Kool Keith at the Funhaus (526 Queen West), tonight (Thursday, September 30), 8 pm. $24.50. 416-703-4999. Rating: NNNNN
They may be billed as Kool Keith shows, but part of what makes the infrequent public appearances by the legendary Ultramagnetic MCs rhyme ripper so intriguing is that you never know which of Keith Thornton’s many delightful/disturbing personas may actually be performing on any given night.
Since a funky new disc by his Diesel Truckers (Threshold) project with long-time collaborator KutMasta Kurt was just released (they’ve moved up to the 18-wheeler class to settle their road rage disputes with blinged-out rappers in relatively puny Hummers), expect some ingeniously ignant wordplay about hi-ballin’ in Kenworths and getting serviced at truck stops.
However, since Thornton was also involved in the entertaining horror-core send-up by the Undertakerz, we may also see Kool Keith swapping his mesh-backed trucker cap for a yellow wig to get down with some fire-and-brimstone testifying as Reverend Tom.
Of course, he still has his other guises, like Dr. Octagon, Matthew, Black Elvis, Dr. Dooom, Keith Korg, Dr. Ultra, the Spankmaster and many others to fall back on.
With any luck, we may even get a preview of his forthcoming 7th Veil project with H-Bomb, aka Jacky Jasper, aka Toronto’s own “Pimp of the Microphone” HDV. The forthcoming 7th Veil album is called The Business – 7 Dayz and is said to include guest cameos by Flavour Flav, Ike Turner, Ice-T and the late Rick James. Can’t wait.
