After single-handedly redefining "warped" as the mind and mouth behind the Bronx-based Ultramagnetic MC's, "Kool" Keith Thornton, aka Rhythm X, aka Dr. Octagon, aka Dr. Dooom, headed for the outer reaches of the stratos... more »phere with a variety of solo projects. A onetime psychiatric patient at Bellevue, Keith's lyrical thematics remained as free-flowing here as they ever were with the N.Y. trio, connecting up complex meters with fierce, layers-deep metaphors and veiled criticisms of those who "water down the sound that comes from the ghetto." 2008 will see the return of Dr Dooom, produced by KutMasta Kurt. This album will be huge! One of the more underrated producers and DJs in the West Coast underground, KutMasta Kurt initially made his name working with Kool Keith, during which time he first donned his trademark Mexican wrestling mask. Kurt began DJing in the Bay Area. As his reputation grew, local MCs began to approach him about producing tracks. Kurt bought some basic studio equipment and taught himself to use it. After a few remixes for the likes of Tim Dog, Buju Banton and Mic Geronimo, Kurt's friendship with the groundbreaking, underappreciated Ultramagnetic MC's paid off when, in 1994, ex-leader Kool Keith tapped Kurt to handle DJ and production duties for his new solo career. Kurt produced a couple of tracks on Keith's landmark Dr. Octagon album, but their first full project together was 1997's "Sex Style", the first album released under Keith's own name. Kurt also helmed Keith's album as Dr. Dooom, 1999's "First Come, First Served", and 2000's "Matthew." By the time "Matthew" was released, Kurt had begun to build his own career apart from Keith. He provided remixes for the likes of the Beastie Boys, Planet Asia, Rasco, Luscious Jackson and Blackalicious, among others. He also formed his own label, Threshold, and in 2000 released the full-length album "KutMasta Kurt Presents: Masters of Illusion", a collaborative project that featured Kool Keith and underground MC Motion Man. Skip ahead to 2008 and the Dr. Dooom comeback. The album is titled "Dr. Dooom 2" and it's the type of release that everybody will be talking about.« less
After single-handedly redefining "warped" as the mind and mouth behind the Bronx-based Ultramagnetic MC's, "Kool" Keith Thornton, aka Rhythm X, aka Dr. Octagon, aka Dr. Dooom, headed for the outer reaches of the stratosphere with a variety of solo projects. A onetime psychiatric patient at Bellevue, Keith's lyrical thematics remained as free-flowing here as they ever were with the N.Y. trio, connecting up complex meters with fierce, layers-deep metaphors and veiled criticisms of those who "water down the sound that comes from the ghetto." 2008 will see the return of Dr Dooom, produced by KutMasta Kurt. This album will be huge! One of the more underrated producers and DJs in the West Coast underground, KutMasta Kurt initially made his name working with Kool Keith, during which time he first donned his trademark Mexican wrestling mask. Kurt began DJing in the Bay Area. As his reputation grew, local MCs began to approach him about producing tracks. Kurt bought some basic studio equipment and taught himself to use it. After a few remixes for the likes of Tim Dog, Buju Banton and Mic Geronimo, Kurt's friendship with the groundbreaking, underappreciated Ultramagnetic MC's paid off when, in 1994, ex-leader Kool Keith tapped Kurt to handle DJ and production duties for his new solo career. Kurt produced a couple of tracks on Keith's landmark Dr. Octagon album, but their first full project together was 1997's "Sex Style", the first album released under Keith's own name. Kurt also helmed Keith's album as Dr. Dooom, 1999's "First Come, First Served", and 2000's "Matthew." By the time "Matthew" was released, Kurt had begun to build his own career apart from Keith. He provided remixes for the likes of the Beastie Boys, Planet Asia, Rasco, Luscious Jackson and Blackalicious, among others. He also formed his own label, Threshold, and in 2000 released the full-length album "KutMasta Kurt Presents: Masters of Illusion", a collaborative project that featured Kool Keith and underground MC Motion Man. Skip ahead to 2008 and the Dr. Dooom comeback. The album is titled "Dr. Dooom 2" and it's the type of release that everybody will be talking about.
CD Reviews
Forget Octagon, Dooom is Back
Dan Grobar | Marquette, MI | 09/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First, a little background: Like many people, I was disappointed with The Return of Dr. Octagon, the long-awaited sequel to Kool Keith's highly acclaimed solo debut as Dr. Octagon, the evil "Octagonecologyst". It seemed disjointed, with weird lyrics that didn't appear to have anything to do with the character, as well as a low proportion of real songs to throwaway tracks. Come to find out recently, The Return was cobbled together by an unscrupulous label out of some random old, unused tracks Keith had turned in to fulfill his contract after the original attempt to make the album fell apart. The last contact he'd had with them was in 2004 or something like that, and (according to an interview I read) Keith had no idea of the album's existence until it magically appeared in 2006.
Apparently the most logical thing to do was to bring back Dr. Dooom, who killed Dr. Octagon at the start of the 1999 album First Come, First Served, and have him kill Octagon again. He does just that on the lead single "RIP Dr. Octagon", and indeed the rest of that song's lyrics are based around the debacle of Octagon's supposed "Return". It's a symbolic gesture that will probably miss a lot of the people turned off by The Return, but the message is clear.
As for the actual content of Dr. Dooom 2? Fantastic. Longtime collaborator, and producer of the first Dr. Dooom album, DJ Kutmasta Kurt is back again with his inimitable beats. The beats are totally original--instead of sampling existing songs and laying a beat over them, or really building around samples in any way at all, he creates fresh melodies and beats out of individual sounds (technically samples, but you know). As with the original Dooom, the beats are varied between orchestral sounds ("Step-N-Fetchers", "Run for Your Life"), menacing horns ("Take That Ride", "The Countdown"), and deceptively laid-back sounds that still pack a punch ("I Followed You", "Surgery").
As for the actual rapping, listening to this CD should make Kool Keith fans remember what makes him great. The overall pace is slower than its predecessor, which threw me off originally, but I quickly realized that this was a more focused and precise effort. As usual, the lyrics are the real treat here. The Dr. Dooom persona is in full force with songs about gruesome murder, insane and hilarious dissing, and gross women. My personal favorites are "Surgery", a good old duet with Motion Man that warns "You can look, act like but can't hold our jocks up," and the awesome "Step-N-Fetchers" which sets its sights squarely on today's mainstream rap scene with some hilarious burns on popular rappers that you might recognize.
I can't recommend this CD highly enough. The only problem with it is that after you hear Dr. Dooom 2, very few rap albums in 2008 are likely to measure up. This is the real deal."
OMFG
Jason Harrington | www.myspace.com/mad_trucker | 10/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have probably more than 20 Kool Keith albums, and the original Dr Dooom is one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time by any artist in any genre. I'm saying this so that you understand when I say that Dr Dooom 2 is even better than the original. The hooks are ruthless, the analog synthesizers are fighting with the samplers, the verses are angry...
The strait up raw uncut...!!!"
THE GOD OF RAP!$!$!$!$
SOUTH PHILLY DOOM | 10/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THE DOC IS BACK!!!! I WAITED FOR THIS IT SEEMS LIKE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. DR DOOM AKA KOOL KEITH IS STILL THE MOST EXPLOSIVE MC ON THE PLANET ESPECIALLY WHEN HE TEAMS UP WITH KURT. THE WHOLE ALBUM IS CLASSIC KEITH AS HE GOES IN AND OUT WITH HIS FLOWS TALKIN ABOUT A LOT OF CATS WHO STILL JUST DON'T GET IT. IF YOU THINK YOUR DOWN WITH "REAL" HIP-HOP THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ALBUM FROM KEITH COMING OUT IN DECEMBER UNDER THE NAME TASHANN DORRSETT PEACE!!!!"
Best Kool Keith album in years
MikeGibbons | Orleans, MA | 09/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The production is excellent, and Keith keeps it interesting with insane dissing and bizarre horror raps. Not quite as incredible as the first Dr. Dooom, but an excellent return to form for Keith and Kurt here. A must have for Kool Keith fans!"
Kool keith is on top of the game!!!!
Simon Leith | uk | 09/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"DR doom is back , the long awaited sequel, fantastic, solid beats from kurt , raw lyrics, tracks like simon and the god of rap , what more can i say , the whole album is awsome , kool keith fans will love this , the dissing the usual antics , lovely!!!"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1