Since surfacing in 1984, Kool Keith has been one to push boundaries. And after retiring his alter ego Dr. Octagon, the prolific rapper, self-proclaimed inventor of horrorcore and pornocore and founding member of the Ultramagnetic MCs reemerged as an intergalactic entertainer for his 1999 record Black Elvis/Lost In Space. The album is split between the musings of an artist and a traveler, as its title suggests, but uniformly supported by a signature flow and backed with sparse, ominous beatsand tonight, Kool Keith will be performing the record in its entirety. Its not a feat accomplished for a lack of material either, especially considering hes laid down his complex and admittedly strange stream-of-consciousness rhymes on more than a dozen releases since. But amidst hip-hops fascination with space, Black Elvis stands as a monument. With Rushden & Diamonds, RA Scion, Mr. Hill. NICK FELDMAN
Sat., Feb. 5, 8 p.m., 2011
