D.O.C. - The Formula
From the
1989 Album: "
No One Can
Do It Better"
...[Artist info below]...
..
Tracy Lynn Curry (born June 10,
1968), primarily known by his stage name The
D.O.C., is an
American rapper from
Dallas, Texas. In addition to a solo career, he was a member of the hip hop group
Fila Fresh Crew, and a creative force behind the gangsta rap group
N.W.A, where he co-wrote many of their releases. He has also semi-frequently worked with
Dr. Dre, who is one of the founders of N.W.A and produced two of his solo albums.
After Fila Fresh Crew split up in
1988, The D.O.C. went on to pursue a successful solo career. In 1989, he released his debut album, No One Can Do It Better, which reached number-one on the Top
R&B;/Hip-Hop
Albums chart for two weeks and spawned two number one hits on the
Hot Rap Songs chart: "
It's Funky Enough" and "The D.O.C. &
The Doctor". The album went platinum five years after its release. Months after the release of No One Can Do It Better, The D.O.C. almost died when a car accident resulted in crushing his larynx, permanently changing his voice. Since his recovery, he has released two more albums,
Helter Skelter and
Deuce, both released 7 years apart. Since
2006, The D.O.C. has been working on new material for his fourth album
Voices through
Hot Vessels.
Curry began his career as a member of Fila Fresh Crew, a hip hop group that was originally based in Dallas, Texas. While in the group, The D.O.C was known as Doc-T. The group had four tracks featured on the compilation album N.W.A. and the
Posse, which was released in
1987 and featured various other artists. The same four tracks would later appear on the groups album
Tuffest Man Alive, released in 1988. The group disbanded shortly after its release, however.
After leaving the Fila Fresh Crew, Doc-T moved to
Los Angeles, and changed his stage name to The D.O.C.. He was signed to
Ruthless Records and contributed lyrics and vocals to N.W.A.'s debut album,
Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-E's debut, Eazy-Duz-It and co-wrote "Keep
Watchin'" from
Michel'le's self-titled debut album (all three produced by Dr. Dre). In 1989, The D.O.C. released his Dr. Dre-produced debut album, No One Can Do It Better. The album was very well received by critics, and sold very well, peaking at #20 on the
Billboard 200, eventually going platinum. Allmusic gives the album a five-star rating and describes it as "an early landmark of
West Coast Rap" as well as "an undeniable masterpiece".
In
November 1989, five months after the release of No One Can Do It Better, The D.O.C was involved in a near-fatal car accident.
Driving home from a party, he fell asleep at the wheel and his car veered off the freeway. Curry, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown out the rear window, slamming face first into a tree. His injuries required 2 hours of plastic surgery, and he spent 2½ weeks in the hospital. He couldn't speak for about a month, and he was left with a different, raspier voice.[2]
However, The D.O.C. remained important to N.W.A; he continued to write for the group and contributed lyrics to their final album Niggaz4Life and their
1990 EP
100 Miles and Runnin', where he co-wrote all the songs except for "Just
Don't Bite It" and "Kamurshol". Dr. Dre also used his talents as one of the writers for his debut solo album
The Chronic, on
Death Row Records contributing to the tracks "
Lil' Ghetto Boy," "
A Nigga Witta Gun," and "
Bitches Ain't Shit". He also appeared on the skit track "The $20
Sack Pyramid." He is referenced by name in "
Nuthin' but a G Thang," and appears in the song's video as well. The liner notes to The Chronic say, "I want to give a special shout out to The D.O.C. for talking me into doin' this album." His name is mentioned by
Snoop Dogg in the intro of the album. ("
Peace to da D.O.C., still makin' it funky enough").
In addition to The Chronic, The D.O.C. worked on Snoop Dogg's debut album
Doggystyle, and added some vocals on the song "
Serial Killa". The D.O.C. continued to be a ghostwriter for various songs on Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg albums.
The Dr. Dre song "
What's the Difference?" from the album
2001 features the following lyrics, sung by Dre:
Back when
Cube - was rollin wit
Lorenzo in a Benzo I was bangin wit a gang of instrumentals, got the pens and pencils, got down to business; but sometimes the business end of this shit can turn your friends against you - but you was a real nigga, I could sense it in you - I still remember the window of the car that you went through, that's fucked up - But I'll never forget the shit we been through, and I'ma do whatever it takes to convince you, cuz you my nigga D.O.C.
On July 20,
2000, The D.O.C. appeared on stage with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at The
Centrum in
Worcester, Massachusetts during the
Up in Smoke Tour.