k-os
K -os (pronounced "chaos" ) ( born February 20, 1972 as Kevin Brereton in Toronto, Ontario ) is a Canadian hip hop musician. His stage name is also an acronym for " Knowledge of Self ".
Life
Kevin (also called " Kheaven " ) Brereton grew up together with his eight years younger brother Joshua, the son trinidadischer parents in Toronto on. Characteristic of his youth was the fact that his parents were the witnesses belonged to Jehovah. Today he lives according to the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti. At the age of eight years to become vegetarians Kevin decided. Approximately ten he moved with his parents to Trinidad, but returned four years later returned with his mother to Canada, where they lived in Whitby (Ontario). In Ottawa he visited in 1992 for a semester, Carleton University. He then moved to York University in Toronto, but broke off his studies there, when in 1993 his first single " Musical Essence " was released. With the release of his second single " Rise Like the Sun " 1996 k -os received an offer from BMG. Nevertheless, he briefly announced on trying to retire from the music business. In 1999 he tried to apply to various record companies with several demo tapes again. Capitol Records offered him the same year of a contract. There prompted smaller issues and problems the owner EMI Group to transfer k -os to the child label Astralwerks, Virgin Records on which also holds shares. There he published in 2002 his debut album Exit. The title he chose, since the album was to be his last at the same time. Nevertheless, in 2004 appeared the successor Joyful Rebellion, the mixed different styles of music, while the predecessor still sounded more like a mix of alternative hip-hop and reggae. 2006, the title of " The Love Song " from the album was used in a commercial of the mobile phone company Vodafone. That same year, k -os ' third album, Atlantis was: Hymns for Disco published. On this his first performance as a singer primarily in appearance and experimented addition to the previous styles with rock ' n ' roll. Like his previous works, it has been criticized mostly very positive. In April 2009, is the album Yes!, Already announced as SouL on Ice in early 2008, to appear.
Music style
K -os ' music style is made up of many elements such as hip- hop, jazz, reggae, rock, blues, country, and pop. Artists who have k -os influenced in his music are, among others, A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Rakim, The Roots, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan and The Strokes.
Awards (selection)
Discography
Albums
- 2002: Exit ( Astralwerks )
- 2004: Joyful Rebellion (EMI Canada)
- 2006: Atlantis: Hymns for Disco (EMI Canada)
- 2007: Collected (EMI Canada)
- 2009: Yes! (Universal )
Singles
DVD
- 2005: Publicity Stunt