캘리포니아 베이 에이리어 출신의 케로원(Kero One)은 90년대 초부터 MC와 비트 메이킹, 그래피티와 디제잉, 그리고 레코드 수집을 해왔다. 2003년 여름, 스스로 운영하는 레이블인 플러그 레이블(Plug Label)에서 자신의 첫 12인치 레코드 [Check the Blueprints]를 공개하는데, 이는 여러 로컬 라디오 스테이션과 레코드샵에서 주목을 받으면서 놀라운 판매고로 이어진다. 여러 DJ들의 플레이리스트에 추가됐고, 다양한 장소에서 스핀되기도 했다. 싱글은 DJ 미츠 더 비츠(MItsu The Beats) 또한 리믹스 했는데, 단지 싱글의 세일즈 하나만으로 정규 앨범이 릴리즈되기 이전에 일본에서 투어가 진행되는 진풍경을 연출하기도 했다.
재즈힙합이 일본과 한국을 점령할 무렵인 2005년도에 데뷔작 [Windmills of The Soul]을 발표했다. 실제로 서로 리믹스 해주는 사이이기도 했던 사운드 프로바이더스(SOund Providers)나 론 캐털리스츠(Lone Catalysts), 그리고 얼마전 운명을 달리한 누자베스(Nujabes)의 팬들에게 동시에 사랑 받았다. 샘플링과 실제 연주가 적절하게 매치된 한 장으로 여러 매체에서 호평을 얻고 중요하게 다뤄지면서 언더그라운드 재즈 힙합 클래식으로 자리매김해가는 듯한 양상을 보였다. 앨범은 미국보다는 일본에서 몇 달 먼저 발매됐고, 일본에서는 HMV와 타워 레코드 등의 대형매장 힙합 차트 1, 2위에 오르며 선전했다. 한국에서도 보너스 CD를 포함한 형태로 발매됐는데, 이는 훌륭한 호응을 얻어냈다.
2006년 10월에는 [Plug Famalam Mixtape]이라는 믹스셋을 공개하기도 했다. 제이 디(Jay Dee)와 슬럼 빌리지(Slum Village), 그리고 에리카 바두(Eryka Badu) 등을 자신의 스타일로 믹스시키면서 DJ로서의 작업물을 담아낸 것이었다. 2007년도에는 레이블의 샘플러 격인 컴필레이션 [Kero One presents Plug Label]을 릴리즈 한다. 웨스트 코스트 언더그라운드에서 활약하는 크라운 시티 락커즈(Crown City Rockers), 라이트헤디드(Lightheaded)의 오메가 왓츠(Omega Watts), 그리고 달러가 필요한 스톤즈 쓰로(Stones Throw)의 알로에 블랙(Aloe Blacc) 등의 쟁쟁한 참여진들로 채워지면서 언더그라운드 팬들의 큰 관심을 불러 일으켰다.
2009년도에 두 번째 정규앨범 [Early Believers]를 완성한다. 역시 훌륭한 바이브를 가진 캐치한 비트로 무장했는데, 약간은 올드한 무드를 지녔던 전작보다는 좀 더 모던한 사운드를 담아냈다-이 이유가 꼭 오토튠 때문만은 아니다-. 무서운 사나이 자일스 피터슨(Gilles Peterson)과 관련이 있는 브라운즈우드(Brownswood) 레코드 소속의 벤 웨스트비치(Ben Westbeech), 북유럽의 스티비 원더(Stevie Wonder)라는 평가를 받고 있다는 핀란드의 싱어 투오모(Tuomo), 그리고 오메가 왓츠와 크라운 시티 락커즈의 캣 오우아노(Kat Ouano) 등이 앨범을 더욱 빛내줬으며, 한국의 에픽하이, [지구본 뮤직]에서 먼저 호흡을 맞췄던 다이나믹 듀오, 그리고 맵더소울 소속의 MYK의 이름 또한 트랙리스트에서 발견할 수 있었다. 한국반에는 에픽 하이의 타블로가 피쳐링한 [Keep Pushin']이 추가되기도 했다.
2집 공개 당시에는 블랙 아이드 피스(Black Eyed Peas)의 윌 아이엠(will.i.am)이 직접 추천하고 있는 비디오 메시지가 인터넷 상에 떠돌기도 했다. 인터뷰에 의하면 케로 원도 그가 이런 메시지를 보내준 것에 대해 무척 놀랐다고 한다. 아마 윌 아이엠의 사무실에 일하는 아는 사람이 케로 원의 음악을 그에게 추천해 준 것이 계기가 된 것이 아니었을까 하고 짐작한다 밝혔다. 이후 탈립 콸리(Talib Kweli)의 [In the Pocket]을 리믹스 하기도 했으며 페니(Pe2ny)의 곡 [Wake Up]과 라샨 아마드(Rashaan Ahmad)의 [Here We Go] 등에 피쳐링 하기도 했다. 커먼(Common)의 클래식 [The Light]도 리믹스했었는데, 이 곡은 뻐킹 불싸조 또한 리믹스 한 바 있다.
에픽하이의 음반 [魂 : Map the Soul]에 피쳐링하면서, 그리고 2009년 5월에는 에픽하이의 월드 투어에 합류하면서 에픽하이의 레이블 맵더소울의 명예 아티스트로 활동하기도 했다고 한다. 에픽하이 6집 [[e]]에 수록된 [Rocksteady]에도 참여하면서 모국인 한국시장에서도 본격적으로 자신의 이름을 알려가기 시작했다. .... ....
This is 지구본 music~ This is 지구본 music~ Uh~ 지구본 music~ 사는 게 그랬었지 넌더리가 났었지 현실은 내 멱살을 잡아 땅에 패대기를 쳤지 내가 내게 거는 기대치가 너무 커 그게 거센 번개 돼 영혼의 피뢰침을 꺾어버렸지 다시 뭔가를 느끼고파 가슴이 텅 비어서 먹어도 배가고파 영혼의 허기를 맹렬한 열기로 채우고파서 찾아간 곳 New York and Cali let`s ride 낯선 땅에서 먼저 느낀 건 음악이란 언어 앞에 모두 하나인 것 악수를 할 수 있다면 모두가 동등해 거짓없이 우리도 서로를 존중해 come on! This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music 지, 지구본에 선, 선을 그어 점 두 개를 연결해 frisco to seoul This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music 지, 지구본에 선, 선을 그어 점 두 개를 연결해 frisco to seoul 지금부터 잠시 내 친구를 소개할께 출신은 san francisco 이름은 kero one 다같이 움직여 무대 중심으로 From left to the right and back to the front Clap your hands everybody 다같이 손뼉을 쳐 This three mcs we on the mic 노래로 국경을 부셔!! <지구본뮤직（Feat. Kero One）- Dynamic Duo> This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music 지, 지구본에 선, 선을 그어 점 두 개를 연결해 frisco to seoul This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music 지, 지구본에 선, 선을 그어 점 두 개를 연결해 frisco to seoul
음악은 나를 먹여주는 밥통 재워주는 집 때론 심심풀이 땅콩 날 깨워주는 빛 내 영혼을 위한 산소 지극히 단조롭던 내 일상을 송두리째 훔친 강도 음악은 감정의 통역기 내 꿈을 싣고 높이 날아가는 고무 동력기 이제 조금씩 더 높이 날려볼래 더 멀리 From US to Germany 난 리듬에 달라 붙은 거머리 안 떨어질래 때때로 이 삶이 넌더리 나더라도 비록 못 날더라도 난 누구보다 빠르게 달리는 타조 This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music 지, 지구본에 선, 선을 그어 점 두 개를 연결해 frisco to seoul This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music 지, 지구본에 선, 선을 그어 점 두 개를 연결해 frisco to seoul This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music This is 지구본 music 세상에서 가장 근사한 Music
In the beginning, I remember that God made man crafted in his image, with his own hands then out of mans rib, came the woman the creatures we love, like or don’t understand but its amazing, I see God's beauty through her physical design plus her mind combined defines miracle and I’m not convinced that a mineral or bang from the sky can derive such individuals and as the world turns, I wonder with concern the time we'll meet and complete each other words I’m kidding, but who says fantasies forbidden see I’m the type of cat, that express myself from within driven, to promote love in every essence living by this mission its hard to miss the blessings caressing the mic like a newlywed wife ink flows from my pen in hopes to truly shed light upon this situation that I’m faced with one that takes patience to build on foundation that we both share now that’s stimulation anything less don’t impress know what I’m sayin? I look into the mirror and everyday it gets clear I gotta steer from the places I’ve veered I said I look into the mirror and everyday it gets clear I gotta steer...
(Chorus) Cause I’ve been lookin for love lookin for love yall In all the wrong places. lookin for love lookin for love yall In all the wrong places.
(verse 2) And in the summer, heat waves rise from the street pave warm nights mixed drinks dope djs females super fly, showing mad thigh thoughts of lust rush guys dont ask why is it her presence or feminine vibe? when her body rebels against a vertical line? that got guys lying for personal time and once they get their catch , they back on the grind and i'm just kicking my feet up like Bruce Lee reclined, when this dime approaches within few feet style, not unique, but def got the beauty so who cares when this cutie now pursues me and with charm I’m on her arm like Coachbag one of the few effortless things life threw back then like annoyed smokers we found no match and fell apart, without knowing romance but what I found, proved to be more special a lesson from experience, a jewel for the mental shining from my notepad with rhymes signed in pencil outlining my finding using life as a stencil and for this I feel mad fortunate for real I’m done with that short term fix and I ask can I be fortunate? to know that I’m done with this
(Chorus) Cause I’ve been looking for love looking for love yall In all the wrong places. looking for love looking for love yall In all the wrong places.
(verse 3) And now I ponder, about the times that we might have caressing questions that sing from my mic stand like damn whats these feelings I’m revealing like if I’d tell tha fellas I’d get smacked in my melon but its unique love only women can provide I seent it in my moms, I seent it in her eyes I seent it in these guys when proposing to their brides down on bended knee with diamonds shining near her thighs it makes me visualize, the way that we'd get down I’d take the lead, and no doubt you'd wear the crown the one I’d serve, cause she feels my vibe supports my wings, till the day that we fly and I know that right now, that we’d grow despite how the world is on our shoulders trying to control our lifestyles we wont get wiped out, if on the right route soon we'll reunite and then I’ll recite out… since the beginning of man our separation is fact I said you came from mans rib now I’m taking it back I said you came from mans rib and now I’m taking it back I said you came from mans rib so join me as.. we find love, we’ll find love girl in all the wrong places…
I put the needle to the groove and let my physical move/ to these deep funky rhythms that uplift my mood/ flippin' through tunes and stacks of wax for quality/ addicted to vinyl and my only cure is poverty/ getting fingers dusty in a number of states/ is the thrill the kill or hunt for chase/catch me diggin in crates.. for fatter breaks than pangea/ makin beats for streets creatin a buzz like sangria/ searchin groove merchants and virgin soil for soul/ ..unearthin beats that make your body lose control/ and it dont stop a story telling never ending/ cali’s the setting the plots a pot forever melting/ connectin cultures, through music its amusing/ disk jockies.. rock parties.. and its records they're using awesome feeling my noddin head forecasts/ its the beats, no the vibe, man i cant hold back/
(chorus)
so yes party people are you feeling the vibes/ records are rotatin i'm feelin alright/ we resurrect old artists and help their music survive/ so join us on this ride to keepin vinyl alive/
verse2
and now its Friday I just got paid/ I’m off to vinyl shops cause hunger can wait/ And I’ll explore stores mining for that diamond in the rough/ without music I’m handicapped and vinyls my crutch/ lifting me up… inverting my frown when I’m down/ mentally I hear its melodies but yet to be found/ so I lounge untill that day we’re bound by destiny/ Looking past the cover to see if its meant to be/ cuz if its unique I’ll discover whats underneath/ to reveal its true appeal and if we’re destined to meet/ and check the rhythm, check the rhythm like this/ and check the rhythm..cuz true love is in sync/ as I flirt with wax in search of romance/ honeymoon in my room and give birth to tracks/ and perhaps happily after this chapter will end/ its the beats or the steez...damn I can’t comprehend.../
(chorus)
its like this yall, are you feeling the vibes?/ records are rotatin i'm feelin alright/ we resurrect old artists and help their music survive/ so join us on this ride to keepin vinyl alive/
(Verse 1, Kero One) Its time to pump up the volume all you in the area From suburbs, slums and ghettos through America I?m here to break the barriers unify you and I Cause under one God we all are humankind No matter the race, creed, color, or state of mind There?s much to celebrate in this space and time So I .. deliver these rhymes to uplift the mind Spirit and soul with every rhyme I unfold And hold my head low and stay humble Cause who knows what piece tomorrow will bring to the puzzle I huddle my hands together and give praise No matter the weather God?s sun provides the rays And lights the way through this desolate maze Where the obstacles of life can leave your confidence dazed But I maintain through strife struggle and strain Gain character from persevering through pain And it?s strange how I?ve complained when others have had it worse Lacking in understanding of the next mans hurt But now I comprehend as I write this verse So today I give thanks, ?today ya giving what?? So today I give praise, ?Kero One say it again? So today we rejoice as we spit these words
(Chorus) Saying... thanks, for the roof over our heads As we rejoice, for every day that we?re fed We giving praise ya?ll, to the creator above For giving us hope in life and promoting the love We give thanks, for the roof over our heads As we rejoice, for every day that we?re fed We givin praise yall to the creator above For givin us this chance to expand the love
(Verse 2, Niamaj) The earth rapidly rotates at a miraculous rate And we still seek to find the definition of appreciate The gift of life is a gift in itself see And this goes out to middle class broke and wealthy I like to recognize all the things in my lifetime Stayin alive or the ability to write rhymes Uplift the mind through these treacherous times I give props to all mighty cause the sun still shines
I walk the earth mad cool with a righteous attitude Manifest my humbleness and express my gratitude Realize the worth and quality of things that I got Cause all things that you have kid you might have not As I drop you say ?word? but check the words that I say Just like the Lord giveth he can taketh away And today I take time to realize the strife Of many people with they conflicts and difficult lives Open your ears wide, I hope the message ya get And if you?re broke with no job or financially set let?s correct The issues at hand the moves we faking And start demonstrating the love for appreciation Like Mobb Deep we got ya stuck off the realness And motivate so ya next to kin will feel this We on drive ya best peel quick Niamaj and Kero One?s bout to tell ya what the deal is Not to preach or bore ya with flows Celebration is the key so the chorus it goes?
(Verse 3, Kero One and Niamaj) We give thanks for the roof over our heads And rejoice, for every day that we're fed We give praise for good peoples around us Uplifting the spirit let progression surround us And count the blessings found in life?s lessons With every negative there?s a positive message So step in these shoes for just a few They may fit snug, if so we?re talking to you Our story unfolds in a town with a beautiful view Where money flows through pockets but people still feud And closer to the ground, bums hunger for food Embracing nickels of hope or pennies just for booze While we view, the television we see People at war with each other, themselves, and we Dying by the thousands, how thankful we be So I?m trying to keep it moving ?cause there?s a reason we?re free? I said we gotta keep it moving ?theres a reason we?re free? Yo we trying to make moves ?one time for ya mind? I said we gotta keep it moving So we find humility?..and give thanks to thee.
Slowly and steadily MC's are fallin off like leprosy Instead build immunity spread insight through community These fundamentals form the krux of longevity When melodies are looped and vocals harmonize in unity now its 99 and aint a damn thing changed Some seek the fain fame as wealth manipulates the brain let me paint this picture your minds the canvas many claim their real and later flake like dandruff Cause one out of ten stick to their words The other 9 stick to my nikes and get rubbed out on the curb Lets be real we're paper chasin' for financial backing But theres a thin line defined by need and greed many are passing Known as crossing over for exposure some embark Or cars jewels and shit that wont exist when we depart Crews don't snooze or eyes become bruised This goes out to those that slept knew the deal or were confused Check the blueprint
So MC's take it back to lyricism Producers pour out your heart into the rhythm DJ's pay bills develop skills And respect the architecht as we begin to build And check the blueprint to keep the culture alive And check the blueprint so as an artist you can survive And check the blueprint I speak these words without frills So respect the architect as we begin to build Clutchin my pen tight strugglin to portray the right depiction I'm punchin the wall of writers block loathing for recognition Nowadays your not heard unless your posing an image With watered down lyrics that appeal to most who listen Instead i'll water the roots so branches will replenish Expanding elements that pioneers started building Hiphop houses so many free loading MC's I feel theres only a few tenants who've been paying their fees 360 degrees what goes around comes back I'm smoking mics as I inhale lies and exhale facts Unfold the blueprints the plans for improvement Bridging gaps between the mind ball point pen and the clueless Innovation is useless once you forget the essence So respect the architect pick up your pens and start sketchin Pick up your pens and start sketching So MC's take it back to lyricism Producers pour out your heart into the rhythm DJ's pay bills develop skills And respect the architecht as we begin to build And check the blueprint to keep the culture alive And check the blueprint so as an artist you can survive And check the blueprint I speak these words without frills So respect the architect as we begin to build As I open my slanty eyes to this place called earth I contemplate how music has lost artistic worth And I'm shrivled up in my niche like the scrotum when its freezing With bags under my eyes on account of too much sleeping Because of these lies in rap that I can't feel Leaving me dazed with the phrase 'i keep it real' How many times heard this being fed through your ears I'd rather be fed in the mouth to shit it out from the rear Claiming their underground but underwater their wrinkling And me like water buoys to that level I'm never sinking Sink your teeth into my words hard enough to be lispin' when you finished biting them find your front teeth missing I see em sippin fine wines in spas to match their image is Gimmicks I flap my jaws and their squads diminished I don't mess with glocks but metaphorically in speech I'd like to pump em' with more shots diabetics receive Then in a better place may they peacefully rest In hopes that next time the blueprints they'll manifest Check the blueprint Check the blueprint So MC's take it back to lyricism Producers pour out your heart into the rhythm DJ's pay bills develop skills And respect the architecht as we begin to build And check the blueprint to keep the culture alive And check the blueprint so as an artist you can survive And check the blueprint I speak these words without frills So respect the architect as we begin to build
(Verse 1) It's way past my curfew in an emcee circle rhyme dispersal, the ones without rehearsal and if Pops found me, I'd get smacked hard by that tree branch from my own backyard cause it was all about textbooks and grades with A's something hard to juggle as a hiphop slave skating on pave, or lounging after school with my crew writing tags on the bus, or finding ways to rock a shoe paying dues no return no concern back then like fat kids in lunch lines at shows packed in for rhyme battles with ill punch lines at crunch time by unknown emcees thinking why aren't they signed? then I'd pick up a pen and express rhymes were nonsense but nonetheless were off my chest while some thought I should stop wasting my breath dent on confidence I put my pen to rest so what's left but getting high every day rolling blunts with vegas, smoking profit away Cypress Hill on play singing stoned is the way… singing stoned is the way… (chorus) And its like that I'm telling ya That's the way it went down, down down And it's like that I'm telling ya yo the truth is out my story is found And its like that I'm telling ya That's the way it went down, down down And its like that I'm telling ya, yo the truth is out My story is found.. (Verse 2) And with mad smoke came the need for entertainment But Hiphop radio was now playing some strange hits clubs gettin closed, cause money was tight folks would rather find some ass.. than that hiphop trash and can I blame em? I'm sayin, things were rock bottom With exceptions of few, my head was rarely nodding So I got in a zone and blew the dust off my notepad Arm wrestled with words, struggled with vocab then wrote, slowly steadily something something if lyrics were harsh the beats had to be bumping no frontin, right off the bat some turned their backs but many felt the same which put my name on the map and brought me down my coast , Japan and back mad support from locals cats, like homies at Stacks with blunts burnt out at the end of its road blazing trails on a spiritual path, with new goals and that's how it went how the plot unfolds they asked about the story so let it be told (chorus) And its like that I'm telling ya That's the way it went down, down down And it's like that I'm telling ya yo the truth is out my story is found And its like that I'm telling ya That's the way it went down, down down And its like that I'm telling ya, yo the truth is out My story is found.. (Verse 3) Singing one for free cans and two for mean streaks That's the very track that put my past in the streets Deejays copped doubles to juggle the beats using language that managed to let their hands speak To peeps that showed love but not all felt this rhyme sayer Non believers, killing vibes like Cal Tjader Cause of my race or the way I appeared But still I ran the race when placed to the rear imagine a gook, a youth jumped by truth kicked out spots at age five cause eyes looked glued mentally struck, forget peaches and cream and such but it built my biceps and today I lift up jotting down facts and pouring out my soul in these raps fingers crossed, till herds are left with words that last and beats that make dancers put soul in their movements Wreckin' shop from the bay, La back to Brooklyn Kids scratch temples, scientists bite fists Kero's on the scene shining light through mist Cause if I'm not fueling the flame I'm like a puppet My mouth might move but I ain't sayin nothing So stay tuned to see how this ends Sayin peace, sincerely yours, till we meet again Sayin peace..till we meet again Sayin peace…
.... 
