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'{{About|the character|the rapper|Kool Keith}} {{Infobox character | colour = #DEDEE2 | name = Dr. Octagon | image = Dr. Octagon.gif | image_size = 250px | caption = The image used by [[CMH Records]] in its promotion of ''[[The Return of Dr. Octagon]]''. | first = ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]'' | last = ''[[Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation]]'' | creator = [[Kool Keith|Keith Thornton]] | portrayer = Keith Thornton | occupation = [[Gynecologist]] and [[surgeon]] }} '''Dr. Octagon''' is a [[persona]] created and used by [[United States|American]] [[rapping|rapper]] Keith Matthew Thornton, better known as [[Kool Keith]]. First appearing on Thornton's 1996 debut [[solo album]], ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]''. The album examines the impersonal/delusional/authoritarian aspects of institutions/bureaucracies using the general hospital and psych ward as main metaphor. The hyper-love of new technologies is also a theme. Thornton performed and released two albums under the alias. The character was murdered by Dr. Dooom on Thornton's 1999 album ''[[First Come, First Served]]'', and was briefly revived before once again being killed on Thornton's 2008 album ''[[Dr. Dooom 2]]'', in response to the release of ''[[The Return of Dr. Octagon]]'', an album largely produced without Thornton's involvement. Kool Keith reunited with [[Dan the Automator]] and [[DJ Qbert]] to release ''[[Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation]]'' on April 6, 2018.<ref name="MoosebumpsRelease2018">{{cite web|last1=Mojica|first1=Nick|title=Dr. Octagon Drop New Album 'Moosebumps'|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/04/dr-octagon-moosebumps-album/|website=xxlmag.co|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref> == History == The earliest instance of Thornton's Dr. Octagon character appears on the unreleased [[Ultramagnetic MCs|Ultramagnetic MC's]] demo "Smoking Dust", recorded in 1993 and included in the 1994 compilation album [[The Basement Tapes 1984–1990|The Basement Tapes 1984-1990]]. On this demo, Thornton refers to himself as "Doctor Oc" and raps in a deeper cadence, with lyrics that intertwine grotesque pornographic imagery with science-fiction.<ref>{{Citation|title=Ultramagnetic MC's – Smoking Dust|url=https://genius.com/Ultramagnetic-mcs-smoking-dust-lyrics|language=en|access-date=2020-08-28}}</ref> Thornton and KutMasta Kurt recorded two songs under the alias Dr. Octagon, "Dr. Octagon" and "Technical Difficulties."<ref name="Downs">{{cite news|url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/PrintFriendly?oid=291467|title=''Kool Keith CD Scam Exposed''|last=Downs|first=David|date=September 27, 2006|newspaper=[[East Bay Express]]|access-date=25 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227142441/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/PrintFriendly?oid=291467|archive-date=27 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thornton mailed the songs to radio stations as a teaser, as well as giving copies to several [[Disc jockey|DJ]]s, as well as producer [[Dan the Automator|Dan "The Automator" Nakamura]], resulting in the production of ''Dr. Octagonecologyst''.<ref name="Downs" /> The album was recorded in Automator's studio in the basement of his parents' San Francisco home.<ref>{{cite book|title=Check the Technique: Volume 2: More Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies|last1=Coleman|first1=Brian|publisher=Wax Facts Press}}</ref> ''Dr. Octagonecologyst'' featured the work of [[Turntablism|turntablist]] [[DJ Qbert]] and additional production by [[KutMasta Kurt]]. An instrumental version of the album was released under the title ''[[Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats)]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r261341/review|pure_url=yes}}|title=Review of ''The Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats)''|last=McLeod|first=Kembrew|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=2009-01-27}}</ref> KutMasta Kurt later pursued legal action against Automator because Kurt's demos had initiated the project. Kurt told the AV Club, “I got the whole [Dr. Octagon] thing started and really got nothing directly out of it. [Automator] ran with it, but he never gave credit to the person who threw the ball. At the end of the day, I actually had to sue the guy."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/kool-keith-and-kutmasta-kurt-14335|title=Kool Keith and KutMasta Kurt|last1=David|first1=Downs|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref> In promotion of the album, Thornton toured under the Dr. Octagon billing. These performances featured a full live band, an on-stage breakdancer and appearances by [[Invisibl Skratch Piklz]].<ref name="Synthesis">{{cite news|url=http://www.synthesis.net/music/interview/item-340/1997-05-30-kool_keith_gets_freaky_as_dr_octagon|title=Kool Keith gets freaky as Dr. Octagon|date=May 30, 1997|access-date=27 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011202047/http://www.synthesis.net/music/interview/item-340/1997-05-30-kool_keith_gets_freaky_as_dr_octagon|archive-date=October 11, 2008|url-status=dead|publisher=[[Synthesis (magazine)|Synthesis]]}}</ref> Nakamura has referred to Dr. Octagon as a three-person group rather than an alias of Thornton,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/music/dashed_hoop_dreams/Content?oid=291777|title=''Dashed Hoop Dreams''|last=Downs|first=David|date=October 25, 2006|newspaper=[[East Bay Express]]|access-date=25 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227142618/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/music/dashed_hoop_dreams/Content?oid=291777|archive-date=27 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> and these claims were reported by the press.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/12679957.html?dids=12679957:12679957&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+27%2C+1997&author=Greg+Kot.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=BACK+TO+THE+FUTURE++DR.+OCTAGON+LOOKS+TO+PAST+TO+CURE+HIP-HOP&pqatl=google|title=''Back to the Future: Dr. Octagon looks to the past to cure hip-hop''|last=Kot|first=Greg|date=June 27, 1997|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=27 January 2009}}</ref> Thornton later expressed some frustration with the "Dr. Octagon" nickname, saying, "Octagon wasn't my life...I've done a lot of things that were totally around different things other than Octagon. Are some people just afraid to venture off into my life and see that I do other things which are great? I think people stuck me with something."<ref name="AVClub">{{cite news|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/kool-keith-and-kutmasta-kurt,14335/|title=Kool Keith and KutMasta Kurt|last=Downs|first=David|date=November 21, 2008|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=2009-01-27}}</ref> In 2002, Thornton announced ''The Resurrection of Dr. Octagon'', a proposed sequel to ''Dr. Octagonecologyst'', that would reintroduce the character.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453279/20020405/kool_keith.jhtml?headlines=true|title=All The Voices In Kool Keith's Head Working On New Albums|last=Goodman|first=Abbey|date=April 5, 2002|access-date=13 December 2008|publisher=[[MTV News]]}}</ref> [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]-based producer Fanatik J was chosen to create the music for the album.<ref name="Downs" /> Thornton himself took part in the production of early material for the project, playing [[bass guitar|bass]], [[guitar]], and [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]] on many of the tracks.<ref name="Moayeri">{{cite magazine|last=Moayeri|first=Lily|date=July 23, 2002|title=''Kool Keith Revives Dr. Octagon''|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/koolkeith/articles/story/5934820/kool_keith_revives_dr_octagon|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=25 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222143655/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/koolkeith/articles/story/5934820/kool_keith_revives_dr_octagon|archive-date=22 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> After shopping around demos for the proposed album, Thornton signed a contract with [[CMH Records]] to release the album.<ref name="Downs" /> On July 23, 2002, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reported that a new Dr. Octagon album would be released in February 2003.<ref name="Moayeri" /> As production on the album was underway, Thornton had a falling out with Fanatik J over contract rights, and the One-Watt Sun production team was hired to create the album's music.<ref name="Downs" /> After completing three vocal tracks with the label, based upon rough sonic themes created by the production team, Thornton had a falling out with the label, and gave the label recordings he had made two years previously, consisting of Thornton rapping and goofing off, in order to complete his contract. The resulting album, ''The Return of Dr. Octagon'', was largely produced without Thornton's involvement, and did not resemble the direction Thornton had initially intended for the album.<ref name="Downs" /> Promotional materials, including [[music video]]s, were produced without Thornton's involvement. Thornton states that he was "shocked" by the label's misrepresentation.<ref name="Downs" /> Following the release of the album, Thornton performed under the Dr. Octagon billing, but did not promote the album.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501297.html|title=''Kool Keith's Bits & Pieces''|last=Godfrey|first=Sarah|date=August 26, 2006|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=19 January 2009|page=C08}}</ref> ''[[Dr. Dooom 2]]'', Thornton's 2008 follow-up to ''First Come, First Served'', was produced in response to ''The Return of Dr. Octagon''.<ref name="AVClub" /> In the music video for "R.I.P. Dr. Octagon", the appearance of Dr. Octagon resembles the character design used in promotional materials by [[CMH Records]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMeOrWuOtBI|title=R.I.P. Dr. Octagon|date=July 29, 2008|people=Kool Keith|publisher=Threshold Records|time=1:41|access-date=2009-02-09|medium=[[music video]]}}</ref> In 2013, Dr. Octagon made a guest appearance on the [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] song "Buried Alive", which was featured on their album ''[[Mosquito (Yeah Yeah Yeahs album)|Mosquito]]''. Once again performing as Dr. Octagon, [[Kool Keith]] reunited with [[Dan The Automator]] and [[DJ Qbert]] to release ''[[Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation]]'' on Bulk Recordings.<ref name="MoosebumpsRelease2018" /> The album was released on streaming services on April 6, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/dr-octagon-moosebumps-album-drops-octagon-octagon/|title=DR. OCTAGON PLOT 'MOOSEBUMPS' ALBUM, DROP NEW SONG "OCTAGON OCTAGON"|last1=Berry|first1=Peter|website=xxlmag.com|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref> with the physical release scheduled for [[Record Store Day]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/10214|title=Dr. Octagon - Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation Deluxe|website=recordstoreday.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> April 21, 2018. The Record Store Day release includes both vinyl and CD copies. Using his [[Deltron 3030|Deltron]] persona, [[Del the Funky Homosapien]] guests on "3030 Meets the Doc, Pt. 1". NPR offered a first look at the album on March 29, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/29/597002303/first-listen-dr-octagon-moosebumps-an-exploration-into-modern-day-horripilation|title=Kool Keith And Dan The Automator Make Rap Weird Again As Dr. Octagon|last1=Wang|first1=Oliver|website=npr.org|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> 2020's ''[[Space Goretex]]'' features Dr. Octagon and two of Thornton's other personas, [[First Come, First Served|Dr. Dooom]] and [[Black Elvis/Lost in Space|Black Elvis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/kool-keith-thetan-prep-collab-lp-ft-mems-of-gwar-three-6-mafia-more-stream-a-track/ |title=Kool Keith & Thetan prep collab LP ft. mems of GWAR, Three 6 Mafia, more (stream a track) |publisher=BrooklynVegan |access-date=July 18, 2021 |quote=Space Goretex is the first album combining all of KOOL KEITH’s primary personas – Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom and Black Elvis. }}</ref> == Discography == ;Studio albums * 1996 – ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]'' * 2006 – ''[[The Return of Dr. Octagon]]'' * 2018 – ''[[Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation]]'' * 2020 - ''[[Space Goretex]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/kool-keith-thetan-prep-collab-lp-ft-mems-of-gwar-three-6-mafia-more-stream-a-track/ |title=Kool Keith & Thetan prep collab LP ft. mems of GWAR, Three 6 Mafia, more (stream a track) |publisher=BrooklynVegan |access-date=July 18, 2021 |quote=Space Goretex is the first album combining all of KOOL KEITH’s primary personas – Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom and Black Elvis. }}</ref> == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://metallungies.com/2006/05/talkin-back-to-back/ Talkin Back to Back: Dr. Octagon] at Metal Lungies {{Kool Keith}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Fictional physicians|Octagon, Dr.]] [[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial characters|Octagon, Dr.]] [[Category:Fictional obstetricians and gynaecologists]] [[Category:Fictional surgeons|Octagon, Dr.]] [[Category:Recorded music characters|Octagon, Dr.]] [[Category:Songs about time travel]]'