{{for|the 1990s hip-hop group|Lo-Key?}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lo Key | image = LoKeyWiki.jpg | birth_name = Jonathan Thomson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|07|10}} | birth_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] * [[Horrorcore]] }} | occupations = {{flatlist| * Rapper * visual artist * cinematographer }} | years_active = 1998{{ndash}}present | label = {{flatlist| * LOKE RECORDS * Shadowland Entertainment * 7th Seal Ent. }} | associated_acts = Grewsum, Redneck Souljers, A.X.E., Mission Infect | website = {{url|listentolokey.com}} }} '''Jonathan Thomson''' (born July 10, 1984), known professionally by his stage name '''Lo Key''', is an American [[rapper]], vocalist, and creator of music and visual arts. He is the founder of the rap group MISSION : INFECT and mainly recognized for his original mask which is used as a centralized branding for his music. He is a name in [[horrorcore]], a rap subgenre.
== Career == Lo Key began his career in [[Metal (music genre)|metal]] bands in the late 1990s, but eventually decided to pursue [[Hip hop music|hip hop]]. In the early 2000s, Lo Key founded the group Temple Rain featuring members Green Vilin and Sleepy. The group released two albums before disbanding in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://radio.hearitnation.com/detroit-unplugged-replay-ft-lo-key-yd-the-vet/|title=Detroit Unplugged Replay ft/ Lo Key, YD The Vet {{!}} Hear It Nation Radio|date=2017-05-11|work=Hear It Nation Radio|access-date=2017-05-16|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/38332194|title=Lokey Interview - 11/11/08|publisher=Vimeo|access-date=2017-05-16}}</ref>
In the mid-2000s, he would go on to release several solo albums including ''Follow Me'', ''The House 1'', ''The House 2'', ''SO-LO'', ''Jack Yo Beatz 1'' and ''Jack Yo Beatz 2''. In 2006, Lo Key created the group MISSION : INFECT featuring numerous underground artists including Menacide, Q-Strange, Saint Sinna, BadLuck, Grewsum, T.O.N.E-Z, Malaria, Tha Wikid One, Madd Maxxx, Green Vilin, and more. As a group, they released the projects ''Chemical Threats 1 & 2, xterM:Ination,'' and ''Asphyxiation''. Several unofficial [[Mixtape|mixtapes]] were also produced.{{cn|date=May 2017}}
Lo Key and MISSION : INFECT also performed 4 consecutive years at the [[Gathering of the Juggalos]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gotjarchives.com/2006/home/?page_id=performances|title=The 7th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos 2006 - Official Website|website=www.gotjarchives.com|access-date=2017-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.juggalogathering.com/home.php?page_id=performances |title=2007 Gathering of the Juggalos - Live Performances |date=2007-08-19 |access-date=2017-05-16 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819232755/http://www.juggalogathering.com/home.php?page_id=performances |archivedate=2007-08-19 }}</ref> Lo Key was also featured on [[Psychopathic Records]] 2008 compilation album ''Tunnel Runners'', which debuted at #21 on Billboards [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top Rap Albums]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/album/360186/tunnel-runners|title=Tunnel Runners {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}}</ref>
After a short hiatus in 2010, Lo Key would go on to create several more albums, as well as headlining his first national tour - ''The Lo Key Loves You Tour.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faygoluvers.net/v5/2013/05/lokey-loves-you-tour-starts-next-month/|title="Lokey Loves You Tour" starts next month! |date=19 May 2013 |publisher=Faygoluvers |access-date=2017-05-16}}</ref> In 2016 he released the album ''Jack Yo Beatz 3'', featuring a music video for the song "Nasty", as well as collaborations with [[Redneck Souljers]] and The Jokerr.<ref>{{Citation|last=lokerecords|title=Lo Key - NASTY - Official Music Video|date=2016-05-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T6ndIuyjmE|accessdate=2017-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.spotify.com/track/3e1ohw43OwrbryoRoCRXGu?play=true|title=Spotify|website=play.spotify.com|access-date=2017-05-16}}</ref>
== Personal life == Thomson was born in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania and was adopted. He grew up outside of Philadelphia and in 1999 dropped out of school to pursue a full-time music career.{{cn|date=May 2017}}
Lo Key has stated in his music that he suffered from [[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder|attention deficit disorder]] (ADD), as well as other mental illnesses. Lo Key has also stated that he suffers from a phenomenon called [[sleep paralysis]], which he attributes to the inspiration and creation of his albums ''Shadowland'' and ''The Book of Time''.<ref>{{Citation|last=FaygoluversHeaven|title=LO KEY INTERVIEW - *FLH EXCLUSIVE* - 2016 Gathering of the Juggalos #GOTJ17|date=2016-08-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ArAOscw04|accessdate=2017-05-16}}</ref>
== Discography == ===Solo albums=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * ''Follow Me'' (2005) * ''Jack Yo Beatz 1'' (2005) * ''The House 1'' (2005) * ''The House Remixes'' (2005) * ''SO-LO'' (2006) * ''Jack Yo Beatz 2'' (2006) * ''The House 2'' (2006) * ''RELEASE 1'' (2006) * ''Chamiliatic'' (2008) * ''RELEASE 2'' (2011) * ''ShadowLand'' (2011) * ''AMERICAN MONSTER'' (2012) * ''FraggleSwag'' (2012) * ''Chamiliatic Remixes'' (2012) * ''LETS GET VIOLENT!'' (2013) * ''The Book of Time'' (2014) * ''Dedicated'' (2015) * ''Jack Yo Beatz 3'' (2016) * ''Demon Days'' (2016) * ''Candycorn and Coversongs'' (2018) * ''Nightcrawlers'' (2019) * ''Jack Yo Beatz 4'' (2019) * ''The Blood of Izu'' (2020) * ''RELEASE 3'' (2011) * ''Candycorn and Coversongs 2'' (2020) * ''The Eyes of Parasuva'' (2020) * "Metanoia" (2021) * ''Portraits of Horror'' (2023) {{div col end}} * LXVE (2025)
===Group albums=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * ''Temple Rain: The Awakening'' (2002) * ''Temple Rain: The Lost Boys'' (2004) * ''The Devils Rejects: Die 2 This'' (2004) * ''INFECT: Chemical Threads Phase 1'' (2007) * ''INFECT: Chemical Threats Phase 2'' (2007) * ''INFECT: Mass Infection'' (2007) * ''Death B4 Dishonor: The Calm B4 the Storm'' (2007) * ''INFECT: XterM:Ination'' (2008) * ''INFECT: Suicide Bombs'' (2008) * ''Death B4 Dishonor: The Ascending'' (2008) * ''INFECT: Annihilation: The Mixtape'' (2009) * ''INFECT: Asphyxiation'' (2009) * ''BunnyJunk: The Final Pawprint'' (2012) * INFECT: Chemical Threats Phase 3 (2017) * INFECT: Chemical Threats Phase 4 (2017) * INFECT: Chemical Threats Phase X (Bonus Explosions) (2017) * CABAL: The Watchers (2021) * Neon Sermon - 001 (2022) * INFECT: arM:Igeddon (2024) {{div col end}}
===Music videos=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * "Legacy" (2008) * "The Devil Tree" (2011) * "Together" (2011) * "Transition" (2014) * "King of Horrorcore" (2015) * "Nasty" (2016) * "Dedicated" (2017) * "GUTTA" (2019) * "Curse" (2020) * "Hole In The Sky" (2020) {{div col end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Horrorcore artists]] [[Category:Rappers from Philadelphia]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]] [[Category:Underground rappers]] [[Category:1984 births]]