Tracy Lynn Curry (born June 10, 1968), better known by his stage name
The D.O.C., is an American
rapper from
Dallas,
Texas. 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.