care how many times Blow 93.5 plays his music he still sucks
Now that it's been used in all caps, I feel like I need to mention for the indellible internet record that the terms "b-boy" or "b-girl" have nothing to do with being old school or real or whatever. "b-boy" means you're a breaker. You dance. Preferably, you battle too. Emcees already have a name: MC. Just the very idea of trying to use "b-boy" to describe some essence of legitimacy or old school credibility completely and ironically violates the original meaning of the term. It's practically self-disqulaifying.
I realize the term has been used differently of late, but as far as I can tell, the original b-boys do not care what Wikipedia has to say on the subject.
Quoth Mr. Wiggles: "NO! NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOO!!!!! UNLESS YOU CAN DO TOP ROCK FOOTWORK AND FREEZES YOU ARE NOT A BBOY!!!"
Jill, you're interpretations can be deemed accurate - if you're speaking from a dancers view (breakdance of course) who is hardcore dance, and not really into the other facets of hip hop (emceeing, live concerts, turntablism, etc.). Many that call themselves "b-girls" and "b-boys" these days have less "b" in them, than is needed to hold this sort of title. The sad fact is that (save a few of the older cats - or younger ones that still respect all aspects of the culture), I would know many people who I'd consider b-girls and b-boys, who don't even break. The essence of the name to me is about purity and passion for hip hop itself, and not just about dance.
We're all open to our interpretation - but I think if you approach many of the pioneers of rap and hip hop, you'd find that they share the use of this terms as a more culture defining term, than just for the dance aspect. I'm not sure of your age, but if you're anywhere below 25, I'd recommend turning on some first generation music and listen to their use of the words - it's not just today that those terms are used with an umbrella context, back then it was the same.
For this main topic above, the terms B-BOY wasn't the major issue of discussion though, so when reading just interchance B-BOY with your own more fitting "term" and continue reading the piece, as it's more about an artists overall legitimacy and skill set.
Mr. Wiggles is cool and all, a pioneer in his won right, but taking his statment and writing the book with it - isn't accurate at all.
Blessings.
Care to quote your sources on this first generation music SOAG?
Son of a Gun, you've got a limiting and limited definition of hip hop in yr earlier post:
"...especially when he's pretty much as far from being a B-BOY than anyone can be in this country. Maybe he can pull off a B-BOY "stance", but he sure doesn't represent the life and essence of a true B-BOY, sadly enough."
But then you're saying that definitions of hip hop authenticity are fluid. Your claim that k-os ain't is rooted in opinion, whereas rough sketches of what b-boy and b-girl mean are well represented in hip hop culture even today. In addition, you lend credence to this by even saying KRS cleared a circle for b-boy's [presumably to dance within, otherwise that's just weird].
As best I understand it, hip hop is a fluid and dynamic black culture. It adapts non-hip hop things to its own culture, but that doesn't mean that it is without identity. Just like many black traditions in North America, it asks that you respect your elders' hard work and learn from 'em - thus definitions of b-boy/b-girl survive as lessons. Show and prove. Dance and battle.
This some kind of Canadian site?!???!! I don't get why everybody gotta sh*t on k-os cause he said some in-the-heat-of-the-moment-bs that didn't make alot of sense to anyone. He's NOT b****in' ppl, he's an artist with a temper; he spits passionately, and makes DAMN good records. S'ok, I know yall wanna create confusion and that's what you people do best isn't it. Get 'cha facts right, Word up.
p.s. Swollen Members, that's where it's at right now. FYI
I remember when K-OS first came on the scene, he was being hailed as Canada's male version of Lauryn Hill. He was humble and pleasant. Once he tasted a little bit of success, you could see his true prick-like personality seeping through. Once "Joyful Rebellion" rode the coattails of Outkast's alternative hip-hop success, K-Os became a full-fledged biyatch, trying to pass off idiotic gimmicks as being "different" (Does anyone remember that ridiculous mask he wore throughout his Much performance?). K-Os, you are truly a talented artist...but your attitude is going to bury your career. Kardi should slap some sense in you.
I personally think that it is rediculous when people hate on musicians because they are not x or y enough. If you don't like it, don't buy thier album or watch thier videos. It's simple. I live in San Diego and I think K-os is an amazing artist and I don't care what the hell he does in the media or whatnot. You'll probably never encounter the dude in real life, nor will he ever bash you or your family on an interview. So don't sweat this kind of garbage just enjoy the music if you like it. If you don't like it, your a dumbass with nothing better to do then to post on message boards and waste your time hating on it.
Actually, k-os is all over Toronto and many people encounter him "in real life" on a regular basis. But I guess you wouldn't know that... because you live... er, in San Diego.
K-Os is a joke, and his medicore music doesn't make him a star in my books. We used to see him every Wednesday at Lava Lounge by himself, where he would swoop in on anyone smoking pot, and try to use his celebrity status to get a hit. He's a real classy winner.
I can't wait to see all of this on "Beef" on BET.
Also:
"p.s. Swollen Members, that's where it's at right now. FYI"
Wow, a post from 2003. Time travelling up in the hizzy yo!
(thats me trying to fit in...abysmally)
I betcha K-Os wouldn't say jack if Suge Knight or Fiddy gave his album 3 N's...why?...because K-Os is a p-u-s-s-y that can only bully powerless Now Magazine writers...tell anybody with any muscle to eat a dick....they'd do a B-Boy Stance all over your bony Arrested Development-wannabe ass! I'll see you on "Hit Me Baby One More Time"...oh wait, you don't even have a hit big enough to be on that show....I guess I'll see you on Metropia then.
Just because Canada doesn't have a large Hip Hop Scene doesn't mean we should settle for this mediocre crap that passes for so called "Urban Music". People are always settling. Fuck K-OS and his bumbling instrumentation and his weak-ass lyrics and Fuck NOW Magazine. We should not even acknowledge their existance. Support intelligent, talent musicians and read Torontoist, it's a more democratic medium and no one is wasting paper.
I think Canada's hip hop scene is finally thriving with the likes of Shawn Desman leading the way. He is a multi-talented artist that has waved the Canadian flag proudly and has been the face of urban music in this country for years now.
I think one of the reasons why people "settle" for what they are told is Canada's urban music is because they do not know what else is out there. Maybe the internet is helping to democratise music distribution and marketing, but its still not on par with the millions of dollars spent by the major record labels. Reputable magazines like NOW - regardless of what you personally think of them, they have a very distinct reputation as being a cutting-edge cultural weekly, as their circulation indicates - should do a better job of reviewing local and independent hip hop. Not to say Richards' review was bad, but in general NOW favours independent rock music, despite the fact that hip hop totally rules the charts and has influenced practically every aspect of popular culture in North America.
Upholding your morals and fighting the system from without [questionable, i know - what is really outside the system] means taking losses and fighting harder. Working within the system means compromising. Until the Canadian branches of the majors get permission from corporate headquarters to look at a lower profit margin in the short term to benefit sales in the long term [thus allowing them to be more creative, award more short term contracts, and provide better marketing and distro to new and upcoming acts], things ain't gonna change from the industry side.
Andrew, I agree with what your saying. However, I believe that the Canadian Hip Hop Scene is decent for a country of our size and that the problem is not he system it exists in. An earlier post stated that we should support any Canadian Hip Hop, simply because there is not that much, I'm simply saying that there is no need to do that. People have every right to be critical, that said: K-OS is just crap. If people feel they need to support the Canadian Hip Hop Scene there are plenty of artists that are not such wankers and actually have something intelligent to say, with great production backing them up. There is no need to latch onto this crap. Have our past mistakes( Alanis Morisette, Anne Murray, Rush(Tom Sawyer was OK)) taught us nothing? We must seperate K-OS from our greater awareness. Let us hence forth claim he comes from Michigan.
K-OS come up in my iPod often enough, and I like it, but that's not so important, as the Stillpost hairsplitting musical-opinion scene...ain't my scene.
Here's what i don't understand: why would a smart seeming guy like K-OS say "eat a dick," which i assume he's using in the usual pejorative/homophobic sense (like, how a frat boy say "suck a dick" to his frat friend), to "get back" at somebody for being racist?
The more I listen to K-Os, the more I think he's two people.
A relatively good MC, not great, but certainly not without his merits, and this weird Mumbly Joe acoustic guitar playing, no sense making guy.
I for one will never buy another K-Os again in my lifetime...I may download it though...
Jason Richards is correct, K-OS is mediocre at best.
However, K-OS is also correct, Richards isnt black.
It's bothering me that the only current-ish alternatives to K-OS mentioned in this comment thread are Swollen Members (not from the area) and Shawn Desman (Not a hip hop artist)
Here's a quick list of Toronto-based indie rappers for anyone who reads this thread and finds themselves wondering "OK, then who else could I be listening to?"
Abdominal, Anonymous Twist, Arcee, Belladonna, Bishop, Brassmunk, Citizen Kane, Collizhun, Cryogenics, Dope Poet Society, Double Soul, Enlight, Eternia, Fat Ski, 4th Pyramid, Frankenstein, G-Knight, G-Stokes, Ghetto Concept, Ill Seer, Junia-T, Kamau, Kool Hand Luke, Latte D. Kyd, Masia One, Mathematik, Mindbender, Miss Butter, Modulok, Monolith, More or Les, Mr. Roam, Neural Chaos, Nyce One, Phatt Al, Rhythmicru, Shankhini, Soliva Spit Society, SJ The Wordburglar, Skitz, Smokestack, Sunny D, Tara Chase, Theology 3, Thrust, Vandal
thanks jill.
I do think K-os went overboard. For one thing, Richards was merely reporting on a likely reaction to the new record, not expressing his own views.
Even so I have to be suspicious of blacks who associate too freely with the Indie crowd (though that is not to say that I would say they are 'sellouts'). I am a black man who lives in Indie city (close to U of T), and these are the most racist people I have come across.
What kind of black man could associate with these people in this way, even if you receive a check for doing so?
in the new issue of NOW Danko Jones wrote in to make fun of k-os. Wow, an even bigger douchebag chimes in for no reason to harp on another (and actually more talented) douchebag. at this rate next week I suppose Hawksley Workman will trash Danko Jones, and the week after that Robin Black will trash him, and the week after that... er... whose worse than Robin Black? er... is Serial Joe still around?
Jill,
Are Ghetto Concept still together? I thought one of those guys was dead.
Sorry Chris, that list actually includes past and present.
Jason Richards responds in NOW: http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-10-26/music_feature2.php
K-OS goes off again on MySpace:
"i learned in university that the those who work in the media can at
times be like the only person in a dark room with a flashlight.
Essentially wherever they point the light in the room ...those in that
room- if they want light ..are forced to look in the direction of the
pointer.
Thats alot of power!
as i continue to watch the- NOW magazine- Jason Richards tandem doing
their BEST OF to discredit the chicanery of that character k-os.. i
cant help but take back my comment about Jason Richards.. that is -
about him being an uncle tom - he is now i think closer to an Uncle
Tim! that makes more sense - you learnt well from Mr. Perlich he is
your daddy!! "