The D.O.C.

Tracy Lynn Curry (born June 10, 1968), better known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

In addition to a solo career, he was a member of the Southern hip hop group Fila Fresh Crew and later collaborated with gangsta rap group N.W.A–where he co-wrote many of their releases–as well as Eazy-E's solo debut album Eazy-Duz-It.

He has also worked with Dr. Dre, co-writing his solo debut album, while Dre produced Curry's solo debut album, released by Ruthless Records.

He was one of the founders of Death Row Records along with Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.

Tracy Lynn Curry was born on June 10, 1968, in Dallas, Texas.

As a teenager, Curry began his career as a member of Fila Fresh Crew, a hip hop trio that originated in Dallas, Texas.

While in the group, Curry was known as Doc-T.

In 1987, Fila Fresh Crew had four songs featured on the compilation album N.W.A and the Posse which featured various other artists; the same four tracks would later appear on the group's album Tuffest Man Alive, which was released in 1988.

Though the album would produce three singles, the group disbanded not long after its release.

By this point, Curry had moved to Los Angeles and become acquainted with members of N.W.A and Ruthless Records.

Curry would begin using the name the D.O.C. after he was signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records.

The D.O.C. contributed lyrics to N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, and performed the opening verse on "Parental Discretion Iz Advised".

Curry also wrote for Eazy-E's debut studio album, Eazy-Duz-It and co-wrote "Keep Watchin'" from Michel'le's self-titled debut album.

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. suffered a serious car crash that permanently changed his voice.

In 1989, the D.O.C. released his solo debut, the Dr. Dre-produced No One Can Do It Better.

In November 1989, five months after the release of No One Can Do It Better, Curry was involved in a near-fatal car crash.

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 21 hours of plastic surgery, and he spent 2½ weeks in the hospital.

He could not speak for about a month, and he was left with a different, raspier voice.

The D.O.C. continued to write for N.W.A and contributed lyrics and minor vocals to their 1990 EP 100 Miles and Runnin', where he co-wrote all the songs except for "Just Don't Bite It" and "Kamurshol", and their final album Niggaz4Life.

In 1991, the D.O.C. left Ruthless Records along with Dr. Dre and Michel'le to sign with newly founded Death Row Records.

The D.O.C. also used his talents as one of the writers for Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic, contributing to the tracks "Nuthin' but a G Thang", "Lil' Ghetto Boy", "A Nigga Witta Gun", "Lyrical Gangbang" 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 album was very well received by critics, and sold well, peaking at no. 20 on the Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks; by 1994, the album reached Platinum status.

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".

No One Can Do It Better produced five singles and five music videos.

Since his accident, he has released two more albums, Helter Skelter in 1996 and Deuce in 2003.

In 2015, he said his voice was fully recovered

In 2024, he received a Grammy lifetime achievement award as a member of N.W.A. He showed up to the ceremony to accept the award along with Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella and Lil Eazy E.

In a 2015 interview with DJ Vlad, Curry stated that he was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis and was actually pulled over before the accident but the police let him go.