Biography
Among the assorted personas fashioned by New York rapper Kool Keith appears Dr. Dooom. The character took shape once Keith had grown weary of his earlier turn as Dr. Octagon, dispatching Doc Ock on the opening cut “Who Killed Doctor Octagon?” from First Come, First Served. Issued in 1999 by the Funky Ass label and helmed by KutMasta Kurt, the record introduced a twisted figure fixated on cannibalism, rodents, and multivitamins, merging Keith’s signature eccentric delivery and conversational cadence with these grim motifs. Although the rapper had aimed to retire the alt-rap Octagon, he revived the rival in 2006 via The Return of Dr. Octagon. The antagonist’s return prompted an unforeseen follow-up for Dooom with 2008’s Dr. Dooom, Vol. 2 (Threshold). The set included “RIP Dr. Octagon” and brought KutMasta Kurt back behind the boards. Even as Octagon resurfaced periodically, most prominently on Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Buried Alive” in 2013, Dooom faded from view.
Albums
