The D.O.C.

The D.O.C.
Birth name Tracy Lynn Curry
Also known as Doc-T, The Diggy Diggy Doc
Born (1968-06-10) June 10, 1968
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Origin Los Angeles, U.S.
Genres Hip-hop, gangsta rap, G-funk, West Coast hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, songwriter, vocalist
Years active 1986–present
Labels Ruthless, Atco, Atlantic, Death Row
Associated acts Fila Fresh Crew, Eazy-E, N.W.A, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg

Tracy Lynn Curry (born June 10, 1968), better known by his stage name The D.O.C., is an American rapper from Dallas. In addition to a solo career, he was a member of the hip hop group Fila Fresh Crew and later collaborated with gangsta rap group N.W.A, where he co-wrote many of their releases. He has also worked with Dr. Dre, who is one of the founding members of N.W.A and produced two of his solo albums. D.O.C. also appeared on a skit called "The $20 Sack Pyramid" on Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic. 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 US 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. In late 1989, months after the release of No One Can Do It Better, The D.O.C. almost died when a car accident resulted in the crushing of his larynx, permanently changing his voice. Since his recovery, he has released two more albums, Helter Skelter in 1996 and Deuce in 2003, 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. A documentary for Netflix is currently in the works on D.O.C. The D.O.C. is also working on a new album for 2016.

Career

Early career and No One Can Do It Better (1986–1989)

The D.O.C. was a natural, by far the most gifted rapper I have ever heard. You can talk all you want about Slick Rick or Rakim. The D.O.C.'s machine-gun mouth takes the title. No one could do it better.

Jerry Heller on The D.O.C.[1]

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 group's 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 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 number 20 on the Billboard 200, eventually going platinum.[2] 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".

Accident and aftermath (1989–2006)

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.[3]

The D.O.C. continued to write for N.W.A and contributed lyrics and minor vocals 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".

In 1991, The D.O.C left Ruthless Records along with Dr. Dre and Michel'le to sign with newly founded Death Row Records. Dr. Dre also used his talents as one of the writers for his debut solo album The Chronic, 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.

In 1996, The D.O.C attempted a comeback following the car crash which severely damaged his vocal cords.The album was titled "Helter Skelter". The album was widely ignored, and has even been discredited by D.O.C himself.[4] The name of the album is a reference to Charles Manson's idea of The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" prophesying the end of the world.

The title and concept behind this album were originally developed by Dr. Dre as a collaborative effort between him and Ice Cube, titled Heltah Skeltah. At that time however, The D.O.C. had become disillusioned with Death Row Records and Dre, having received no payment for his work ghostwriting at Death Row . So in late 1994, D.O.C. decided to leave Death Row and headed to Atlanta. Taking lyrics he had already written for Heltah Skeltah, he recorded Helter Skelter, keeping the name to spite Dre.[4] His lyrics were inspired by the writings of Milton William Cooper. Especially noticeable in songs Secret Plan and Welcome to the New World.

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.[5]

In 2003, The D.O.C released his third album entitled "Deuce". The only single released from Deuce was "The Shit", which features fellow former-N.W.A members MC Ren and Ice Cube, along with Snoop Dogg and Six-Two.

The album was originally meant to be a Six-Two album, completely produced by Dr. Dre and released through Aftermath Entertainment. However, D.O.C. and Dre argued over whether D.O.C. should be rapping on the album.[6] The D.O.C.'s presence on this album is minimal however, making an appearance to introduce tracks or perform in skits such as "My Prayer" and "Souliloquy". Deuce focuses primarily on showcasing other artists on D.O.C.'s Silverback Records label, including U.P.-T.I.G.H.T., El Dorado, and in particular, Six-Two.

Surgery and Voices Through Hot Vessels (2006–present)

In December 2006, The D.O.C. revealed that he was working on his fourth album, entitled Voice Through Hot Vessels, and stated that it would be released after Dr. Dre's upcoming third album Detox, which has since been scrapped in favor of Compton.[7] In a May 2008 interview, The D.O.C. stated that he and Dre were working on the album, explaining "There is an album, and you got the title, but that's also because that's the title Dre likes. Dre and I decided to do another D.O.C. album after this Detox record. We decided to do one more together and end our story the right way."[8][9]

According to a 2009 interview, Snoop Dogg assisted The D.O.C. in seeking a voice therapist. It was found that The D.O.C.'s vocal cords are not irreparably severed or crushed, and that his voice could still be surgically restored by up to 70%.

After the release of the biopic Straight Outta Compton, the D.O.C. revealed that his natural voice had returned if he concentrated, and that he recorded new music, although he was not ready to release anything yet.[10]

Personal life

He has a sister Tonya that currently lives in Garland. The D.O.C. dated Erykah Badu for several years. Together they have a daughter named Puma Curry, born on July 5, 2004.[11] From a previous relationship, he has a daughter who was dedicated in the liner notes of Heltah Skeltah, and a son named Cameron Curry, born on June 23, 2000.

Media appearances

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ Heller, Jerry (2007). Ruthless: A Memoir. Gallery. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-4169-1794-6.
  2. ↑ Steve Huey. "The D.O.C.: No One Can Do It Better". Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "The D.O.C. Finds His Own Voice : Pop Beat: A 1989 auto accident could have ended his career but today the rapper's back with a new sound.". latimes. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 Curry, Tracy (2002-03-19). "From Ruthless To Death Row" (Interview). Interview with ThaFormula.Com.
  5. ↑ Archived January 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "// The D.O.C. Interview (Part 1) (April 2008) // West Coast News Network //". Dubcnn.com. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
  7. ↑ "dubcnn.com // The D.O.C. Interview (December 2006) // West Coast News Network //". dubcnn.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "dubcnn.com // The D.O.C. Interview (Part 1) (April 2008) // West Coast News Network //". dubcnn.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 "dubcnn.com // The D.O.C. Interview (Part 2) (May 2008) // West Coast News Network //". dubcnn.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "The DOC speaks of getting his voice back". Vice. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "The D.O.C.". IMDb. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
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