The DOC reflects back @Tribeca 2022

Many of us who were listening to rap music back in the late 80s/early 90s will not forget The DOC who was part of the crew N.W.A. Originally born in Dallas, Texas, the west coast rap group that consisted of Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre were looking for talent to bolster their lineup. The DOC aka Tracy Curry became that man and after paying his dues playing in high schools and small parties, The DOC asked the man upstairs to make him successful.

Joining N.W.A

After time spent in the recording studio with Dr. Dre, the crew of N.W.A. wanted The DOC to be different and the not cursing gun-toting rapper everyone else was. The DOC was a lyricist who quickly knew how to put bars together in a song. He was smooth and when he dropped his single “The Formula” he was over in the rap world.

The DOC instantly became famous and was getting known all over the country. He was doing shows, selling records and shot up to number one quickly. He was embracing his success by doing a lot of partying which meant a lot of drinking and doing drugs. One night after doing a recording session following a bender, The DOC’s life changed in an instant. The rapper slept at the wheel and got into an accident. He was still alive but one thing that he lost was his voice. The DOC’s larynx was crushed and he could not speak let alone rap as he could before. He even tried to go on tour but that did not work out for the NWA member. The DOC’s rapping career was considered over and he never recovered his voice.

The DOCumentary

Three decades later director Dave Caplan puts together this interesting self-titled biopic of this unforgotten yet forgotten man of the N.W.A. phenomena. In his directorial debut, Caplan follows and researches the life of Tracy Curry from his beginnings in Dallas to now his religious life. Caplan managed to get interviews from the ones who were close to him such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Eminem, and the executive producer of the film Erykah Badu. They all gave their perspective on how The DOC was resilient and still managed to stay in the game despite not rapping.

He mentored the likes of Snoop Dogg and helped Suge Knight open up Death Row Records. His passion for music and the industry was always there and it never ceased. Tracy Curry is also a family man with a wife and children.

This journey of his resiliency is what is most important about the life of The DOC. The fact that he lost his voice never really got to him where it may have gotten to other artists who were at the top of the game. The DOC was not a sore loser by any means. To this day the DOC supports his NWA and Death Row Records family and there are no signs of jealousy when it comes to all of their success.

As Dr. Dre would say The DOC losing his voice is perhaps the best thing that has ever happened to him. He may have been on the path to his own sabotage if he kept on the way he was going. But he lives to tell this story to many that at one point God giveth to The DOC and then God taketh away. Especially to the youth and children who grow up in the same neighbourhood, he is from.