Exit (k-os album)
Encyclopedia
Exit is the debut album of underground hip-hop artist k-os
, released 26 March 2002 in Canada
and 28 January 2003 in the United States
by Astralwerks
.
The album is an amalgam of an eclectic mix of musical styles, incorporating everything from standard hip-hop
beats to reggae
, soul
and flamenco
.
. He asks k-os, "With all this different stuff on this one album, what is it?" Then, as the track number changes on the LCD display, k-os begins his answer. "Fantastique" itself is more of an introduction piece than "Entrance" is. The second track introduces k-os and characterizes him. In this song, he puts forth his mission statement. He raps that he was happy with his metaphorical girl named Wise, and that he was content with his own wisdom until the "phone rang," which he decided to ignore. Upon the next ringing, however, he picked up the phone and heard the man on the other end calling him to arms, because "hip-hop is dying." Though at this point he has characterized himself as something of a rap savior, the chorus depicts him as a humble person. The major talking point of verse two is the first mention of his aversion to pimps and those who objectify other humans, rapping, "pimps just react to things, men make 'em happen."
After "Fantastique" has come to a close with its spasmodic guitar loop, "EXIT (Call Me)" begins with the listener's first taste of k-os's singing skills. This ode to escapism, similar to "Hallelujah" from his next album, Joyful Rebellion
, combines a beautiful melody, matching k-os's vocals quite well, with a lyric full of hopelessness at the helplessness of the world around him. This song has the first reference to his apparent amusement at the metamorphosis of glass to sand, which will appear later in "Superstarr Pt. 2."
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
, released 26 March 2002 in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and 28 January 2003 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Astralwerks
Astralwerks
Astralwerks is a New York-based record label that releases primarily electronic music. It is owned by Virgin Records/EMI and distributed by Caroline Distribution in the United States....
.
The album is an amalgam of an eclectic mix of musical styles, incorporating everything from standard hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
beats to reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
.
Overview
The track "Entrance" starts off Exit with a comment on the diversity of the album from talk show host John SalleyJohn Salley
John Thomas "Spider" Salley is a retired American professional basketball player, actor and talk show host. He was the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises....
. He asks k-os, "With all this different stuff on this one album, what is it?" Then, as the track number changes on the LCD display, k-os begins his answer. "Fantastique" itself is more of an introduction piece than "Entrance" is. The second track introduces k-os and characterizes him. In this song, he puts forth his mission statement. He raps that he was happy with his metaphorical girl named Wise, and that he was content with his own wisdom until the "phone rang," which he decided to ignore. Upon the next ringing, however, he picked up the phone and heard the man on the other end calling him to arms, because "hip-hop is dying." Though at this point he has characterized himself as something of a rap savior, the chorus depicts him as a humble person. The major talking point of verse two is the first mention of his aversion to pimps and those who objectify other humans, rapping, "pimps just react to things, men make 'em happen."
After "Fantastique" has come to a close with its spasmodic guitar loop, "EXIT (Call Me)" begins with the listener's first taste of k-os's singing skills. This ode to escapism, similar to "Hallelujah" from his next album, Joyful Rebellion
Joyful Rebellion
Joyful Rebellion is the second album of alternative hip hop artist k-os, released 13 August 2004 in Canada by EMI and 21 September 2004 in the United States by Virgin Records...
, combines a beautiful melody, matching k-os's vocals quite well, with a lyric full of hopelessness at the helplessness of the world around him. This song has the first reference to his apparent amusement at the metamorphosis of glass to sand, which will appear later in "Superstarr Pt. 2."
Track listing
(Note: track 13 is not available on the Canadian version of the album.)- "Entrance" – 0:19 (Also known as "Intro". Spoken by John "Spider" SalleyJohn SalleyJohn Thomas "Spider" Salley is a retired American professional basketball player, actor and talk show host. He was the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises....
.) - "Fantastique" – 2:52
- "EXIT (Call Me)" – 3:58
- "Heaven Only Knows" – 3:55
- "Superstarr part 1 (Yoshua's Song)" – 3:41 (Also known as "Superstarr Pt. 1".)
- "Freeze" – 3:54
- "The Anthem" – 4:22
- "Patience" – 3:48
- "Higher" – 3:42
- "Masquerade" [featuring KamauKamauIan Kamau is a Canadian hip hop and spoken word artist, writer and visual artist from Toronto, Ontario.-Discography:First September 9 Mix TapeSeptember 9 Mix Tape Volume 2Love & Other Struggles One Day Soon -Collaborations:...
] – 5:37 - "Follow Me" [featuring Red1RascalzThe Rascalz are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop. The group consists of MCs Red1 and Misfit, and DJ Kemo. Breakdancers, Zebroc and Dedos were also part of the group.Formed in 1991, the...
] – 4:00 - "Superstarr part 2 (Babylon Girl)" – 3:26 (Also known as "Superstarr Pt. 2".)
- "Neutroniks" – 3:52
- "Superstarr Pt. Zero" – 4:51
- "Heaven Only Knows (remix)" – 4:49 (Remixed by DJ KemoRascalzThe Rascalz are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop. The group consists of MCs Red1 and Misfit, and DJ Kemo. Breakdancers, Zebroc and Dedos were also part of the group.Formed in 1991, the...
)