k-os

Kevin Brereton, known professionally as k-os (pronounced "chaos"), was born on February 20, 1972, in Trinidad and Tobago, and is a Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer whose inventive sound has made him one of Canada's most distinctive hip-hop artists. The alias "k-os," spelled with a lowercase "k," stands for "Knowledge of Self," though in a later interview he said it originally stood for "Kevin's Original Sound." The lowercase styling was intentional—designed to be less aggressive than the all-uppercase pseudonyms of other rappers like KRS-One, reflecting his more thoughtful approach to hip-hop.

K-os' music incorporates a remarkably wide variety of genres, including rap, funk, rock, reggae, jazz, R&B, and electronic music, earning his sound the classification of "alternative hip hop." His lyrics frequently focus on promoting positive messages while expressing criticism of mainstream hip-hop culture's obsession with money, fame, and glorification of violence. While attending York University, k-os gained his first exposure in the music industry in 1995 when he released the single "Musical Essence" with a music video financed by a VideoFACT grant. After winning a MuchMusic Video Award for the single, k-os was noticed by NBA player John Salley, who became his manager.

K-os was invited to perform in the 1995 Hip-Hop Explosion Tour alongside other Canadian acts such as Rascalz and Ghetto Concept. In 2005, he won three Juno Awards: Rap Recording of the Year for "Joyful Rebellion," Single of the Year for "Crabbuckit," and Video of the Year for "B-Boy Stance." His collaboration with The Chemical Brothers on the song "Get Yourself High" was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 2005 Grammy Awards. On February 28, 2010, k-os performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver, representing Canadian hip-hop on one of the world's biggest stages.

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