K-os facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
k-os
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k-os 2011 publicity photo
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kevin Brereton |
| Born | February 20, 1972 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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Kevin Brereton (born February 20, 1972), known as k-os (pronounced "chaos"), is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer. He creates a unique blend of music. His stage name, k-os, means "Knowledge of Self." He chose a lowercase "k" to be less aggressive than other rappers' names.
K-os mixes many music styles like hip hop, funk, rock, and reggae. His songs often share positive messages. He also sometimes criticizes how mainstream hip hop focuses too much on money and fame. K-os writes and produces most of his own music. He often performs with a live band, which is special for a hip hop artist. He also plays guitar and keyboard.
K-os first gained attention with his song "Musical Essence" in 1995. After a short break, he released his first album, Exit, in 2002. His second album, Joyful Rebellion (2004), became very popular in Canada. His third album, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco (2006), also sold very well. He has released six albums in total, with his latest being Can't Fly Without Gravity in 2015.
Contents
Growing Up and Early Life
K-os was born in Toronto, Canada. He and his two younger brothers were raised by their parents, who were Jehovah's Witnesses. His father was a minister. When k-os was in third grade, his family moved to Trinidad. Music helped him feel better about being away from Canada.
Later, in his teen years, k-os moved back to Canada with his mother. They lived in Whitby, Ontario, near Toronto. His father worked as a computer engineer. His mother owned a cosmetics company.
K-os enjoyed music from many artists like Michael Jackson and The Beatles. He felt shy in high school. But when he performed at a school assembly, he realized music made him feel strong and confident. In 1992, he briefly attended Carleton University before moving to York University in Toronto. His friend Nigel Williams encouraged him to keep making music.
Music Career Highlights
Starting Out in Music
While at York University, k-os released his first song, "Musical Essence," in 1995. He even made a music video for it. After winning an award for the song, NBA player John Salley became his manager. K-os performed on the "Hip-Hop Explosion Tour" with other Canadian artists. He released a second song, "Rise Like the Sun," in 1996.
However, k-os then took a break from music. He felt his music wasn't truly "him." He described it as "pretentious." He wanted to find his own unique sound. He later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, he worked with the band Rascalz. He returned to performing in 1999.
Inspired by artists like Michael Jackson and A Tribe Called Quest, k-os started working on a new album. He wanted to make music that was truly his own. He signed with Capitol Records and later with Astralwerks.
First Albums: Exit and Joyful Rebellion
On March 26, 2002, k-os released his first album, Exit, in Canada. Critics loved it, calling it a mix of hip hop, soul, rock, R&B, and reggae. Billboard Magazine called it "one of the finest hip-hop records Canada has ever produced." The first song from the album was "Heaven Only Knows."
After Exit was released, k-os toured with India Arie in the United States. The album won several awards, including "Album Design of the Year" at the Juno Awards of 2003. K-os also won "Best International Hip Hop Artist" at the Source Awards. In 2003, he worked with The Chemical Brothers on their song "Get Yourself High." This song was even nominated for a Grammy Award.
Even though he once thought Exit might be his only album, k-os released his second album, Joyful Rebellion, on August 24, 2004. It was very popular and became a platinum album in Canada. The album and its song, Crabbuckit, were the most downloaded hip hop items on iTunes in Canada. Rolling Stone magazine called k-os a "destined superstar."
Joyful Rebellion had six songs released as singles. "B-Boy Stance" was the first, followed by "Crabbuckit," "Man I Used to Be," and "The Love Song." K-os won several awards for this album, including three Juno Awards. In 2005, his music videos for "Crabbuckit" and "Man I Used to Be" won awards at the MuchMusic Video Awards.
Atlantis and Yes!
In 2006, k-os worked with the CBC Radio Orchestra to create "Burning to Shine." He then traveled across Canada to record his third album. The first song from this album, "ELEctrick Heat – the seekwiLL," became the most downloaded single on iTunes. K-os also recorded a version of John Lennon's song "Jealous Guy" for Amnesty International.
On October 10, 2006, Atlantis: Hymns For Disco was released in Canada. It quickly became a platinum album. K-os wrote and produced the entire album. It featured collaborations with Sam Roberts and Buck 65. The album was more focused on singing, as k-os felt more comfortable with his voice. Atlantis was also different because it didn't focus as much on social comments as his previous albums.
His fourth album, Yes!, came out on April 14, 2009. Four songs were released from this album: "4, 3, 2, 1", "Burning Bridges", "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman", and "Zambony." K-os also held an online contest where fans could remix his songs from Yes!. The best remixes were put on a special album called Yes It's Yours (Fan Remix Album).
In April 2009, k-os went on the Karma Tour across Canada. Instead of selling tickets, fans were asked to donate what they thought the show was worth as they left. In October 2009, k-os worked with the Stephen Lewis Foundation to raise money for families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. He even worked at The Bay to help customers choose toys. His song "Fun" was also featured in the video game Need for Speed Nitro.
On February 28, 2010, k-os performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver. In August 2010, he released a mixtape called The Anchorman Mixtape, which included songs from his tour bus.
Recent Music
On October 4, 2011, Much Music released recordings of his MTV Unplugged concert as "MuchMusic presents K-OS LIVE." This included a CD and a DVD of his live performances.
On January 29, 2013, k-os released his double album, Black on Blonde. It reached number 16 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The first song from the album was "The Dog Is Mine," followed by "Nyce 2 Know Ya."
K-os's most recent album, Can't Fly Without Gravity, was released in September 2015. He then released a mixtape called Views From the Stix in May 2016. This mixtape was made when k-os visited his family's home in the countryside. In 2018, k-os released a new song and music video called "No Bucks." In 2020, he released an EP called Boshido, working with producer Kaytranada.
Activism
K-os is a vegetarian. He has supported PETA and promoted animal rights.
Discography
Studio albums
- Exit (2002)
- Joyful Rebellion (2004)
- Atlantis: Hymns for Disco (2006)
- Yes! (2009)
- BLack on BLonde (2013)
- Can't Fly Without Gravity (2015)
Compilation albums
- Collected (2007)
- The Trill: A Journey so Far (2009)
- MuchMusic presents K-OS LIVE (2011)
EPs
- Boshido (2020)
Mixtapes
- The Anchorman Mixtape (2010)
- Views from the Stix (2016)
See also
- Canadian hip hop
- Music of Canada
- Need for Speed: Nitro
