At this point, alter-egos have run rampant in hip-hop. MF DOOM can be found rapping under countless pseudonyms and modern artists like J.Cole and Flying Lotus have adopted this approach. This opens up the door to so many possibilities, a fresh start for an artist who has already established their sound and doesn’t want to jeopardize it with off-kilter ideas. Of all the alter-egos in hip-hop, Kool Keith might be one of the first. With his Dr. Octagon alias, he created an avenue for himself to explore a darker more theatrical side of his artistry. Dr. Octagon first emerged in 1993 on an unreleased demo from Keith’s Ultramagnetic MCs days but his debut full-length, Dr. Octagonecologyst, wasn’t released until 1996. The album features Keith’s lyrical dexterity battling with equally complex instrumentals, combining for otherworldly textures that never cease to amaze.
Kool Keith is one of the most innovative minds hip-hop has ever seen and his work as Dr. Octagon is all the proof you need to back that sentiment. For this week’s Golden Age Thursday we go back to 2008 in Massachusetts. In this video, Keith performed two highlights from Dr. Octagonecologyst and wrapped up with a mind-altering freestyle. Keith’s rhymes come alive in a live setting and this video showcases the nuanced complexity of his writing style.
