| Black Elvis/Lost in Space | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Kool Keith |
| Cover: | Black Elvis.jpg |
| Released: | August 10, 1999 |
| Recorded: | 1998–1999 |
| Studio: | Bridge (Conshohocken, Pennsylvania) |
| Genre: | Underground hip hop |
| Length: | 68:04 |
| Prev Title: | First Come, First Served |
| Prev Year: | 1999 |
| Next Title: | Matthew |
| Next Year: | 2000 |
Black Elvis/Lost in Space is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper and producer Kool Keith, and his first release under the alias of 'Black Elvis'. It was intended to be released the same day as First Come, First Served, but was pushed back by Columbia Records and ended up being released four months later on August 10, 1999, through Relativity Entertainment Distribution rather than Sony Music Distribution, denoted by the WK prefix instead of the customary CK prefix and the legal copy on the release. Black Elvis 2 followed in 2023.
Kool Keith uses very complex rhymes on various subject matters from Black Elvis' viewpoint on half of the album and on the other half elaborates on space travel and being lost in space. This is the first album for which Keith handled all of the production, although drum programming was done by Kutmasta Kurt and Marc Live. Sadat X, Black Silver, Roger Troutman, Motion Man, Kid Capri and Pimpin' Rex made guest appearances on the record.
A promotional video was made for the track "Livin' Astro" which aired on a few episodes of the MTV show Amp in early 2000. The video features Kool Keith acting as several different personas amidst a sci-fi backdrop that resembles the Black Elvis/Lost in Space album cover. The personas include the Original Black Elvis, Orange Man, the Kid in the Commercial, Lonnie Hendrex, and Light-Blue Cop.
Kool Keith was displeased with the lack of promotion for the Black Elvis project, and vented his frustrations about his label on the songs "Release Date" and "Test Press." He also published the e-mail addresses of several Ruffhouse executives, asking his fans to demand better promotion.
The album peaked at number 180 on the US Billboard 200,[1] #74 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[2] #10 on the Heatseekers Albums.[3]
Sample credits[4]
| Chart (1999) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| 180 | ||
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 74 | |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) | 10 |