Kool Keith: Dr. Octagon vs. Dr. Dooom
Though Kool Keith started out rapping in the Ultramagnetic DJ's in the mid-'80s, it was his 1996 breakthrough album that put him on the map for most of us: Dr. Octagonecologist. In the role of Dr. Octagon, Keith collaborated with DJ Shadow and DJ Q-Bert to craft a delirious, absurdist, stream-of-consciousness manifesto of gross-out humor and hyper-referential minutiae.
In the ensuing years, he has appeared in a confounding number of aliases. Among his 60 distinct characters: Black Elvis, the alien Mr. Green, supersized Willie Large, vinyl enthusiast Robbie Analog, and hygiene-obsessed Clean Man. Keith's most recent identity is Tashan Dorrsett, who released his debut disc February 24th, 2009.
At this Mezzanine show, Keith is billed as "Dr. Octagon vs. Dr. Dooom." Dr. Dooom is best known for murdering Dr. Octagon in 1999's First Come, First Served. After Ock's resurrection, Dooom repeated his homicide on 2008's excellent "R.I.P. Dr. Octagon."
Expect dizzying and virtuosic wordplay, lewdly hilarious sex talk and deranged science-fiction. Or better yet, go in with no expectations, as Kool Keith delights in creating confusion. For all we know, he'll do part of the set as Keith Televasquez, Mr. Nogatco or Fly Ricky the Wine Taster. KEVIN SEAL
