It was released August 11, 1998, by Interscope Records and features covers of songs by artists such as Stanley Clarke, Metallica, and Jerry Reed.

The cover art features a clay figure sculpted by Claypool, along with Japanese katakana characters to the far right, reading out "ネセソトナニツキノハ", or "Nesesotonanitsukinoha".

In his review for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes the EP as "another small treasure for fans."

"[1] For Pitchfork Media, Susan Moll notes that "while Brian [sic] "Brain" Mantia's heavy-hitting drums were the focus of The Brown Album, Rhinoplasty marks a return to the vintage Primus sound, with Claypool's bass front and center, where it belongs."

She also opines that "the band's version of "Making Plans For Nigel" (from Miscellaneous Debris) is legendary, but their take on "Scissor Man" is more deranged than Andy Partridge on a bad day.