First Come, First Served
Encyclopedia
First Come, First Served is the third studio album
by American
emcee
Keith Thornton
, better known as Kool Keith. Released in 1999, it is his first release under the alias Dr. Dooom.
. According to Allmusic critic Steve Huey, the musical style of the album was an attempt to replicate the production style of Dr. Octagonecologyst
.
named Dr. Dooom, who has a fondness for "cannibalism
, pet rats, and Flintstones vitamins
". The album opens with Dr. Dooom murdering Dr. Octagon
. According to Steve Huey, this "[signals] Keith's desire to move away from the alternative
audience who embraced that album and back to his roots in street-level hip-hop
". The lyrical content is darker and more violent than that of Dr. Octagonecologyst. Huey states that the album's lyrics are "way too far out to fulfill Keith's aspirations; he simply doesn't fit into hip-hop's obsession with realism." The album's cover is a parody of those designed by Pen & Pixel Graphics
for No Limit Records
releases, most notably Silkk the Shocker's Charge It 2 Da Game
.
wrote that "No rapper has ever imagined such disgusting apartments—lurid locales with fluorescent cereal on the floor. More than all the 'body parts in shopping carts,' it's the decor that puts the 'fake gangsta
hardcore
stories' Dooom despises to shame." Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey wrote that "The second half loses a bit of focus as it gets away from the concept, but overall it's pretty consistent".
In 2008, a follow-up, Dr. Dooom 2
, was produced in response to The Return of Dr. Octagon.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
emcee
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Keith Thornton
Kool Keith
Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...
, better known as Kool Keith. Released in 1999, it is his first release under the alias Dr. Dooom.
Production
Production duties from the album were handled by KutMasta KurtKutMasta Kurt
Kurt Matlin, professionally known as KutMasta Kurt, is an American hip hop producer, best known for his work with Kool Keith.-Collaborations:*Kool Keith - Sex Style *Dr Dooom - First Come, First Served...
. According to Allmusic critic Steve Huey, the musical style of the album was an attempt to replicate the production style of Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagonecologyst is the debut solo album of American rapper Keith Thornton and the first album he released under the alias Dr. Octagon. It was released May 6, 1996, on Bulk Recordings in the United States and Mo' Wax in the United Kingdom, and re-released in the US on DreamWorks Records in...
.
Lyrical themes and storyline
The album's concept involves a serial killerSerial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
named Dr. Dooom, who has a fondness for "cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, pet rats, and Flintstones vitamins
Flintstones Chewable Vitamins
-History:Flintstones Chewable Vitamins are supplemental multivitamins for children based on the animated sitcom The Flintstones. They were introduced in 1968 by Miles Laboratories and taste faintly like candy. Miles Laboratories was acquired by Bayer in 1979.The vitamins are one of the most...
". The album opens with Dr. Dooom murdering Dr. Octagon
Dr. Octagon
Dr. Octagon was a persona created and used by American rapper Keith Matthew Thornton, better known as Kool Keith. First appearing on Thornton's 1996 debut solo album, Dr. Octagonecologyst, Dr. Octagon is an extraterrestrial time traveling gynecologist and surgeon from the planet Jupiter. Thornton...
. According to Steve Huey, this "[signals] Keith's desire to move away from the alternative
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
audience who embraced that album and back to his roots in street-level hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
". The lyrical content is darker and more violent than that of Dr. Octagonecologyst. Huey states that the album's lyrics are "way too far out to fulfill Keith's aspirations; he simply doesn't fit into hip-hop's obsession with realism." The album's cover is a parody of those designed by Pen & Pixel Graphics
Pen & Pixel
Pen & Pixel is a Houston, Texas-based graphics design firm that specializes in musical album covers, especially for gangsta hip hop artists in the Southern US...
for No Limit Records
No Limit Records
No Limit Records was an American hip-hop record label that was founded in 1990 by hip-hop artist, Percy "Master P" Miller. It was distributed by Priority Records.-No Limit Early years:...
releases, most notably Silkk the Shocker's Charge It 2 Da Game
Charge It 2 da Game
-Chart positions:-Singles:"Just Be Straight with Me""It Ain't My Fault"...
.
Reception
Critical response was positive. Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
wrote that "No rapper has ever imagined such disgusting apartments—lurid locales with fluorescent cereal on the floor. More than all the 'body parts in shopping carts,' it's the decor that puts the 'fake gangsta
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
hardcore
Hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and...
stories' Dooom despises to shame." Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey wrote that "The second half loses a bit of focus as it gets away from the concept, but overall it's pretty consistent".
In 2008, a follow-up, Dr. Dooom 2
Dr. Dooom 2
Dr. Dooom 2 is the eleventh studio album by Keith Thornton, better known as Kool Keith. Released in 2008, it is his second release as "Dr. Dooom", following First Come, First Served.-Lyrical themes:...
, was produced in response to The Return of Dr. Octagon.
Track listing
- "Who Killed Dr. Octagon? (Intro)" - 0:37
- "No Chorus" - 2:26
- "Apartment 223" - 4:54
- "Mr. Ratt (Skit)" - 0:43
- "Neighbors Next Door" - 3:57
- "I Run Rap" - 4:21
- "You Live at Home With Your Mom" - 4:00
- "Housing Authority" - 4:18
- "Wild Kingdom (Skit)" - 0:23
- "Welfare Love" - 3:44
- "Dr. Dooom's in the Room" - 4:32
- "Call the Cops" - 4:16
- "Brothers Feel Fly" - 3:52
- "Side Line" - 4:23
- "Bitch Gets No Love" - 2:58
- "Shopping List (Skit)" - 0:22
- "Body Bag" - 3:32
- "Mental Case" - 3:48
- "Leave Me Alone" - 5:03
- "Live" - 9:13
- Track 20 includes a hidden track, "Bald-Headed Girl".