The D.O.C.

Tracy Lynn Curry (born June 10, 1968), known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper born in Houston, Texas,moved to 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.

The D.O.C. contributed lyrics and vocals to Eazy E's debut, and to N.W.A's debut, Straight Outta Compton. He was recruited as Ice Cube's replacement as a writer when Ice Cube briefly left the group to attend an architecture course in Arizona. (MC Ren was recruited as Ice Cube's replacement vocalist). When Ice Cube returned, the group remained impressed enough with The D.O.C.'s work to keep him on board. The name D.O.C came about due to the association with the group N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude). "When Dre was in a group called the World Class Wreckin' Crew -- this was before I met Dre, I met Dre later on -— Dre had a song on one of the Wreckin' Crew albums called "Surgery". My given name is Tracy and my friends call me Tray. When that song came out whenever we playing around that’s what people would say, Dr Dre. When I started rapping, I used to call myself Dr. T. Then T went to Doc T. When I finally got with N.W.A I figured we’re all in this bitch together if y'all got periods then I got periods. Y'all N.W.A, now I'm D.O.C." [1]

In 1989, The D.O.C. released his Dr. Dre-produced debut album, No One Can Do It Better. Dre's production was similar to his production work for N.W.A at the time, but he also included one rap/rock-song and a reggae-influenced track. The D.O.C. also wrote many lyrics and appeared on skits for NWA. The D.O.C. is reported to have written most of NWA's second album Efil4zaggin^{[citation needed]}. The other writer for the album was MC Ren^{[citation needed]}. The D.O.C. went on to introduce Dr. Dre to Suge Knight^{[citation needed]}, and he helped mold the career of Snoop Dogg^{[citation needed]}. The line, "Y'all ready for this?," at the beginning of his track "It's Funky Enough," was sampled by Belgian dance act 2 Unlimited for their 1993 smash, "Get Ready for This."

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. 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.

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 sophomore 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^{[citation needed]}, 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 West Dallas 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. did not contribute many 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, Cadillac Seville, and El Dorado take most of the spotlight.

The D.O.C. is still a ghostwriter for several high-profile artists. More recently he has done writing for Snoop Dogg on his new album Blue Carpet Treatment. It's confirmed that he has written "That's That Shit", "Round Here", "Boss' Life", and "Imagine" with Snoop. The D.O.C. also 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 is also helping with Dr. Dre's forthcoming album, Detox.

Erykah Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma, in her Dallas home; the father is reportedly The D.O.C.[2]

Discography

Album cover	Album information
Image:FILaFRESH.jpg	Tuffest Man Alive Released: 1987 Label: Macola Records Last RIAA certification: - Singles: "Dunk The Funk"
Image:NWAAndThePosse.jpg	N.W.A. and the Posse Released: November 6, 1987 (vinyl), November 13, 1989 (CD) Chart positions: - Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Panic Zone"
Image:No One Can Do It Better big.jpg	No One Can Do It Better Released: June 16, 1989 Label: Ruthless/Atlantic Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "It's Funky Enough," "The Formula", "The D.O.C & The Doctor" and "Mind Blowin'"
Image:Helter Skelter big.JPG	Helter Skelter Released: 1996 Label: Giant Last RIAA certification: — Singles: "Return of Da Livin' Dead" and "4 My Doggz"
Image:The D.O.C. - Deuce album cover.jpg	Deuce Released: February 25, 2003 Label: Silverback Chart positions: – Last RIAA certification: — Singles: "The Shit"
	Voice Through Hot Vessels Released: 2008 Label: Silverback Chart positions: – Last RIAA certification: — Singles: —

Guest appearances

Album cover	Information
Image:N.W.A.StraightOuttaComptonalbumcover.jpg	Parental Discretion Iz Advised Artist: N.W.A Album: Straight Outta Compton Released: August, 1988 Label: Ruthless
Image:Dr.DreTheChronic.jpg	Dre Day Artist: Dr. Dre Album: The Chronic Released: 1992 Label: Death Row/Interscope
Image:SnoopDoggyDoggDoggystyle.jpg	Serial Killa Artist: Snoop Dogg Album: Doggystyle Released: 1993 Label: Death Row/Interscope
Image:Firstroundknockoutcd.jpeg	Bridgette Artist: Dr. Dre Album: First Round Knockout Released: May 21, 1996 Label: Triple X
	Guerilla Pimpin' Artist: MC Breed Album: Flatline Released: 1997 Label: Wrap

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