The original album achieved critical acclaim and was a springboard for Dan The Automator's young career, but Dan the Automator and Keith reportedly had a falling out over royalties from the first record. Keith drew from an entirely different group of collaborators for The Return including One Watt Sun, DJ Dexter, formerly of the Avalanches, and New York MC Princess Superstar.
Prior to release, a digital comic accompanied by remixes of material off the new album was released. The digital comic contains mp3s in each of its eight weekly installments, remixed by Alines, Kid Loco, Cassettes Won't Listen, DJ ESE and Catchdubs among others. Potential contributors include: Aesop Rock, Prefuse 73, Her Space Holiday and Spank Rock.
Perfect World
Dr. Octagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin for the perfect world
Perfect world
Lookin for the perfect world {*repeat "perfect world"*}
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, movin up is the best game
Movin the opponent in a chess game
Movin up is movin up is.. movin up
is the best is movin up {*scratched*}
Men with suits and ties, sittin callin shots
Men with suits and ties, sit-sit
Men with suits and ties, sittin callin shots
Shots called, shots from a chair
With Hummers comin at night, with dark light
More drama lookin through the sunroof, at a stealth bomber
Hummers comin at night, with dark light
More drama lookin through the sunroof, at a stealth bomber
With heavy equipment, journalists ask me questions with armor
Questions with, questions with armor
No accomplishment of direction, no choice to sleep
With no selective music pumpin
{*scratched: "music pumpin"*} jumpin
Lookin for the perfect world
Perfect world {*repeat "perfect world"*}
Lookin for the perfect world {*repeat "perfect world"*}
Perfect world
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, movin up is the best game
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, movin up is- movin up- movin up
Movin up- movin up- movin up- movin up
{*scratching*} the best game
Movin up- movin up- movin up- movin up
{*scratching*} the best game
Movin up- movin up- movin up- movin up
{*scratching*} the best game
{*scratching*}... movin up
From Costa Rica to Boston
Brutal combat, I bomb back, work on your body, and watch Star Trek
From Costa Rica to Boston
My pens are painkillers and Prozacs
Pens are painkillers and Prozacs
Bomb back {*scratched*} I bomb back
Pens are painkillers and Prozacs
It's flammable, dangerous
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, movin up is the best game
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, movin up is the best, is the best...
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, movin up is the best game
Movin the opponent in a chess game
TV ratings, TV ratings, movin up is the best best game
Lookin for the perfect world
Perfect world
Lookin for the perfect world
Perfect world
The song "Perfect World" by Dr. Octagon is a commentary on the pursuit of success and power. Kool Keith, the rapper, speaks about trying to find the perfect world, which seems to be a world where he has achieved success and moved up the ranks. He uses the metaphor of a chess game where he is moving his opponent and the TV ratings are his points. The lyrics suggest a fascination and obsession with the pursuit of power and being at the top.
The second verse talks about the men in suits and ties who are calling the shots and the use of heavy equipment like Hummers and Stealth Bombers. It portrays a sense of overwhelming power and dominance in society, where everyone else is just a pawn in a larger game. The lines "No accomplishment of direction, no choice to sleep/With no selective music pumpin" suggest that there is no time to relax and that the need to be constantly moving up and achieving success is all-consuming.
The repeated chorus emphasizes the search for the perfect world, which seems to be an elusive goal that is never fully achieved. This emphasizes the endless pursuit of success and the inevitable feeling of dissatisfaction that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Lookin for the perfect world
Desiring a world without imperfections
Perfect world
Reiterating the desire for a perfect world
Movin the opponent in a chess game
Strategizing to defeat an opponent, like in a game of chess
TV ratings, movin up is the best game
Achieving higher ratings in the television industry is considered the best strategy
Movin up is movin up is.. movin up
Success breeds more success
Men with suits and ties, sittin callin shots
Powerful men in suits making important decisions
Shots called, shots from a chair
Metaphor for important decisions made from a position of power without taking action on one's own
With Hummers comin at night, with dark light
Implying a sense of danger and secrecy, with Hummers being government vehicles and dark lighting creating a suspenseful tone
More drama lookin through the sunroof, at a stealth bomber
Describing a tense situation where people are looking up at a stealth bomber, emphasizing the idea of military and government power and control
With heavy equipment, journalists ask me questions with armor
Heavy armor and equipment suggests a militarized police force; journalists asking questions in armor may imply a need for protection from those in power
No accomplishment of direction, no choice to sleep
Lack of direction or purpose leading to inability to rest or sleep peacefully
With no selective music pumpin
No personalized choice in what music is being played, implying a lack of control or individuality
Jumpin
Reiterating the lack of control or direction in the situation
From Costa Rica to Boston
Referencing different locations and experiences, implying a vast scope and range of the singer's experiences and knowledge
Brutal combat, I bomb back, work on your body, and watch Star Trek
Combination of aggression and self-improvement, with watching Star Trek possibly representing a sense of escapism
My pens are painkillers and Prozacs
The artist's pens are a metaphor for their writing or creative expression, and it has healing properties for themselves and others
It's flammable, dangerous
The lyrics and creative expression can be powerful and potentially dangerous
TV ratings, movin up is the best, is the best...
Reiteration of the importance of achieving higher ratings in the television industry
TV ratings, TV ratings, movin up is the best best game
Further emphasis on the importance of higher ratings in the industry and the game-like nature of achieving them
Contributed by Jonathan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SilkySkillsUnited
For anyone who think electronic isn't Kool Keith's style, you need to listen to more Ultramagnetic MC's
Rogue Locator Agent
Shame about the drama that surrounds this album, cuz it's one of the best rap albums ever.
allgoraro
I have a long version of this-- great anti-NWO song-- kudos.
meestacrees
am i the only 1 that thinks this track is amazing?
Plant Head
you can say watever you want about keith and what he thinks about this album... the truth is- the production on this track is incredible, the synths are amazing and it makes the production of his older albums sound like it was produced by some high-school kids with a few beat boxes and samplers... this track fuckin rocks regardless of wtf keith thinks of it
SpyrosEsquivel
of course. no nineties - no hip hop