Sex Style is the second studio album by Kool Keith

Kool Keith

Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...

. Released in 1997, it is a dirty rap concept album

Concept album

In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...

 utilizing a lyrical style Keith referred to as "pornocore". Although the album did not chart, it was reissued in 2006 with a bonus track.

Lyrics and music

Sex Style has been described as "polarizing" due to its lyrical style, which Kool Keith described as "pornocore". The music was primarily written by producer Kutmasta Kurt

KutMasta Kurt

Kurt Matlin, professionally known as KutMasta Kurt, is an American hip hop producer, best known for his work with Kool Keith.-Collaborations:*Kool Keith - Sex Style *Dr Dooom - First Come, First Served...

. The production is noted for its "deep, funky beats". Sex Style is described as a loose concept album

Concept album

In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...

.

The lyrics make frequent reference to sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...

, with Kool Keith variously portraying himself as characters ranging from pimp

Pimp

A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...

s to perverts. Keith also uses sexual metaphors to diss

Diss track

A diss track or diss song is a song primarily intended to disparage or insult another person or group. While musical parodies and attacks have always existed, the trend became increasingly common in the hip hop genre as part of the hip hop rivalry phenomenon...

 other rappers, many of which involve urolagnia

Urolagnia

Urolagnia is a paraphilia in which sexual excitement is associated with the sight or thought of urine or urination. The term has origins in the Greek Language .Those who enjoy urolagnia may enjoy urinating on another person or persons, or being urinated upon...

.

Reception

Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey wrote that Sex Style "is borderline necessary for Keith fans [...] it is a chance to hear one of the freakiest rappers of all time at his freakiest."

Track listing

Musicians

• Kool Keith
  Kool Keith
  Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...
  
   — vocals
• P-I-RE-X — mini-moog ("Plastic World" and "Still the Best")

Production

• Kut Masta Kurt — producer
• T.R. Love — producer ("Make Up your Mind", "The Mack is Back" and "In Your Face")
• Kool Keith — executive producer