The D.O.C. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The D.O.C.
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The D.O.C. in 2025
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tracy Lynn Curry |
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| Born | June 10, 1968 West Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1987–present |
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Tracy Lynn Curry (born on June 10, 1968), known as the D.O.C., is an American rapper, songwriter, and music producer. He had a successful solo career. He was also a member of the group Fila Fresh Crew. Later, he helped write songs for the rap group N.W.A and Eazy-E.
The D.O.C. also worked with famous producer Dr. Dre. He helped write Dr. Dre's first album, The Chronic. Dr. Dre produced the D.O.C.'s first solo album, No One Can Do It Better, which came out in 1989. In 1991, the D.O.C. helped start Death Row Records with Dr. Dre and other music executives. This record label signed artists like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg.
After Fila Fresh Crew broke up in 1988, the D.O.C. started recording his own music. His album No One Can Do It Better reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 music chart. It also had two songs that became number one hits on the Hot Rap Songs chart: "It's Funky Enough" and "The D.O.C. & The Doctor". Soon after his album was released, the D.O.C. was in a serious car crash. This accident permanently changed his voice. Since then, he has released two more albums: Helter Skelter in 1996 and Deuce in 2003.
In 2024, the D.O.C. received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award with N.W.A. This award honored his contributions to music.
Contents
Early Life
Tracy Lynn Curry was born in Dallas, Texas, on June 10, 1968. When he was a teenager, Curry started his music career. He joined a hip hop group called Fila Fresh Crew. This group was from Dallas, Texas. While in the group, Curry was known by the name Doc-T.
Music Career
Fila Fresh Crew Beginnings
In 1987, Fila Fresh Crew had four songs on a music collection album called N.W.A and the Posse. These same four songs later appeared on Fila Fresh Crew's own album, Tuffest Man Alive, which was released in 1988. Even though their album had three hit songs, the group broke up soon after it came out. By this time, Curry had moved to Los Angeles. There, he met members of the group N.W.A and people from Ruthless Records.
Joining Ruthless Records
Curry started using the name the D.O.C. after he signed with Eazy-E's record label, Ruthless Records. The D.O.C. helped write lyrics for N.W.A's first album, Straight Outta Compton. He also performed the first part of the song "Parental Discretion Iz Advised." Curry wrote songs for Eazy-E's first album, Eazy-Duz-It. He also helped write "Keep Watchin'" for Michel'le's first album.
In 1989, the D.O.C. released his first solo album, No One Can Do It Better. Dr. Dre produced this album. Music critics really liked the album, and it sold very well. It reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart for two weeks in a row. By 1994, the album had sold over a million copies, earning "Platinum status." The music website Allmusic gave the album a perfect five-star rating. They called it an "early landmark of West Coast Rap" and an "undeniable masterpiece." No One Can Do It Better had five hit songs and five music videos.
Car Accident and New Path
In November 1989, about five months after his album came out, the D.O.C. was in a very serious car crash. He was driving home from a party and fell asleep while driving. His car went off the road. Curry was not wearing a seat belt. He was thrown out the back window and hit his face on a tree. His injuries were severe and needed 21 hours of plastic surgery. He stayed in the hospital for two and a half weeks. He could not speak for about a month. The accident left him with a different, rougher voice.
The D.O.C. continued to write for N.W.A. He helped write lyrics and sang a little on their 1990 album 100 Miles and Runnin'. He also helped write songs for their last album, Niggaz4Life.
In 1991, the D.O.C. left Ruthless Records. He joined Death Row Records with Dr. Dre and Michel'le. The D.O.C. was one of the writers for Dr. Dre's first solo album, The Chronic. He helped with songs like "Nuthin' but a G Thang" and "Lil' Ghetto Boy." He also appeared in a short comedy part on the album called "The $20 Sack Pyramid." In the album's notes, Dr. Dre thanked the D.O.C. for convincing him to make the album. Snoop Dogg also mentioned his name at the beginning of the album.
The D.O.C. also worked on Snoop Dogg's first album, Doggystyle. He added some vocals to the song "Serial Killa." The D.O.C. continued to write songs for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg without always getting public credit. A song called "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" from Eazy-E's 1993 album used parts of the D.O.C.'s song "It's Funky Enough" in its main chorus.
New Albums and Record Label
In 1996, the D.O.C. tried to make a comeback with a new album. It was called Helter Skelter. This album had two songs with music videos. However, many people did not pay much attention to Helter Skelter. The D.O.C. himself later said he was not very happy with it. The album's name was inspired by a song by the Beatles.
In 1997, the D.O.C. started his own record label in Dallas, called Silverback Records. The D.O.C. introduced a Dallas rapper named 6Two to Dr. Dre. 6Two was featured on Dr. Dre's 1999 album 2001. Curry also wrote lyrics for that album. In 2000, the D.O.C. performed on stage with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg during the Up in Smoke Tour.
In 2003, the D.O.C. released his third album, Deuce, through Silverback Records. This album was originally planned to be a 6Two album, produced by Dr. Dre. But the D.O.C. and Dr. Dre disagreed about whether the D.O.C. should rap on the album. The D.O.C. appears only a little on this album. He mostly introduces songs or performs in short comedy parts. The only song released from Deuce was "The ...". This song featured former N.W.A members MC Ren and Ice Cube, along with Snoop Dogg and 6Two. Deuce mainly showed off other artists from the D.O.C.'s Silverback Records label, especially 6Two.
Recent Work
The D.O.C. wrote lyrics for Snoop Dogg's album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. In 2006, the D.O.C. said he was working on his fourth album, called Voices Through Hot Vessels. He mentioned it would come out after Dr. Dre's album Detox. However, Detox was later canceled, and Dr. Dre released Compton in 2015 instead. In a 2008 interview, the D.O.C. said he and Dre were still working on his album. He explained they wanted to make one more album together to finish their story.
After the movie Straight Outta Compton came out in 2015, the D.O.C. shared that his natural voice had returned if he focused. He recorded new music, but he was not ready to release it yet. Although he is not listed in the songwriting credits, the D.O.C. said he helped write Dr. Dre's 2015 album Compton.
In 2022, he worked with a new group called Codefendants. They are a Punk Rap group. The D.O.C. was featured on their song "The Fast Ones." This song was on their first album, This Is Crime Wave. This was the first new recording featuring the D.O.C. in 19 years.
Media Appearances
- He appeared in Shyne's music video for the song "That's Gangsta." This song used the same music sample as the D.O.C.'s hit "It's Funky Enough."
- He was in the documentary We From Dallas (2014). This film tells the history of hip hop from the Dallas area.
- Actor Marlon Yates Jr. played the D.O.C. in the 2015 N.W.A movie Straight Outta Compton.
- He appeared in the series The Defiant Ones (2017). This series looked at the relationship between music executives Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.
- He appeared in episode five of the series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022).
Music Albums
Studio Albums
- No One Can Do It Better (1989)
- Helter Skelter (1996)
- Deuce (2003)
Collaboration Albums
- N.W.A. and the Posse with N.W.A (1987)
- Tuffest Man Alive with Fila Fresh Crew (1988)
Movies
- Gasoline Alley (2022)
- Carmen (2022)
See also
In Spanish: The D.O.C. para niños
