Interscope Vinyl Collective has announced their 15th vinyl pressing: Dr. Octagon’s 1996 concept album Dr. Octagonecologyst. The album will be available as a 2LP with a gatefold jacket for the first time, pressed on bone with red splatter and bone with black splatter vinyl. It will be available on January 1st.
The character of Dr. Octagon, an alter ego of hip-hop legend Kool Keith, is a homicidal, extraterrestrial, time-traveling gynecologist and surgeon. “My skin is green and silver, forehead looking mean/ Astronauts get played, tough like the ukulele/ As I move in rockets, overriding levels/ Nothing’s aware, same data, same system,” raps Keith on the introductory “Earth People.” The oddball character and Keith’s abstract, eccentric lyrics defined a moment in underground hip-hop.
The storytelling is complemented by complex, futuristic beats from Dan the Automator (Handsome Boy Modeling School, Gorillaz, Deltron 3030) and innovative turntablism by the legendary DJ Q-Bert. Music critic Steve Huey wrote that the album’s “futuristic, horror-soundtrack production seemed to bridge the gap between hip-hop and the more electronic-oriented trip-hop.”
This new limited edition pressing of Dr. Octagonecologyst includes the bonus tracks “Bear Witness (Automator’s 2 Turntables And A Razor Blade Re-Edit)”, “Blue Flowers (Automator Remix)”, “3000 (Automator 1,2 Remix)”, and “Blue Flowers (Prince Paul’s ‘So Beautiful’ Mix).” As a bonus, the album additionally comes with a limited-edition, turntable slipmat featuring the cover art image by the artist, Brian ‘Pushead’ Schroeder.
The Interscope Vinyl Collective began in November 2023, and offers subscribers a new, limited edition record available only to IVC members each month. Previous pressings have included Pharrell Williams’ 2006 record In My Mind, Elliot Smith’s XO, Mos Def’s Black On Both Sides, and more.
Order Dr. Octagonecologyst via the Interscope Vinyl Collective.