Customer Reviews

Return of Dr. Octagon

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This album was made becuase some shady record label Keith was dealing with, jerked him in his contract saying that they could make pop-dance remixes of any of his songs. Keith of course not wanting his music to be screwed with in this way tried to pull out of the deal. What is presented here is exactly what he didn't want to see, some vocals from those sessions shipped off over the internet to Europeto be remixed by wack, techno DJs Keith hadn't even spoken over the phone with, and then thrown together into an "album." Keith tried to get this release stopped for years, but the label finally slimed their way to getting it into stores. If you really are a fan of Keith don't buy this album. If you're that curious just download it for free. The real, original release of the new Dr. Octagon, Keith worked on with Fanatick, is on the way after the current letigation is cleared up. I imagine it will be called The Real Return of Dr. Octagon or something simular. Wait to buy that one and don't give money to these snakes.

Someone has been pushing the rumor that this is not legit. or intended by Keith. I guess he hates it so much he made a video for "aliens" which I saw the other day on NY Noise, which features the artist throughout and credits the label. the rumor of illegitmacy must be false, and intended to keep suckas away from the album. Keith has always been into anticommercial maneuvers --recall the subject matter of Dr. Octagynocologist. The "loyalists" leaving 1 and 2 star reviews are --refer to title of review.

From what I'm told, Dr. Octagon 'The Return' Is a collection of stolen samples mixed by some unknown goons in the U.K.
However I am a curious guy, and decided to download the album to see what all the fuss was about. The first thing I noticed was the quality and production value was leaps and bounds above the average bootleg. Honestly, this album sounds great, maybe even better the the original.
The album has a completly different style the Dr. octagonacolgyst, this is essentially a dance album with KK'S vocals slapped on top and a bunch of guest vocals to fill things out. With that said, the disc completely rocks. Start to finish, these songs are as entertaining as any. A great party album, I put this on at work and instantly had all my co-workers asking who this was, and where they can buy the album.
While 'The Return' is awsome, it's definatly NOT a Dr. Octagon album. It would have been better called somthing like 'Kool Keith and a bunch of random goons from the U.K. present: Trees, Ants and Aliens'. Either way, I like it... and unfortunatly you will too. You shouldnt buy it though, download it and bootleg the bootleggers. Great album or not, all these jerks care about is the CA$H and Kool Keith does not deserve to have his music stolen and sold for profit.

If you know anything about anything, you'll know at least a little bit about the history of this messed up album, and you'll definetly know this isn't Doctor Octagon. For one thing, Doc-oc is dead, he was shot three times in the face, and for another, Doctor Octagon is a collab between Keith, Automator and Q-Bert.(Only Keith appears on this album, thus rendering this decidedly NOT Doctor Octagon) But besides the fact that these tracks are not actually official, I still picked this one up because Keith is my favorite MC in the world, and I'm always looking to get more, so any release featuring Keith in any way is a must for me.
So, putting the fact that this is a BS album aside, and reviewing it simply on quality, the verdict is: Lame.
The production on this is weak sounding, not in the least heavy and barely approaching funky, it sounds like some whack, stuck in the 80's, wanna be old school, white suburban kid, overly produced, no soul having, 20th century, entirely UN-dope stuff. The real shame is that even with the complex yet pussed out production, this might have been a salvageable record with Keith's flows on top, but the cats who produced it, chopped his vox and put them all over the place, adding all kinds of effects and not letting them naturally flow for over two lines at any point on the whole joint.
Bottom Line: This is more a record by these cats 'One Watt Sun' than it is a Kool Keith album. And one watt sun is most definetly lame.

While not an official Dr. Octogon release, The Return is a very dancable and fun cd and deserves to be recognized. Rumors and conspiracy aside, there is nothing wrong with this album. The beats are uplifting, tight and fun and Kool Keith always rips proper, even if his lyrics are samples stolen by German dudes having fun in their living room. A lot of folks dis this album because European fellows produced beats over Kool Keiths rhymes and supposedly stole the lyrics from KK himself. I like this album alot, and whether theivery was involved or not, this is a great release. A nice break from the Kool Keith discography. The beats are evolved and the production is quite good. I would recommend this release to those who enjoy funky, evolved hip hop that crosses genres. To all the others, the "hardcore" Keith fans and hip hop heads who are afraid of change, stay far, far away from this....

This is the OFFICIAL Dr. Octagon release. The unauthorized album that has been referred to in previous reviews is called "Dr. Octagon Part 2" and was released by Real Talk Records in 2004. The label ceased production after a court order. I hear Real Talk ended up paying Keith royalties in a settlement, but don't know if that's true.

Anyways, buying this album DOES support Keith and his projects. The reviewer below has the right idea, just the wrong album.

But be warned, this is very different from any other Kool Keith/Doc Oc/ Dooom/ etc..... album. I personally like it, but can see why others may not.

I would also checking out Mr. Nogatco and watching the movie that plays with the album, and picking up Dr. Dooom 2.

Kool Keith as Dr. Octagon is a dope mc but when he's thrown in with numerous fake thugs and ordinary east coast west coast mc's KK loses his voice and is left with little time to make the album a creative force like the first album. The production is one of those group things but is overall good. Understand this is not a KK solo album but rather a decent part indie part industry collab album feat. Kool Keith as Dr. Octagon. Where's dan?

Listen the thing about Kool Keith is that he is a hit and miss artist. I personally believe that when he hits, he blows away far toom any people. When he misses it is becuase he is involved with wack artists or record company's/production crews. The conspiracy theories are true. Keith did not approve this album but honestly it is not as terrible as people are rating it. It is bizzare and somewhat strange but HELLO that is what an Octagon album is. The production is not terrible but it certainly is too European to hide. I can picture some French kids getting down to this or maybe somebody getting high in Amsterdam.
On principle that Keith is being ripped I cannot support this album BUT it has some ok tracks like "dr. Octagon". Rip this off Kazaa and enjoy its not terrible but do not support independent artist abuses.

Not only has KK proven to be a major precursor to contemporary hip-hop, but he continues advancing the bleeding edge of the genre. The Return of Dr. Octagon offers all of KK's distinctive trademarks while providing fresh/new imaginative audio and lyrical landscapes that epitomize the postmodern. This is a great one to play from start to finish w/ every track and skit blending perfectly. His style may not be for everyone, but for those bored w/ the current conventions KK is a breath of fresh air.

That said, in respect to the man I'll be holding on to my $$$ until his official version/release is issued. (This would be a good one to download, if you know what I mean ;)

With all the grumbling online I was prepared for a real shoddy kindergarten record with this. I bought it anyhow because I'm the curious type.
But DAMN, I just wish there was MORE of it.
Good and weird, polished and even kind of poppy.
Listen to TREES and tell me this isn't better than Spankrock or Gnarls Barkley or any of that blowing-up-at-the-moment stuff.
This thing is a winner.