K-os

Kevin Brereton (born February 20, 1972), better known by his stage name k-os ("chaos"), is a Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter and producer.

His given name may also be cited as Kheaven, a spelling he later adopted.

The alias "k-os", spelled with a lower case "k", was intended to be less aggressive than the pseudonyms of other rappers whose names were all upper case, such as KRS-One.

It is an acronym for "Knowledge of Self", although in a later interview he said that it originally stood for "Kevin's Original Sound".

k-os' music incorporates a wide variety of music genres, including rap, funk, rock, and reggae.

The lyrics frequently focus on promoting a "positive message" while at times expressing criticism of mainstream hip hop culture's obsession with money, fame and glorification of violence.

A musician as well as a producer, k-os has written and produced nearly every part of all four of his albums.

k-os usually performs with a live band, which is traditionally uncommon in the hip hop genre.

He sometimes plays guitar and keyboard both during live performances and in the studio.

In 1992, he attended Carleton University in Ottawa for one semester to please his father.

He returned to Toronto and enrolled into York University.

Being friends with Nigel Williams, a member of the band Pocket Dwellers, Nigel encouraged k-os to continue to develop his musical abilities when he was confronted with "difficult forays".

k-os received his first musical exposure with the single "Musical Essence", released in 1995.

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.

He dropped out of the university shortly afterwards.

The single was produced with friends Clarence Gruff and Kevin Risto; currently, Risto is one half of the production duo known as Midi Mafia (produced the 50 Cent single "21 Questions").

After winning a MuchMusic Video Award for the single, k-os was noticed by NBA player John Salley, who became his manager.

With the single gaining moderate success, k-os was invited to perform in the 1995 Hip-Hop Explosion Tour, with other Canadian acts such as Rascalz and Ghetto Concept.

After the release of his second single "Rise Like the Sun" in 1996, he withdrew from the industry because he was dissatisfied with his musical style.

From 1996 to 2016, K-os was the third best-selling Canadian hip hop artist in Canada (behind Drake and Swollen Members).

k-os was born at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

He and his two younger brothers Joshua and Andrew Richard were raised by Trinidadian Jehovah's Witness parents.

His father was a minister at two congregations in the Greater Toronto Area.

k-os moved along with his family to Trinidad while he was in grade three.

In Trinidad, k-os surrounded himself with music to deal with being away from Canada.

He returned to Canada with his mother in his teen years, taking up residence in Whitby, Ontario, a town east of Toronto, while attending Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute.

His father temporarily stayed behind in Trinidad to continue his work.

His father worked as a computer engineer and became Director of Communications for BWIA, the national Trinidadian airline, while his mother owned a cosmetics company.

Growing up, k-os was a fan of artists and groups as diverse as New Order, Depeche Mode, Rx Bandits, Michael Jackson, Boogie Down Productions, Slick Rick, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Beatles.

He said that he was "insecure" in high school and he pursued his musical ambitions because after performing at an assembly in his high school gym he realized performing attracted people towards him and it made him feel "powerful and ... secure".

Salley and Raphael Saadiq began work with k-os on his planned debut Missing Links, eventually releasing his second single "Rise Like the Sun" in 1996.

k-os suddenly withdrew from the music industry in 1996 after receiving an offer from BMG.

k-os would later say that during this time he had already completed several albums but was dissatisfied with his music.

He reappeared briefly in 1999 and released his debut album Exit in 2002.

The album received positive reviews but sold relatively few copies.

He released his second album Joyful Rebellion in 2004, which received platinum status in Canada.

A third album, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, was released in 2006 and also went platinum.

His fourth album, Yes!, was released in 2009.

His fifth album Black on Blonde was released in 2013.

He released his sixth album, Can't Fly Without Gravity, in 2015.