I have never found Toronto's K-OS to be particularly interesting or inventive. Yes, I certainly do have a bias against most hip hop, but I have never found the force-fed inclusion of indie-rock and jazz touches in a few of K-OS's songs to be particularly novel. Such ideas have been prevalent in hip hop for years (primarily, I suspect, as a ploy to reach a wider audience). Remember when Jimmy Page played the "Kashmir" riff on Puff Daddy-P. Diddy-Papa Roach Daddy-Puff Man Jenkins-Diddy Do Daddy's "Come With Me" ? Unfortunately, I do.
Further proof of how unimpressed I am with K-OS: Sir Sebastien Grainger himself played drums on the track "Sunday Morning" (and appeared in the video, where both men appear initially wearing Canada Goose down parkas, which, in case you haven't already learned, fucking suck), yet the rapper still does not get my seal of approval.
It would simply be in bad taste on its own for K-OS to "sample" Phantom Planet's "California." This was the band's biggest hit and everyone with even the slightest interest in music over the past ten years is at least mildly familiar with said song. However, the fact that the song (or a heavily spliced version thereof) was used as the theme song to The OC makes K-OS's usage of it pathetic. Furthermore, name-dropping Natalie Portman? Come on. Apparently it is über-trendy to use Natalie Portman's name (for example, lamecore band Natalie Portman's Shaved Head), but K-OS is not going for trendy, nor is he simply name-dropping. When asked about the song, he had this to say:
"KRS-One said that verbal magic has the ability to allow its user to 'rap' their way into a new reality. So, I'm trying to make things happen. I happen to love what that woman represents and Star Wars, of course."
I stand corrected. I never realized K-OS was a magician. This is probably all just an illusion where he makes us think that he is a hack and suddenly the true artist is revealed. Oh K-OS, you are magnificent.
