Dr. Octagon-Dr. Octagonecologyst Kool Keith Ultramagnetic Q-Bert Dan Automator

It's hard to exaggerate the role that Kool Keith's debut solo album as Dr. Octagon played in revitalizing underground hip-hop. It certainly didn't bring the scene back to life single-handedly, but it attracted more attention than any non-mainstream rap album in quite a while, thanks to its inventive production and Keith's bizarre, free-associative rhymes. Dr. Octagonecologyst represented the first truly new, genuine alternative to commercial hip-hop since the Native Tongues' heyday. It appealed strongly to alternative audiences who'd grown up with rap music, but simply hadn't related to it since the rise of gangsta. Moreover, it predated seminal releases by Company Flow, Black Star, and the Jurassic 5, helping those groups get the attention they deserved, and reinvented Keith as a leader of the new subterranean movement. As if that weren't enough, the album launched the career of Dan the Automator, one of the new underground's brightest producers, and shed some light on the burgeoning turntablist revival via the scratching fireworks of DJ Q-Bert. The Automator's futuristic, horror-soundtrack production seemed to bridge the gap between hip-hop and the more electronic-oriented trip-hop (which has since narrowed even more), and it's creepily effective support for Keith's crazed alter ego. Dr. Octagon is an incompetent, time-traveling, possibly extraterrestrial surgeon who pretends to be a female gynecologist and molests his patients and nurses. The concept makes for some undeniably juvenile (and, arguably, hilarious) moments, but the real focus is Keith's astounding wordplay; it often seems based on sound alone, not literal meaning, and even his skit dialogue is full of non sequiturs. Keith has since lost his taste for the album, tiring of hearing it compared favorably to his subsequent work, and complaining that the only new audience he gained was white. However, it's the best musical backing he's ever had (especially the brilliant singles "Earth People" and "Blue Flowers"), and even if he's since explored some of these themes ad nauseum, Dr. Octagonecologyst remains as startling and original as the day it was released.

Condition: VG+

Barcode: 676217500215

Catalog Number: LP 902

Originally Released: 1996

Known issues: none

Special Characteristics: none

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Below are the grading guidelines I follow.  All records are visually graded unless otherwise noted.

• Mint (M) Absolutely perfect in every way.  Never played or still sealed.

• Near Mint (NM) A nearly perfect record.  No obvious signs of wear on the LP.  Cover has no creases, folds, seam splits, cutout holes or other defects.  

• Very Good Plus (VG+) Record shows somesigns that it was played and otherwise handled.  Record surface may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scatches that do not affect playback.  Picture sleeves and inner LP sleeves may show some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. 

• Very Good (VG) Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc.  Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise.  Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.  Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached.  The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers.  However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

•Good (G), Good Plus (G+) Good does not mean bad!  A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put on a turntable and will play through without skipping.  But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear.  A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine.  Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

•Poor (P), Fair (F) The record is cracked, badly warped, and wont play through without skipping or repeating.  The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing.  The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside of it.  Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled and written upon.

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