k-os

Introducing ‘Notes from Mr. Sandman‘ — a column slapping a spotlight on lyricists overlooked, under appreciated, or just plain criminally slept on. Or like a man named Nas once said, “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.” Enter Mr. Sandman with what y’all missed while chasing the REM dragon. 


Canadian lyricist K-os has the soul of a poet, an artist who respects the tradition and history behind the craft. His voice is piercing and dynamic, and unafraid to confront archaic ideas. It would be unfair to limit his lyrical style to one era because his influence is vast and stretches evenly across a decade.

His 2002 debut, Exit, is a hodgepodge of styles, a blend of reggae, soul and boom-bap. The earthiness of it is its biggest draw. It allows him to explore his innermost thoughts without having having to jump through hoops. It’s as natural an introduction as they come, an open book.

On “Heaven Only Knows” he breaks down his process and how big an influence his father was, the theme standing in direct contrast to the more hard-lined rap coming out at the time: [LISTEN]

Heaven Only Knows

K-os’ sophomore album Joyful Rebellion was his big breakout. It reached platinum status in Canada and introduced him to a wider audience, drawing a great amount of attention from underground heads in the United States. The impressive part about it was that it wasn’t an album that catered to the masses; it spoke of identity, the uncertainty behind love and the horrors of war.

On the “Man I Used to Be” he narrates the story of a man in turmoil. He questions himself and longs for the days of old. That type of vulnerability went against the bravado that most rappers were brandishing. It was a refreshing statement that told rappers that personal growth wasn’t something to be ashamed of: [LISTEN]

Man I Used to Be

The hip-hop scene in Canada is an untapped gold mine — from Josh Martinez and Buck 65 to Organized Rhyme. Each has taken the purest elements of rap and made it their own. K-os is no exception and proof that organic rap is a timeless art.