Throwback: Dr. Octagon: Blue Flowers

“Blue Flowers” is on Kool Keith’s debut solo album, Dr. Octagonecologyst. Keith’s kooky but very creative alter ego named Dr. Octagon emerged after the rap group he founded, Ultramagnetic MCs, released their third album, The Four Horsemen. He introduced Dr. Octagon on the Ultramagnetic MCs’ 1993 “Smoking Dust” demo. Keith recorded two songs under this new persona with Kutmasta Kurt, “Dr. Octagon” and “Technical Difficulties,” and they sent the songs to radio and other producers. Dan The Automator was one of those producers and he soon became a collaborator on that first album. “Blue Flowers” is abstract and sounds like no other hip-hop record released in 1996. Keith raps about being a doctor from the church of the operating room over Dan The Automator’s ghostly violin, bottomless bass, taut drums, and DJ Qbert’s scratching. The creative prowess of “Blue Flowers” was one of the reasons the Dr. Octagonecologyst immediately held fans, critics, and other creatives in a tight grip of admiration despite having no mainstream push. Kool Keith’s psychedelic style was opening doors for other rappers to innovate in the midst of a heavily promoted gangsta rap landscape. Dan The Automator’s profile also rose and the acclaim he received for his work on Dr. Octagonecologyst led to a future partnership with Prince Paul for the Handsome Boys Modeling School project. “Blue Flowers” is part of the watershed moment that is Dr. Octagonecologyst with Kool Keith and company serving as a reminder that hip-hop was always about finding something new.