Hip-hop’s champion eccentric, Kool Keith’s influence on the landscape of contemporary hip-hop is incalculable; everyone from Lil Wayne to MF Doom has either directly or indirectly paid homage to the man of a dozen guises — each tribute more spaced-out and surreal than the next.
On Dr. Dooom 2, Keith reprises the role of the gonzo, serial-killing physician he created for 1999’s First Come First Served. Like most sequels, Dr. Dooom 2 fails to live up to the heights of its predecessor. Keith has a tendency to run in circles, his non-sequitur raps having become almost formulaic in their absurdity. Keith’s decision to once again kill his Dr. Octagon persona doesn’t do him any favors — it’s the second time he’s done so in as many Dooom records.
Yet even at his most banal, Kool Keith remains more compelling than 95 percent of the off-kilter rappers he’s spawned. While more mundane MC’s might use American Idol as a lame punchline, Keith devotes the record’s opening cut (”Simon”) to a bizarre, hilarious rant about his hatred of Simon Fuller. Behind the boards, long-time collaborator Kut Masta Kurt supplies an impressive array of horror-core piano riffs and dive-bombing super hero strings. Those disappointed by Dr. Octagon 2 should be satisfied by Keith’s return to form — whatever form that is.
Download:
MP3: Dr. Dooom 2-”Simon”
MP3: Dr. Dooom 2-”Always Talkin’ Out Your Ass” (Which I’m partial to because Keith shouts out the LA Weekly and Village Voice)
Stumble It!
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October 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 am
This isn’t as awful as I thought it would be, but the artwork is still the best aspect of the record.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I first heard this when I was in kind of a surly mood and I just continuously fucking lost it, over and over, just completely locked-in with his ceaseless smart-assed irritability. I know comparing rappers to indie/punk icons is complete bullshit most of the time but I’m starting to think Keith is hip hop’s Mark E. Smith.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I heard this record–I think it was this one, it was some Dr. Dooom record–and he was going off on how bloggers are assholes and steal his music.
Right then, I decided never to mention it on my site.
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 am
Easy Weiss Fam
I used to be a Huuuuge fan of Mister Kool Keith.
From his work amongst UMC or as Dr Octagon and even the DR DOOM cd was cool (kool).
Thing is I have learnt (thanks to 200% spies in the industry) that Keith actually stopped working with Dan The Automator because he was gay !
That just did it for me - oh and I also spent 24hours with him in teh South Of France - while he was touring and that was quite ….. sad !
That’s it 4 now
Thanks a big bunch for the blog (texts, music and shit)
Ivan Halen
WF DA
www.worldwidefestival.com