Kool Keith and Dan The Automator Set to Release ‘Dr. Octagonecologyst’ Box Set

Kool Keith’s Dr. Octagonecologyst is getting a new release to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Keith and Dan The Automator’s cult classic, which introduced the world to the Dr. Octagon character, will be rereleased as a 28-track box set. The box set will feature five unreleased songs and a booklet with 40 pages of liner notes.

In a press release for the box set, Keith spoke about the creation of Dr. Octagonecologyst. The eccentric MC noted that no drugs were used in the making of the avant-garde album.

“Other groups might have needed to be on drugs to attempt a record like Dr. Octagon, but I was eating potato chips when we made it,” Keith said. “Yoo-Hoos and donuts. It was one big spaceship and everyone was riding. Me and Automator were Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk.”

Dan The Automator, the man behind most of the LP’s production, also touched on the significance of the LP. The veteran producer spoke fondly of the project’s ability to reach a different audience.

“Dr. Octagonecologyst is a classic record for what it is, but it’s not a classic hip-hop record,” Dan said. “I’m not actually sure if it’s considered a hip-hop record at all. We had to do a lot just to get that record out there. That in itself was a bit of a monumental achievement. I mean, we made a record that, ostensibly, there was no market for. A lot of weird people came out of the woodwork and loved it.”

The Dr. Octagonecologyst box set is available for pre-order now through Get on Down and will begin shipping in early May. Fans will also have a chance to see Keith and Dan perform tracks from the album at the 2017 Soundset Festival, which takes place on May 28.

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