The D.O.C. Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
The D.O.C.'s third LP reunites him with his N.W.A and Death Row cronies Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Snoop Dogg, and even though Dre only produces one cut, the album's sound, which is directed mostly by the D.O.C. himself, is patterned after Dre's now-standard G-funk. The songs are well-produced, well-performed standard gangsta cuts, with some occasional departures for variety. "Soliloquy" is a thoughtful dedication to his deceased parents, backed with a lovely acoustic guitar riff, and "DFW" contains some intricate wordplay. Unfortunately, while the D.O.C. is still a talented MC, so much of this is lyrically trite, and even his flow and some occasional production scores (like the unusually fast-paced "DFW" and "1-2-3") can't really make this stand out as anything other than a competent but not especially groundbreaking West Coast album. What's even more disappointing is that Dre does not produce the cuts featuring Nate Dogg ("Big Dick Shit") or Cube, Ren, and Snoop ("The Shit"), and the one he does produce ("Judgment Day") does not feature the D.O.C. at all, which is a major letdown, since their collaborations on the first D.O.C. album were spectacular. Some fans might be put off by the D.O.C.'s raspy voice, but it's not as harsh or sluggish as it was on his last album, Helter Skelter, and this is not nearly as disheartening as that release was, although it's tragically clear that the D.O.C. will never be able to recapture the magic of his debut. Deuce is an improvement over the D.O.C.'s previous album, but though it will please fans of West Coast rap, it's not as essential as No One Can Do It Better. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After releasing his debut album, No One Can Do It Better, the D.O.C. suffered a severe car accident that did irreparable damage to his vocal cords. It left him with a thin, raspy voice that was simply unusable for several years. In 1996, he made his admirable comeback with Helter Skelter. The backing tracks are solid gangsta rap recorded by a live band, and sometimes the harsh growl of his voice sounds threatening, giving the tracks a menacing power. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'No One Can Do It Better'
Release Date 1/1/1989
Tracks 13
Label Ruthless
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
An early landmark of West Coast rap, the D.O.C.'s debut album, No One Can Do It Better, remains sorely underheard today, largely because the car crash that destroyed the rapper's voice also cut short his time in the spotlight before he'd had a chance to really cement his reputation among the general public. When No One Can Do It Better was released the West Coast had just started to break nationally thanks to the gangsta movement and wasn't known for much outside of N.W.A and Ice-T. In the D.O.C., however, the scene found a new level of credibility: a highly skilled battle rhymer who could hold his own with any East Coast lyrical virtuoso. Though his chops are rarely mentioned in the same breath, the D.O.C. clearly ranks up near the master technicians of the era, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane; while he may not be as smooth as the former or as spectacularly wordy as the latter, he has a distinctively rough, commanding voice and an aggressive, hard-hitting flow all his own. There's another important reason to hear No One Can Do It Better: it's where Dr. Dre's legend as a producer really begins. Straight Outta Compton notwithstanding, Dre truly comes into his own here, crafting funky, varied tracks that blend synths, drum machines, samples, and live instrumentation. You won't hear anything that resembles a blueprint for The Chronic, but sonically, they're as rich as anything around at the time. Both Dre and the D.O.C. are remarkably consistent throughout, so special mention has to go to the rousing N.W.A posse cut "The Grand Finalé," which even features DJ Yella on live drums. It's a shame that the D.O.C. never got the chance for a proper follow-up, but in No One Can Do It Better, he at least has one undeniable masterpiece. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
