k-os
Kheaven Brereton (born Kevin Brereton, February 20, 1972) is a Canadian musician from Whitby, Ontario, who records and performs as k-os.
He started out as a known musician in Whitby, Ontario, Canada in the jazzy hiphop group, "Carib-Riddim". Later taking a few courses at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. After one semester, he moved back to Toronto, and then attended York University.
His music is frequently compared to Lauryn Hill because of his ability to harmonize and emcee. His stage name is pronounced "chaos", and is an acronym for "knowledge of self," although he has professed in a later interview that his name also stands for "Kheaven's Original Sound."
His music is a colourful mix of hip hop, pop music, jazz, and reggae. Unlike most other hip-hop artists, k-os is accompanied by live musicians during his public performances. He also plays the guitar, piano and other instruments in many of his songs. After the success of his first album Exit, he went on to release the critically acclaimed record, Joyful Rebellion. Some of the highlights of this album include "Crabbuckit" (reminiscent of Ray Charles' "Hit the Road, Jack") and the Michael Jackson tribute "Man I Used to Be".
He has declared that he will release a new album entitled Atlantis sometime in the fall of 2006. He has also stated that he will go back "underground" to work on his album, suggesting that he is reaching back into his underground roots.
k-os was also a guest performer on Broken Social Scene's 2005 self-titled album.
Awards
- The MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVA's)
- 2005 Best Pop Video ("Crabbuckit")
- 2005 MuchVibe Best Rap Video ("Man I Used To Be")
- Juno Awards
- 2005 Single of the Year ("Crabbuckit")
- 2005 Rap Recording of the Year (Joyful Rebellion)
- 2005 Video of the Year ("B-Boy Stance")
- Canadian Urban Music Awards
- 2004 Hip Hop Recording of the Year ("B-Boy Stance")
- 2004 Music Video of the Year ("B-Boy Stance")
- The Source Awards
- 2003 International Album of the Year
Nominated
- Grammy Awards
- 2005 Best Dance Recording (The Chemical Brothers ft. k-os "Get Yourself High")
Quotes
After k-os won International Album of the Year for Exit at The Source Awards, the rapper told MuchMusic: "I ended up actually taking the Source Award - which is like a hand with a mic in it - and when I got to the backstage area there were three dudes that looked like they were from the Matrix there to take the award back. I didn't know that what happens is you get it and then they take it back. Pharrell from The Neptunes put his under his shirt because they say they're going to mail them to you but they never do."
Trivia
An instrumental version of "The Love Song", from his Joyful Rebellion album, was used as the music for Vodafone's Mayfly ad.
Discography
- Exit (2002 CAN; 2003 US); Astralwerks
- Joyful Rebellion (2004 CAN; 2006 US); Virgin Music Canada
- ???(DVD) (2005 CAN); Virgin Music Canada
Singles, Radio Songs & Music Videos
From Kiero:
- 1995 "Musical Essence"
- 1996 "Rise Like the Sun"
From Exit:
- 2002 "Heaven Only Knows"
- 2002 "Superstarr Pt. Zero"
From Joyful Rebellion:
- 2004 "B-Boy Stance"
- 2004 "Crabbuckit"
- 2005 "Man I Used To Be"
- 2005 "Love Song"
- 2005 "Crucial"
- 2005 "Dirty Water" featuring Sam Roberts
From Unknown
- 2006 "Burning to Shine"