The D.O.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The D.O.C. | |
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D.O.C. on the inside of his début classic album "No One Can Do It Better."
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tracy Lynn Curry |
| Also known as | The D.O.C. |
| Born | June 10, 1968 |
| Origin | West Dallas, Texas |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop West Coast Hip Hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, songwriter |
| Years active | 1986 – present |
| Label(s) | Ruthless (1986–1991) Death Row (1991–1994) Giant (1995–1999) Silverback (2000 – present) |
| Associated acts |
N.W.A Fila Fresh Crew |
Tracy Lynn Curry (born June 10, 1968), known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper born & raised in Dallas, Texas where he was a member of the Fila Fresh Crew. He later lived in Compton, California, where he joined the creative force behind the rap group N.W.A.
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The D.O.C. contributed lyrics and vocals to N.W.A's 2nd album, Straight Outta Compton and to Eazy E's debut, Eazy-Duz-It. He was recruited as a member of Fila Fresh Crew which turned out successful until he went to California for N.W.A.. When Ice Cube returned, the group remained impressed enough with The D.O.C.'s work to keep him on board.In 1989, The D.O.C. released his Dr. Dre-produced debut album, No One Can Do It Better.The D.O.C. got his rapping career in West Dallas his home town with the popular rapper in Dallas.
Not long after his debut album was released, his vocal cords were severed in a car accident, which would prove to be an insurmountable obstacle for his continued career as a vocalist. In 2006, Jerry Heller (Ruthless Records) stated that The D.O.C. could have had his voice recovered up to 90% but was suffering from depression and was "lazy", thus causing the voice we now know.
However, The D.O.C. remained important to Dr. Dre, who 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." 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." The D.O.C. also worked on Snoop Dogg's debut album Doggystyle and added minor vocals on the song "Serial Killa".
When The D.O.C.'s voice returned (although severely altered), he considered a return to rapping. Dr. Dre was skeptical that he was capable of creating successful records with his damaged vocal cords and wanted to keep the DOC as his ghostwriter[citation needed]. In 1996, The D.O.C. moved to Atlanta, Georgia, taking a number of partially-recorded tapes belonging to Dr Dre which contained the basis for the Ice Cube/Dre album Helter Skelter, which was supposed to be Dre's follow up to The Chronic. D.O.C. recorded his second album with producer Erotic D. The record, Helter Skelter was released to spite Dr. Dre, but it sold poorly. The D.O.C. rapped in a raspy, almost demonic voice. Most of the album's lyrics were by the D.O.C. for Dre and intended for the unreleased Ice Cube/ Dre collaboration. While in Atlanta, The D.O.C. also made major contributions to MC Breed's album The New Breed.
After a major lawsuit, Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. reconciled their differences and once again became friends. Dr. Dre invited The D.O.C. to his 2001 recording sessions. D.O.C. brought his new protégé along, a Fort Worth rapper named Six-Two; Six-Two appeared on two of the album's songs. D.O.C. and Six-Two were also part of the Up In Smoke tour.
In 2003, The D.O.C. released his third album Deuce. The album was more of a compilation than a solo release. The D.O.C.contributed alot of vocals to the record. Rather, many of the tracks had appearances by Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg, and the D.O.C.'s proteges Six-Two,Up-Tight, Cadillac Seville, and El Dorado take most of the spotlight.
- He was the first protege of Dr. Dre.
- Has wrote on both of Dr. Dre's albums The Chronic and 2001, he is also going to write and perhaps feature on Detox.
- The song "It's Funky Enough" has appeared on popular videogames Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, True Crime: Streets of LA and Madden 2005. Also, "Whirlwind Pyramid" appeared on Tony Hawk's Underground 2 and "The Formula" appeared on True Crime: Streets of LA.
- He made a guest appearance in Shyne's music-video for the song "That's Gangsta", which samples the same beat D.O.C. uses for his first hit "It's Funky Enough", Foster Sylvers's "Misdemeanor".
- He has worked with Snoop Dogg on his latest album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment on four songs, out of which three are produced by Dr. Dre; That's That Shit, Round Here, Boss' Life, Imagine.
- He has been confirmed in an interview with DUBCNN that he is working on Dr. Dre's long awaited album Detox and in the same interview he confirmed that he might make another album which would be his fourth and the name would be 'Voice Through Hot Vessels'.
- Has been rumored to be part owner of the D.O.C Wine Bar in Chicago, IL
- 1989: No One Can Do It Better
- 1996: Helter Skelter
- 2003: Deuce
- The DOC The 411 on The DOC [authored by Balance: 411@hiphop.sh]
- MySpace
- Interview at DubCNN.com
- The D.O.C. discography at Discogs.com
- Interview at ThaFormula.Com
- The D.O.C. at All Music Guide
Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | 1968 births | African American rappers | West Coast rappers | People from Dallas | Graduates of Dallas ISD | N.W.A. members | Ruthless Records artists | Living people | Musicians from Dallas | Texas musicians | Crips