The D.O.C. had his burgeoning rap career cut cruelly short in 1989 after a near-fatal accident left him unable to speak. The Fila Fresh Crew member was forced to retire, leaving the Dr. Dre-produced No One Can Do It Better the sole album in his catalog pre-accident.
In a new Instagram video posted Friday (March 16), Nelly called the Dallas MC Hip Hop’s biggest “what if.”
“Listen, I know a lot of people got they own opinions about Hip hop but the biggest what if in Hip Hop has to be The D.O.C.,” he said. “It has to be. The D.O.C. has to be the biggest what if in Hip Hop history. Like if you know anything about Hip Hop and you research it … I love all my young niggas. I don’t knock y’all. I support all my young brothers but the biggest what if has to be D.O.C.
“One album — that’s all you got. One album. I would say Biggie but Biggie at least got off two albums and we all recognize him as being one of the greatest but the biggest what if is The D.O.C. nigga. Do your research.”
The D.O.C., who appeared in the HBO series The Defiant Ones, sought out voice therapy in 2009 and was finally able to speak after years of relative silence.
After the release of Straight Outta Compton, he said he’d recorded new music but wasn’t ready to release anything yet.[apple_news_ad type=”any”]
In my opinion, Dre’s best produced album. The D.O.C would have been Snoop. Damn shame
Snoop is what The D.O.C. should’ve been. Mad props to Snoop who always gives DOC credit.
He actually has released two albums. Helter Skelter was released in 96.
“Pre-accident” fool. Read the article again.
D.o.c. nice but he had more than 1 album.
Helter Skelter doesn’t count toward the argument because it was after the accident and his voice fucked up still. Same with Deuce and that was more of a compilation.
AGREED. No One Can Do It Better. CLASSIC ALBUM. Every track was a banger!
The D.O.C. had lyrics for days. Just ask Dre. D.O.C. wrote most of his verses on The Chronic.
Not a what if. He had 2 hits. I doubt he would have sustained anything past what he did and was better served as a ghostwriter.
Smh you’re missing the point.
I’m not missing shit. I remember when he was out and am not romanticizing it. Nobody was going around quoting D.O.C. songs. Dude has taken on a mythical place in hip hop history in retrospect as opposed to what he actually was because of the accident. He was better as a ghostwriter than as an artist. He just never had superstar appeal. He was a good rapper that was forgettable otherwise and would have been forgotten had he not been the pen behind early Death Row shit like a million other pre-golden era rappers.
Not quoting DOC songs? So nothing off the chronic or nwa catalog comes to mind
You don’t seem to understand the difference between ghostwriting and performing it yourself. Not to mention that no, I don’t think anybody is quoting shit from The Chronic 25 years later outside of we don’t love them hoes or deez nuts, hardly anything lyrically complex, not to mention that it’s confirmed that Mr. 3-2 brought the former to Death Row and gave the lingo to everybody from Houston by way of New Orleans.
I just hate when people try to romanticize shit that doesn’t need to be. I hated when the accident happen. I was 12 when this shit happened, but dude was not some kind of monster in the game like people are here stating.
D.O.C was lyrically ahead of his time.
I’m not sure why I’m listening to Nelly, but he’s not wrong. Tupac’s early music wasn’t all that, compared with D.O.C., though he definitely wasn’t as dope as B.I.G. We can only wonder…
Lie and again proves why Pac is the best to ever do this shit. Dudes continue bringing up his name in conversations that don’t involve him. Wtf does Pac have to do with the D.O.C.?
Pac dick-riders get so sensitive over this shit. Pac’s early albums were basic AF. It’s well regarded that Pac has no classic albums, just a handful of standout tracks on each one.
Lol. Ever heard me against the world ? All eyes on me? Guess you consider all Kanye albums classic
I see you still haven’t answered the question. Pac haters get so sensitive over why they have his dick in their mouth 24/7.
D.O.C.’s album is as good as Straight Outta Compton with less promotion. Sort of like Extra Prolific having one of the best Hiero albums but not getting the shine or promotion as 93 til Infinity or No Need For Alarm.
“STOP HIM IN HIS TRACKS..SHOW HIM THAT I AM RUTHLESS!” Still one of the hardest lines in hip hop history.
Hi, everyone. D.O.C. has one pre-accident album. That is the album to which Nelly is referring, and that album is a classic. D.O.C. definitely checks out as a worthy cultural ‘what-if’. I’d throw the names Big L and Big Pun into the discussion, also.
man i have to agree with Nelly on this one, straight up fact!
He is absolutely the biggest what if. No one can do it better is a top 10ish hip hop album of all time IMO
This is the most relevant thing that has come out of Nelly’s mouth in well over a decade. He’s 100% correct.