Kevin Keaton, a.k.a. Special K was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 old-school

Old school hip hop

Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music , and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended . Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group...

 MC prominent in the late 1970s, throughout the 1980's and early '90s

1990s

File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...

.

Early career

In the late 1970s, he met Kool Moe Dee

Kool Moe Dee

Mohandas Dewese , better known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American Hip Hop MC prominent in the late 1970s through the early 1990s. He was born in Manhattan, New York...

 and DJ Easy Lee. Special K joined with other rappers Kool Moe Dee and L.A. Sunshine as well as DJ Easy Lee to form the influential old school hip hop group the Treacherous Three

Treacherous Three

The Treacherous Three was a pioneering hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee , with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie...

. It is with The Treacherous Three that Special K performed his freestyle

Freestyle rap

Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...

. In 1981, they moved to Sugar Hill Records along with another Enjoy act Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip-hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. Composed of one DJ and five rappers Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip-hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in...

. The Treacherous Three became well known for their singles Feel the Heart Beat and Whip It. They were featured in the 1984 film the breakdance cult-movie Beat Street

Beat Street

Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, following Wild Style in featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s; breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti.-Plot:...

performing the song Xmas Rap with Doug E Fresh, but disbanded shortly afterwards.

Solo career

In 1985 the Treacherous Three disbanded with each member pursuing solo careers. Special K issued a 12" on Republic Records in 1987 which was called "Special K Is Good".