Newly acquired, and half ingested, presented here is the recently released Moosebumps: An Exploration into Modern Day Horripilation [the SP 1200 Remixes]. As a sucker for any and everything DTA (Dan the Automator), and akin to the crass and ingenious lyrics of the masterful Kool Keith, this rather rare remix album was a (rather embarrassing) cat and mouse game to pursue, and finally seize. Saucers of milk for everyone who’s in prime ownership of this necessity. Really quickly, the resurgence of Dr. Octagon has been something of primal bliss, and I’ll offer as much support as I’m afforded, so long as the medium will allow.
Tag Archives: Dr. Octagon
Moosebumps
Finally… the much anticipated Moosebumps has arrived. Limited to 1000 copies on clear w/ blood splatter colored vinyl, this Dr. Octagon website exclusive comes with a unique cover in addition to the exclusive vinyl color. Moosebumps is the first time that DJ Qbert, Dan the Automator, and Kool Keith would collaborate as the mighty Dr. Octagon since 1996 with their debut, Dr. Octagonecologyst. An instant classic, this sci-fi hip hop trio does not disappoint, given the 22 year gap, and Moosebumps is a necessary addition to any collection with room for the extreme. There’s also a hemoglobin red exclusive still available out of Newbury Comics, for those interested.
RSD ’18 Part Two
Presented here is our loot from this year’s Record Store Day. The big three were acquired (listed in order of necessity).
- Dr. Octagon – Moosebumpectomy: An Excision of Modern Day Instrumentalization
- Tim Hardin – Lost in L.A.
- The Kinks – Phobia
- Van Morrison – The Alternative Moondance
- Harry Nilsson – Pussy Cats
- Arthur Lyman – Bahia
- Leonard Nimoy – Mr. Spock’s Music from Out Space
3000
As the self proclaimed “extraterrestrial surgeon from Jupiter,” Dr. Octagon broke into the mid 90’s hardcore hip-hip scene with a few unforgettable singles. 1995’s Earth People, and this, 1996’s 3000. The third single (in no particular order) is Blue Flowers. All tracks were played the other night in downtown Los Angeles, and the event was something of interplanetary amazement.
Punk Rock Bottom Prices
$6 for a PBR tall boy and a shot of whiskey… in Santa Monica?! Oh, wait, you say there are six bands playing? How much is the cover? Free?! And what’s that I hear about hot dogs? Also, free?! The bloody hell?! Lawndale is always a big draw, but Atomic Sherpas killed it yesterday! That MAY have been the three Low Lifes talking, but I doubt it.
Tonight, Handsome Boy Modeling School and Dr. Octagon. How’s that for a damned one-two punch?!
Also, if you ask nicely, Damien will make you a Liquid Kitty, sans the Lucky Strike, of course.
Octagon Beats
Missed the show, but not the opportunity to spin this instrumental, instrumental album by Dan the Automator and DJ Q-Bert. The original with Kool Keith, aka Dr. Octagon isn’t too shabby either, but sometimes you just need the basics, and Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats) certainly offers that fix.
The Dr. is In
Very strongly considering what would, just a few short years ago, have been a no-brainer. Shows during the week these days… am I right?!
The Doctor, Walter, and a Rebel’s Yell
When the sun goes down out past Santa Paula on a wonderful Valentine’s Day with the fiancée, the Doctor tends to emerge, and with him, a bottle of cheap whiskey, and Walter Light. Happy Sunday, kids.
DTA, MIA
I did some DTA (Dan the Automator) research today, and boy-oh-boy, am I missing a truck-ton of records in THIS discography?! What I dig about this pioneer is his consistency in releasing instrumentals for his notable collaborations. Dr. Octagon, Lovage, and Deltron 3030, to name a tiny few. Deltron 3030, their first album at least (I need to revisit their 2013 follow-up) is classic, early millennial, sophisticated hip hop, and although Del is greatly missing, it’s a refreshing option in rediscovering this classic album.
‘mentals
Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is perfect in every way humanly, or robotically imaginable. Obvious statement. With perfect albums comes countless repeated listens… then a lull, then another listen, then an even bigger lull, then another nostalgic listen, then a lull lasting close to five years. What’s great about this 2004 Instrumentals version, apart from its radiant highlight of J-Swift’s well, swift production is the resounded (uh) freshness it gives to a well-worn (and thoroughly played) album.
I’m becoming an avid fan of instrumentals or show vinyl versions of classic albums (Paul’s Boutique, Abbey Road, Renegades, Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By, Deltron 3030, Check Your Head, Dr. Octagon, and so on). Strip that shit down to its core, and enjoy the purest of prudent beats.
Not Your Mother’s Hip-Hop
By every conceivable understanding of the phrase, Dr. Octagon is without question NOT your mother’s Hip-Hop. Defined by Google as:
hip-hop
noun
1. a style of popular music of US black and Hispanic origin, featuring rap with an electronic backing.
Dr. Octagon is an X-rated barrel-shot through the grotesque-minded brilliance of the lyrical magician Kool Keith, backed with the autonomous production of the genre-bending (never breaking) Mr. Dan Nakamura (AKA Dan the Automator), mingled with the turntable chemist DJ Q-Bert (as well as a slew of genteel guest stars). In short, Dr. Octagon is the last doctor you’ll ever need, because he’s the last doctor you’ll ever see. Your mother would not approve of this disgusting display of Hip-Hop-ery.
What would qualify as “your mother’s Hip-Hop” you ask?
– Fat Boys
– PM Dawn
– Vanilla Ice (after a sixer of Zima)
The doctor is out… call back after midnight to make an appointment with the receptionist.
(Please note that this is not an album review. This has been explicitly stated so that I may repurpose this album for a future, much less lazy-minded post, you dig?)
Often Wrong, Never in Doubt
Long and tumultuous is the road to a completed collection. Be it the full 792 cards in the 1990 Topps baseball set, all four collectible Garfield and Odie mugs released by McDonald’s back in 1978, or in this case, my half completed collection of Grand Royal Magazines.
With issue #1 released in 1993 (and one of the three I don’t have), and the final issue, #6, released in 1997, it’s safe to say the Grand Royal team was taking their sweet-ass time publishing these now sought-after mid-90s gems. That initial judgment of a painfully obvious (and very Los Angeles) lackadaisical workflow couldn’t be further from the truth as this current issue, issue #3, is JAM-MUTHA-TRUCKIN’-PACKED! Packed with what, you ask? How about interviews with Dr. Octagon aka Kool Keith, San Pedro’s own Mike Watt, and the Dalai Lama (conducted by Adam Yauch, RIP MCA), a guide to sneaking into hotel pools in the Hollywood area courtesy of Spike Jonze, an in-depth look at the paintings of Evel Knievel, horse racing tips from Pavement’s Bob Nastanovich, and countless, as well as fearlessly stunning, vintage album ads spanning from Weezer’s Pinkerton to Sukia’s Contacto Espacial Con El Tercer Sexo… and all of this by page 37 (of 140)!!
It’s taken me close to 20 years to acquire three of only six Grand Royal Magazines, and it’ll probably take me another 20 to secure the remaining three. The upside, however, is that it’s taken me nearly two decades to ingest the onslaught found within issues 2, 3 and 5, so when my ship finally comes in, I’ll have another 20 years of dynamite reading material at my grubby little fingertips. (Often Wrong, Never in Doubt is the title to Grand Royal Magazine issue #3, btw. A straight lift on my part.)
The Prudent Groove 