K-OS

Born to Jehovah's Witness parents whose homes spanned Toronto and Trinidad, Kheaven Brereton—better known as k-os (pronounced chaos)—stood apart from typical MCs from the outset. Equally at home as a singer, lyricist, and producer, he demonstrated with his first full-length Exit (Astralwerks, 2002) that messages need not sacrifice engagement. The record distinguished itself through richly layered, live-instrument foundations that complemented standard hip-hop components such as programmed drums and samples. Its single “Heaven Only Knows” featured acoustic guitar and piano, while “Freeze” carried echoes of dub and reggae. Vocals frequently shifted into sung passages, prompting ongoing debate about the precise genre k-os occupied—an ambiguity he welcomed. Supporting dates for Exit ran from late 2002 into summer 2003 and included performances alongside India.Arie and Floetry. The album later earned International Album of the Year honors at the 2003 Source Awards. k-os resurfaced in September 2004 with the similarly expansive Joyful Rebellion, which reached near double-platinum sales. In 2005 he composed and sang “Burning to Shine” alongside the CBC Orchestra, an experience captured for broadcast, before issuing Atlantis: Hymns for Disco the next year. His fourth album, Yes!, arrived in 2008. The double-disc set Black on Blonde followed in 2013, featuring appearances by Gym Class Heroes vocalist Travie McCoy and “Sunglasses at Night” singer Corey Hart. Saukrates and Kardinal Offishall contributed to the 2015 release Can't Fly Without Gravity, whose artwork spoofed National Lampoon's Vacation.