Customer Reviews

No One Can Do It Better

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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In a prior review of Jay-Z's Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse I had said that a more appropriate title could not have been chosen. Ironically, the same can be said about the first full length release from Tray Curry aka The D.O.C. but with an entirely different result. While Blueprint 2 represents a muddled collection of what would be one of Jay-Z's low points in his career, No One Can Do It Better is one of those rare Hip-Hop moments where everything came together. You will seldom hear the words perfection thrown around in my vocabulary. If you were to look for a "measuring stick" for perfection in rap releases, this album would not be a bad choice.

Doc was one of those rare emcees that has what Guru of Gangstarr calls "The Voice". When his voice leapt through any speaker prior to his career ruining car accident that severed one of his vocal chords, The D.O.C.'s voice was immediately recognizable. It became a trademark that represented quality in what was swiftly becoming an overcrowded Hip-Hop market on it's release in 1990. Any record featuring Doc's voice was considered instant gold.

And rightly so, as his voice was not the only weapon in his arsenal. After fumbling slightly with his hometown Fila Fresh Crew from Texas, a young D.O.C. was brought to the West Coast by superproducer Dr. Dre. While perfecting his craft writting clever raps for Eazy-E and even spitting a quick verse on the classic NWA release Straight Outta Compton, D.O.C. developed into a lyrical beast that destroys track after track on No One Can Do It Better. Whether it's the hardcore stylings of "The D.O.C. & The Doctor" or the otherworldly scientific style he exibits on "Portrait of a Masterpiece", DOC puts forth quality rhymes that invoke the same reverence held for names like KRS-One, Melle Mel and Rakim. Doc had become the most lyrical member of the ever-expanding collective that had become N.W.A. Further, his vocabulary was such that he could present the NWA hardcore gangsta style but with minimal curses and still not compromise on their abrassiveness or street sensibility. What's more, he was an emcee in a more traditional sense of the term, moreso than either Ice Cube or MC Ren.

Also, he had a diversity in topics and strength in intensity that is seldom matched even today. From his ragga-laced ramblings on "Funky Enough" to the smooth sensiblities of "The Formula" DOC not only had something for every listener, he had something that every listener wants to hear. Song after song, DOC never fails to entertain or become boring with his subject matter.

Finally, Dre really outdid himself on the production end of things. Many consider this offering to represent Dre's strongest work. His prior philosophy of funk samples remains evident but he also took on a more experimentative style with No One Can Do It Better. His Marvin Gaye inspired interpolation on "The Formula" and his rock inspired production on "Beautiful But Deadly" show a more diverse side to Dre's previously sample based productions. The work here seems to represent the stepping stone between what he was in the 80's to what he would become in the 90's. Neither style is less effective or powerful than the other but it is a suprise oto find them both so equally represented here. And when the piano laced posse cut "The Grand Finale" finally concludes, any listener should agree that this is what a classic album should sound like whether it's 5 stars or 5 mics. This high quality to both his presentation and lyrics create one of the most enjoyable listens in all Hip-Hop.

Perhaps this result makes the loss of Doc's voice all the more tragic. While Dr Dre's Chronic album would carry The D.O.C.'s indelible fingerprints a few years later, Mr. Curry's career was mostly over except the shouting. To my way of thinking, No One Can Do It Better now serves as a constant reminder that there are fates worse than death. To have such a gift so suddenly taken from you would have to shake a person to his foundation. The fact that Doc's legacy is mostly neglected by today's Hip-Hop audience in favor of 2Pac's or Biggie's is, to me, a huge disappointment.

The D.O.C. was of course a talented writer and if it wasn't for his car crash in '89, it would have been hard to tell who was better on the west coast- 2Pac or The D.O.C. Originally from Texas, The D.O.C. has some pretty rough lyrics that sounded like it came from the east coast but it didn't matter. His rhymes were fresh. This is an album where beats don't really matter (surprizingly, the beats are all produced by Dr. Dre but don't even sound like Dre production), it's the lyrics you're really looking for. The Formula (a prime classic) and No One Can Do It Better portray The D.O.C. at his best. His amazing flow can contradict even the most talented rappers who have been in the game. Portrait of a Master Piece and Whirlwind Pyramid is where The D.O.C. performs at his fastest pace and does a damn good job, especially in Portrait of a Master Piece. Bangers like It's Funky Enough and Lend Me a Hand will give you a reason to get you moving on the dancefloor.

No One Can Do It Better sure proved that nobody as talented as him could do it better. There are about a few rappers who are slightly better but The D.O.C. would come rough when needed. It's tragic that he lost his voice, he had the road to victory lying just ahead of him. However his talent will never be forgotten. Legendary, that's all I can say, legendary.

You have to love The D.O.C., he has amazing technical rapping skills, great energetic personality, and of course Dr. Dre's beats go perfectly with his style. Originally from Texas, D.O.C. moved to Los Angeles and hooked up with the classic group N.W.A., on Ruthless Records. Eazy-E handled executive production, and Dre was in his good old days and did a great job with the beats. But D.O.C. still came amazing on every single song and also used very little profanity on this album which showed his versatility, especially considering that he was working with N.W.A., one of the most controversial rap groups of all-time. It's such a shame the The D.O.C. lost his vocal cords in 1992 in a car crash and lost his mind-blowing flow. But he continued rapping after that and he might not have had the same technical ability but he remained a great lyricist. No One Can Do It Better was released in 1989 and still sounds fresh. And of course you have to love the real live instruments playing on the songs, and the saxophone solos on a couple songs. Even the commercial interludes have meaning, and are catchy. An undisputed classic album.

The album opens up with the signature track "It's Funky Enough", which is a crazy song. D.O.C. rips it here, and the beat is definitely funky enough from Dre. A good party track, never gets tired. "Mind-Blowing" has a nice piano and bass beat and D.O.C. comes with some of the best verses I've heard in a long time. He switches rapping at fast and normal paces and it does blow the mind. "Lend Me An Ear" is another swift track, with D.O.C. tearing a head-nodding beat into pieces. The first commercial has Michel'le singing on it, and has these two people talking on it which is pretty funny. "Let The Bass Go" is a funky, laid-back track with some excellent rapping by Doc again. Good scratching by Dre as well. "Beautiful But Deadly" is a rock type of track with an obvious Run-DMC influence and has great heavy-metal guitars. The song is about a girl who is beautiful but deadly. "The D.O.C. And The Doctor" is a perfect example of the relationship Dre and D.O.C. had musically. D.O.C. raps real well and the beat is a funky Parliament portrait. "No One Can Do It Better" certainly sounds like a hit, and has a great guitar beat. D.O.C. also comes with some really good lyrics on this song. "Whirlwind Pyramid" is a fast-paced party track with a instrumental that sounds like a James Brown track and of course D.O.C. is emceeing at his unbelieveable fast speed. "The Formula" is one of The D.O.C.'s best songs ever. It's more laid-back and Doc raps with a different feel. The tune during the chorus is great and there's also a nice late night feel to this song. "Portrait Of A Masterpiece" is also amazing. D.O.C. raps faster than ever on this song and the beat is also amazingly fast. It blew me away the first time I heard him do it. "The Grand Finale" is the final song which features the whole N.W.A. group: Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre (who only talks and introduces everyone) and DJ Yella (who plays the drums). They all tear this song to pieces over a nice gangsta beat. One of the best songs on here; a classic.

This whole album is classic. Also, it's very influential and many other rappers have used similiar styles to The D.O.C., like DJ Quik, Crooked I, Xzibit, and plenty others. Before Ruthless had funk, it was funky enough. Also, has anyone here heard the song that was left off this album by The D.O.C. called "Bridgette"? It was released on Dr. Dre's album Second Round Knock Out. The song didn't make No One Can Do It Better but it's a nice bouncy track about a girl named Bridgette. The song is touchy though, especially compared to this album which is very clean. D.O.C. shouldn't have lost his vocal cords, I miss his old style and I'm sure many others do too. He was one of the best lyricists and rappers of all-time, voice messed up or not.

THE DOC SHOULD BE CALLED O.M.G.(ONE MAN GANG)...
CLASSIC ALBUM PERIOD. NO MORE SAID...

The DOC No One Can Do it Better is one of the best rap albums of all time..easily a top 10..All the songs and beats on the album are dope and the DOC rips the mic like no other. He was definitely a natural..The beats on this album are by Dre and they are some of his bests. the Formula is my favorite..
To me No One Can Do it Better is a better first album than any of the other deceased mc's..including ready to die..does that mean the DOC woulda been the greatest? Who knows but I think he wouldve shown he's better than Biggie or Pac..

The D.O.C. was a great talent in his prime, until an unfortunate car accident forver altered his once commanding voice. After the release of the phenomenal Straight Outta Compton album from N.W.A., The D.O.C. hooked up with Dre again to produce this classic. DOC was at his true form on this album, choosing to focus on rocking rough rhymes instead the gangsta attitude that N.W.A. displayed. And what resulted was one fine hip hop album. Here's the review:

Album Highlights: It's Funky Enough, Whirlwind Pyramind, The Formula, The Grand Finale(w/N.W.A.), The D.O.C. and The Doctor, and Lend Me An Ear.

Production: Thumbs up, more classic production by Dr.Dre.

Lyrics and Subject Matter: Thumbs up.

Originality: Thumbs Up.

The Last Word: The D.O.C. reigned supreme with this release. Although challenged by Ice Cube, The D.O.C., around the time in 89 when this was released, was a force to reckoned with, ALMOST ahead of his time in a way. Overall, the album is tremendous in every sense of the word, as it truly defines the West coast sound in all of its glory. Strongly recommended.

To say that this guy would have been one the Greatest MC'S OF ALL TIME is an understatement! As it is the D.O.C. is finding his way back into the cd players of the younger kids out there looking for REAL RAP. Exploding lyrics, a brash tone in his voice with a hint of reggae made the DOC one of the most original MC's of our time. I compare the game to him ...that's a hell of a compliment to the GAME. Don't get it twisted though, this guy was one of a kind and "No one can do it better", #8 and the title track of this rap masterpiece is so true. "It's funky enough" hit the radio and the video hit "pump it up"...he was the real deal winning a rap contest in Texas and the services of Dr.Dre ,who is a West Coast Genius, made this album untouchable. There a bit of comedy with a few sketches between tracks but this is no joke. The formula was also a hit with it's smooth mellow approach easy to appreciate his lyrics on. The cuts that i still love today also include "Lend me an ear","Whirlwind Pyramid" are straight up lyrical BOMBS! Fierce lyrics straight to the throat!...to cap this masterpiece off listen to a very raw Ice Cube( "My medly is deadly as a pin in a hand grinade") leading off the "Grand Finale" which also include the late Eazy E, MC Ren, and of course a splash of Dre is the one cut you can't overlook. I turned my 14 year old son on to the D.O.C. and he's now his favorite rapper. All the young bucks out there...pay homage to one of the greatest of all time...our one hit wonder of a MASTER PIECE! I met him in the mall in Thousand Oaks, Ca and I was able to pay respects and offer condolinces on his accident that took his voice away from us...This is a 5 star masterpiece!!!!!

The D.O.C. could have rivaled the greatest MCs alive like Rakim, Chuck D, and Ice Cube. But his vocal chords were tragically destroyed in a car accident after he released this CD. This cd is very good. It is one of the few albums you can listen to from track 1 to the end. Of course these days it's basically impossible to find one. The beats are great, and the lyrics are clever, although sometimes i feel they could have been better. His harsh sounding voice has a nice feel, and although he did release more albums after this one that were lyrically better than this, his (lack of a) voice kind of killed them. Dre's production is sick. Overall this one's a 4.5/5.

1. It's Funky Enough
-Beat: 5
-Lyrics: 4
-Overall: 4.5
Sick beat on a classic first track.

2. Mind Blowin'
-Beat: 4.5
-Lyrics: 4
-Overall: 4.5

3. Lend me an Ear
-Beat: 5
-Lyrics: 4.5
-Overall: 4.5
A very hot fast rap by D.O.C.

4. Comm. Blues
A break

5. Let The Bass Go
-Beats: 5
-Lyrics:4.5
-Overall: 5
Great song with a nice bass.

6. Beautiful but Deadly
-Beats/guitar: 5
-Lyrics: 5
-Overall: 5
My second favorite joint on the cd. Some great guitar solos. Rapping on top of a guitar is a very nice touch. Love it.

7. The D.O.C. & The Doctor
-Beats: 5
-Lyrics: 5
-Overall: 5
One of the (many) classics on the cd.

8. No One Can Do It Better
-Beats: 5
-Lyrics: 5
-Overall: 5
The title says it all...

9. Whirlwind Pyramid, 9.5/10
-Beats: 5
-Lyrics: 5
-Overall: 5
Great great great...

10. Comm. 2
Another break

11. The Formula
-Beats: 5
-Lyrics: 5
-Overall: 5
amazing song.

12. Portrait Of a Master Piece
-Beats: 4.5
-Lyrics: 4
-Overall: 4
Very good faster rapping by the DOC.

13. The Grande Finale
-Beats: 5
-Lyrics: 5
-Overall: 5
My favorite track. It features NWA, with raps by ice cube, ren, and eazy. I loved the NWA stuff more than the individual joints by all of them, so throwing the doc into it is like heaven for me.

overall i say this album is a must have for anyone who's into the birth of hardcore/gangsta rap from the Golden Age.

The D.O.C.'s first solo album, "No One Can Do It Better" is a West Coast classic and definitly one of my favorite gangsta rap albums. Dr. Dre's first creation after N.W.A. released "Straight Outta Compton" and Eazy-E's solo album, "Eazy-Duz-It", D.O.C. followed up them 2 classics with his masterpiece. From "It's Funky Enough" to "The Grand Finale", the D.O.C. rips up the songs and makes them so enjoyable to listen to that they will never fade away. My favorite cuts on this album are, "The Formula", "Beautiful But Deadly", "The Grand Finale", and "It's Funky Enough". The D.O.C. would have been arguably better than 2Pac and possibly the best rapper to ever grace the mic if it wasn't for his tradgic accident. One would only wonder what other classic's this legend could of gave us...

Before Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Snoop were droppin classics on the left coast, D.O.C. did it first. While the production was top notch, the lyrics were a perfect compliment and left you wanting more. The CD title speaks for itself cause whether he was rapping fast, slow, smooth, or rugged he could do it all. If you don't have it, then you got to get it cause i been blessed ever since i got the tape 18 years ago.