WKCR-FM (89.9 FM) is a radio station. Licensed to New York, New York, USA, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Trustees of Columbia University in New York.^[2]

History[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

What is now known as WKCR-FM originated in the early part of the twentieth century as the Columbia University Radio Club (CURC). An exact date of origin is not known, but documentation of the CURC as an on-going organization exists as early as 1936. The club was not a radio station as we know it, but rather an organization concerned with the technology of radio communications. The group shared a prestigious association with Major Edwin Armstrong (E '13), the man who invented FM broadcast technology. This association accounts for the marginally accurate phrase, "The Original FM," that one will often hear alongside the WKCR call letters.

In 1939, Major Armstrong turned his attentions towards commercial broadcasting. This spurred the CURC to shift from a club concerned with radio technology to a de facto radio station that provided broadcasts to the campus. It was in these early days of radio that the FCC granted the station its license, on October 10, 1941.

For the next ten to twenty years, WKCR-FM functioned as an intellectual radio station. Programming was largely Columbia classroom events, classical music, and broadcasts from the United Nations. After the student uprising of 1968, this format changed. The station shifted its emphasis from being an illustration of the university to presenting commercially inviable programming to the New York metropolitan area. Jazz became the core of this broadcast approach, which is neatly summarized in the slogan, "The Alternative." The descriptions of individual departments contain information about WKCR's concept of alternative programming.

The rise of jazz on WKCR also led to the accelerated activity of live performance in the station's studios, and eventually to records released^[3] from those recordings. Sessions booked by former student DJ David Reitman led to many of the jazz and blues hosts bringing in musicians such as Gunter Hampel^[4], Karl Berger, Tyrone Washington, Charles Walker (Blues from the Apple)^[5], and Mississippi Fred McDowell^[6].

In the late 70s, under the direction of Tim Page, the station presented the radio premieres of several leading minimalist compositions, including Philip Glass's Einstein on the Beach and Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians. It was the first station in the country to pay attention to this important and eventually popular form of avant-garde music. Page also produced a benefit concert for the station at Carnegie Hall, with appearances by Reich, Glass, John Cale, and David Bowie, among many others.

In 1983, the station became the first radio (or television) station to transmit from the antenna at the top of the World Trade Center, having previously broadcast from an antenna on the DuMont Building, a 42-story structure at 515 Madison Avenue.^[7]

Following the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the station underwent a difficult period. Broadcasting from its backup transmitter atop Carman Hall, the station finally secured a new antenna at 4 Times Square in 2003.

References[link]

External links[link]

• WKCR website
• Streaming audio
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WKCR
• Radio-Locator information on WKCR
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WKCR

Damu the Fudgemunk (born Earl Davis on June 8, 1984, in Washington, DC) is an American hip hop music artist and producer from Washington, DC. In addition to his career as a solo artist, music producer, and DJ, he is a member of the groups Y Society and Panacea.

Damu released his official debut album as a member of Y Society, Travel at Your Own Pace, on October 10, 2007, to positive reviews.^[1] The album is reminiscent of true-school hip-hop with its liberal use of jazz and soul samples and scratching throughout. In 2008, Damu released two free albums primarily composed of instrumental music, titled Spare Time and Overtime. He built himself a respectable and loyal fan base through his unique YouTube videos and live street performances around Washington, DC, and New York City,^[2] which require him to use a portable electricity generator to power his sampler and speakers.

Damu the Fudgemunk releases the bulk of his music through Redefinition Records, a label that he co-owns and operates. The label focuses on releasing vinyl records and cassettes even if the records are also released on CDs.

Discography[link]

• Travel at Your Own Pace (2007)
• Spare Time (2008)
• Overtime (2008)
• ReVISIONS Madvillian (Damu vs Joe Buck) (2009)
• The Bright Side (2009)
• Same Beat Project EP (2009)
• Kilawatt: V1 (2009)
• How It Should Sound (Promo EP) (2010)
• How It Should Sound Volumes 1 & 2 (2010)
• Supply for Demand (2010)
• Brooklyn Flower (2010)
• More Supplies (2010)
• When Winter Comes / Truly Get Yours (2011)
• OverThrone (Try a Little Skillfulness) / All Green (2011)
• Faster Rhyme for Self (2011)
• "Kilawatt V1.5 featuring Raw Poetic" (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Y Society at MySpace.com
• Damu the Fudgemunk's Web Site and Blog
• Tres Records Web Site
• Redefinition Records Web Site/Damu the Fudgemunk's Bio and Discography

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Kool Keith
Kool Keith performing at Mezzanine in San Francisco, California during the 2009 Noise Pop Festival.
Background information
Birth name	Keith Matthew Thornton
Also known as	Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, Black Elvis
Born	(1963-10-19) October 19, 1963 (age 48)
Origin	The Bronx, New York
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, producer
Instruments	Rapping, keyboard, bass guitar
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Junkadelic, Gothom, Funky Ass, DreamWorks Records, Ruffhouse/Columbia/SME Records
Associated acts	Ultramagnetic MCs Analog Brothers Masters of Illusion Thee Undatakerz The Clayborne Family KutMasta Kurt Dan the Automator The Prodigy 54-71 Diesel Truckers Spazz Princess Superstar
Website	www.koolkeith.co.uk

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 horrorcore.^[1]

History[link]

Kool Keith began his rap career with the group Ultramagnetic MCs. After the release of Critical Beatdown, Thornton was reportedly institutionalized in Bellevue Hospital Center.^[2][3] However, he later said that the idea that he was institutionalized came from a flippant remark made during a stressful interview and he never expected the story to become so well-known.^[4]

Thornton released his first notable solo single, "Earth People," in 1995, under the name Dr. Octagon, followed by the release of Dr. Octagonecologyst the following year. The album's production by Dan the Automator and Kutmasta Kurt, with scratching by DJ Qbert was acclaimed by critics, and the album was released nationally by DreamWorks Records, which also issued an instrumental version of the album, titled Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats).^[2][3] Thornton followed the album with Sex Style in 1997 under the name Kool Keith.

In 1998, Thornton collaborated with Tim Dog for the single "The Industry is Wack," performing under the name Ultra.^[2][3] The following year, he released the album First Come, First Served under the name "Dr. Dooom", in which the album's main character killed off Dr. Octagon on the album's opening track. On August 10, 1999, Thornton released Black Elvis/Lost in Space. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #74 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #180 on the Billboard 200.^[5] On July 25, 2000, Thornton released the album Matthew. It peaked at #47 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.^[6] The same year, Thornton collaborated with Ice-T, Marc Live, Black Silver and Pimp Rex for the album Pimp to Eat, under the group name Analog Brothers, with Keith performing as Keith Korg and Ice-T as Ice Oscillator.^[2]

On June 5, 2001, Thornton released the album Spankmaster on Esham's Gothom Records.^[7] It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #11 on the Top Independent Albums chart and #48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.^[8]

In 2002, Thornton began recording The Resurrection of Dr. Octagon with producer Fanatik J,^[9][10] signing a contract with CMH Records to release the album, which was eventually completed without much input from Thornton, due to a falling out over contractual terms.^[10] Thornton, Marc Live and H-Bomb formed the group KHM, releasing the album Game on November 19, 2002, changing their name to "The Clayborne Family" by the release of their second album.^[3]

On October 12, 2004, Real Talk Entertainment issued the unauthorized release Dr. Octagon Part 2. The album was discontinued by court order.^[3] On April 25, 2006, Thornton released the album Nogatco Rd. under the name Mr. Nogatco.^[3] On June 27, The Return of Dr. Octagon was released by OCD International, an imprint of CMH, advertised as the official follow-up to Dr. Octagonecologyst.^[10] Some critics felt that it was not as good as its predecessor.^[11][12] Thornton stated that he liked the album, but felt that it hurt his reputation as a musician.^[10] In August, Thornton performed under the Dr. Octagon billing, but did not acknowledge the release of the OCD album.^[13]

In 2007, Ultramagnetic MCs released the reunion album The Best Kept Secret.^[3] In 2009, Kool Keith released the concept album Tashan Dorrsett; a follow-up, The Legend of Tashan Dorrsett, followed two years later.^[3]

Lyrical and performance style[link]

Thornton's lyrics are often abstract,^[14] surreal,^[15] and filled with non-sequiturs and juvenile humor.^[16] Thornton is also known for an explicit style focusing on sexual themes, which Thornton has referred to as "pornocore".^[17][18] In a 2007 interview, Thornton claims to have "invented horrorcore".^[1]

Discography[link]

• Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996)
• Sex Style (1997)
• First Come, First Served (1999)
• Black Elvis/Lost in Space (1999)
• Matthew (2000)
• Spankmaster (2001)
• Diesel Truckers (2004)
• Nogatco Rd. (2006)
• The Return of Dr. Octagon (2006)
• Dr. Dooom 2 (2008)
• Tashan Dorrsett (2009)
• The Legend of Tashan Dorrsett (2011)
• Love & Danger (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• www.ultrakeith.net
• Kool Keith at Allmusic
• Interview