Europe Guy

Raptalk.Net: We are here with the extremely legendary DOC himself! Start us off by letting everybody know how you're doing right now!

The DOC: I am well Lunatic. I'm on the west coast as we speak. The weather is not too hot but I'm doing pretty well these days.

Raptalk.Net: That is good to hear! You were born and grew up in Dallas but developed a sound that was mainly west coast and east coast focused. Tell us how that came about.

The DOC: Yes I grew up in the projects in west Dallas, Texas. My sound is not so much a west coast sound as much as it is an east coast sound. If you take Rakim, KRS-One and Slick Rick and match them all together, you have me; but you have to put Dr. Dre beats in there for it to work.

Raptalk.Net: I was just about to say. How did you link up with NWA because you really became like an unofficial member of the group so tell us about that.

The DOC: Well (Dr.) Dre knew a DJ in Dallas and Dre came to Dallas to do a radio show with a friend of his and he heard me rapping. We actually did a song together that was really insane, kind of the way guys do songs today; the young guys that just go in and rap. Well I and Dre did that years ago on a song called "toughest man alive." He (Dre) didn't even lay the drums; he just played it by hand on his 808 and I just started rapping and that's what we came up with. He thought I was so good that he told me if I came to California, he thought that we could be rich. As long as my family wanted to try and send me to the army, I took Dre up on his bill (laughs).

Raptalk.Net: (Laughs) Well nobody blames you for that one.

The DOC: For real.

Raptalk.Net: Do you have any studio memories from being apart of the recording process for "Straight Outta Compton"? With such a classic album, there are usual a few memories that stick out in ones mind.

The DOC: The whole process of making that album was the shit. For me and Dre, it was just getting up every morning and listening to Public Enemy's first record and being so inspired by those guys that a lot of our stuff that came out really came out almost militant but it was really just those guys talking shit.

Raptalk.Net: A few years later you released your solo debut album, "No One Can Do It Better." What are your main thoughts on that album as you look back upon it?

The DOC: You know what? What stands out the most to me about that record is that I and Dre did that album on weekend's in-between when they were doing shows when they were promoting their new records. It took us about three weeks to do that album. We used every song that we did. There is no leftover material; every song we did, we used. To me, it was so crazy that I never had the chance to develop into what I thought I could be because of the accident and everything happened so fast after the album was released.

Raptalk.Net: We're definitely going to get into all that. It is crazy that there was no leftover material. In a day and age where it seems like some artist put leftover material on their albums, for you to not have a track left over combined with the fact that everything you used was so classic is absolutely fantastic.

The DOC: I know its bananas. The thing that trips me out about that record the most is as an artist myself, I think I have to give myself credit in a lot of ways because I only got a chance to make really once record and 20 years later, people really feel such a high regard of the artist that I am; it makes me feel that I must have done something special.

Raptalk.Net: You certainly did. With no leftover material, what's your favorite song off that album and why?

The DOC: "The Formula" is probably my favorite record on that album and it was just because I was such a huge Marvin Gaye fan. The way the song came about, Dre said he had it. Dre had went to the movies with one of his girls and when he came back, he was telling me about a daydream he had in the car about me doing a song called "The Formula" and he played me the song. While Dre was sleeping that night I wrote the song and we did it the next day.

Raptalk.Net: That's fantastic. How do you think that the "No One Can Do It Better" album stands up against the rest of the albums the NWA camp put out?

The DOC: I think "No One Can Do It Better" is a total departure of the rest of anything Dre has ever done really besides Eminem's stuff. "No One Can Do It Better" really is a Rap record; it's not about the murder-murder, sex, kill, money and violence. It's just about rapping where-as everybody else was about killing shit.

Raptalk.Net: As you mentioned, shortly after the release of the album was when you got into a car accident that severed your vocal cords. In the days, weeks and months that followed, describe your emotions and the thoughts that we're going through your mind?

The DOC: Well first of all and I just found this out recently, the vocal cords was not severed. They weren't smashed, crushed or anything like that. They work; will get to that later. The first emotion was as you can probably imagine was a real deep depression. It was hard to be happy all the time because we were all NWA, Dre & Eazy - We were all in the middle of the most successful period for all of us but for me it was just really depressing. I had to sit and watch everybody do what I felt like was I born to do and I couldn't do it anymore. What was even worse was sitting and watching everybody else do it.

Raptalk.Net: You hit that on the head. You did however remain an important part in the west coast music created in the years that followed. Everybody knows you were a big part of "The Chronic" album. When the camp was crafting that project, did you realize the impact it was going to have?

The DOC: No. If anybody did, I guess maybe Dre did. I bumped heads a lot with Dre on that record because I didn't understand what he was doing. I think that album is probably the best work that he and I have ever done. Even to this day, "The Chronic" is probably my favorite rap album of all time.

Raptalk.Net: He thanked you for talking him into doing that album.

The DOC: Well we didn't have any other choice. We were trying to separate from the Ruthless camp. Dre was really all we had; Snoop was right around the corner but hadn't quite made it yet. Snoop was coming right around the corner. Dre had to be the catalyst for us to make our departure and go forward.

Raptalk.Net: Many people criticize Dr. Dre for not writing his own lyrics, especially on that album. What is your take on that point of view that some people deliver?

The DOC: Well in my humble opinion, Dre is probably the most talented person in the last 30 years or as long as I've been in Hip-Hop music and maybe as long as Hip-Hop as ever existed; he is probably well without question is one of my closest friends so I'm always going to go to bat for him. To those people, I'd say kiss my ass. I'd say it in a nice way because the guy is probably the best thing to ever happen to west coast music without question.

Raptalk.Net: You already said that"The Chronic" is your favorite rap album of all time. You also worked on "Doggystyle" so what are your thoughts on that album as it is nearly as old as "The Chronic?"

The DOC: I think "Doggystyle" was Snoopy's introduction; it was his chance to show the world who he was even thought after "Deep Cover," everybody knew that Doggy was the man - I took a lot of pride in it because I spent a lot of time with Snoopy trying to craft his persona for lack of a better word and making him what I couldn't be. I gave him all the energy I could to make him be everything I wanted to be.

Raptalk.Net: Well you certainly did a great job because look at Snoop today. Dr. Dre took a hiatus as he took his time to build up the Aftermath camp. With him, you disappeared as well. You then released the "Helter Skelter" album much to the disagreement of Dr. Dre; the two of you ofcourse eventually reconciled. Tell us about that first conversation that led to the two of you re-forming that positive relationship.

The DOC: I've done a lot of stuff that people will never know about Dre and I. Dre is about the closest thing I have to a brother in this world. He's probably the single most important person in my life in regards to making music. Even when I was battling depression and doing everything I could to not only to enjoy myself physically, to never work again in this music business; Dre held on real tight and pulled me through a lot of things. He never let me go too far without calling me and telling me to come home. In that respect, he has always been my brother. Dre called the shots and he's been the leader as far as our ship is concerned. Whenever he got ready to do records and felt he could help both of us, he called me.

Raptalk.Net: That's great to hear. When that relationship was fixed, Dre invited you to work on the "2001" album which you did. What would you say was the major difference between those recording sessions and the ones for "The Chronic?"

The DOC: Well we were all grown so we all understood business at that time. Even though all the players were the same, it had a lot of that same energy as "The Chronic" did but it wasn't the complete package because everybody was off doing they're own shit. We couldn't really fall together to really concentrate on one thing at a time, it was tough.

Raptalk.Net: Ok. Dr. Dre for obvious reasons is often credited as the greatest Hip-Hop producer of all time. He's put out two solo albums; which of those do you prefer production wise and why?

The DOC: "The Chronic" because it's closer to...when you're young and just making records because you like to do so. I like the "2001" record a lot but we were all young and dumb on "The Chronic" and we didn't care about shit as long as we had a gang of weed and we'd be in the studio laughing at each other, we were having a ball.

Raptalk.Net: Ok. In regards to the "2001" album, do you still hold any relationship with members of the team that helped put that album together? Six-Two, King Tee,

Knoc-Turn'Al, Hittman and so on?



The DOC: I know all of those guys and I love all of them. They have a lot of respect for The DOC and I have a lot of respect for them. One thing that the young artists always let me know that even through all the trails and tribulations, they respect the most that I never had the need to quit; I never had it in me to give up. They respect my ears as much as Dre's. We all grow together in that sense that we got love for people who love what you love. It's all about this music.

Raptalk.Net: In 2003, you put out the "Deuce" compilation album. Six-Two was a big part of that project. Do you still remain tight with him?

The DOC: Six-Two is the man and always was. He and I still talk from time to time. He wanted to try his own things and I wanted to allow him that movement because just like Dre, I've developed a certain way that I like to do things. You can't have too many cooks in the kitchen or it'll spoil the soup (laughs).
Raptalk.Net: I like that analogy right there. You are now ofcourse helping Dr. Dre pen his third and final album, "Detox." It has suffered many push backs and many are beginning to consider it an urban legend than an upcoming album. How is the recording process currently coming along?

The DOC: I think making "Detox" is probably the hardest thing I've had to do with this guy because Dre is such a perfectionist that everything has to be perfect. I respect him greatly for it even thought it's the hardest thing we've ever done. Dre has his own way of pulling people to a level of maybe they didn't think they had in him. It's like one of the greatest coaches of all time when it comes to making these records. If you have it in you to be great, you'll ended up being great on here.

Raptalk.Net: Are you guys in the studio every day doing "Detox?"

The DOC: We are in the studio at least 4-5 days a week. Dre is all over the place. He can't be there every day. He's finished Eminem's record. I believe he wants to start on a couple of other things that I'm not at liberty to speak on right now. He's wrapping up Shady's record right now. He's all over the place. The rest of us are in the studio every day. Slim Tha Mobster is a young protégé that is coming out on Aftermath soon. This young guy is so full of energy; he reminds me so much of me when I was a young guy. His skills set and his rhythms are right out of the golden age. His flow is so old school, it's just lovely to listen to.

Raptalk.Net: We can't wait to see what Slim Tha Mobster brings to the table. How much of the album is done at this time?

The DOC: I'd estimate that we're about 70% ready to go.

Raptalk.Net: Is Dr. Dre eyeballing a release date at all?

The DOC: It's my understanding that he'd like to be out this year. That's the best I can tell you. I don't want to get too far into the guy's stuff because it's his record and I don't want to talk too much about it.

Raptalk.Net: I'm just going to ask a few more questions regarding it. The "Should've Been You" song that leaked recently with R. Kelly and Slim Tha Mobster doing vocals; was that meant for the album? An article came out saying that Dr. Dre was furious with its leak.

The DOC: I really liked that record. That was one of my favorites. When it leaked, it really hurt my feelings. I really liked that song. I think it pissed Dre off because I think he really liked it too. With that being said, you can't cry over spilled milk and Dre is not the type to... once the world got a hold of it, he would throw it out the window. But sure, it pissed him off because it was a dope song. I would have liked to have seen it make it to that record.

Raptalk.Net: We understand there is a new team in place to make this record - guys like Slim Tha Mobster, Bishop Lamont and so on. Have any of the "2001" guys contributed anything? What's Dre's current relationship like with Mel-Man, Knoc-Turn'Al and Hittman?

The DOC: I'm not absolutely sure because I'm not always around when they're recording. Dre has a good relationship with all of the above mentioned. There are songs done with all of the above mentioned. There are a billion songs done for "Detox" so whether or not they'll make it, I'm not sure.

Raptalk.Net: Ok. Many people were worried regarding rumors that Dre recorded with Lil Wayne, T.I. and Fergie; do you think that can have an effect?

The DOC: Well I know Dre has recorded with T.I. (editor's note: interview was done before three T.I. Detox-reference songs leaked). I've seen Lil Wayne around up there. As I said, we've done so many songs; this dude has done so many beats and we did so many songs for the "Detox" record, you're only gonna' get the best ones. Whether or not these people make it, I couldn't tell you.

Raptalk.Net: Since you are definitely one of Dr Dre's closest friends, how did the death of his son affect him? It was a tragedy that no father should go through.

The DOC: That subject is not one that I'm really prepared to talk about. That's not the kind of subject matter...Number one, it's not for me to tell you and number two, it's not fair to that man. It would upset any person to lose a sibling or child. That's something that's not supposed to ****' happen. I'm a little upset that you asked me that but I'm going to hold back my anger because I know you're just doing your job but that's not something that I'm prepared to talk to you about.

Raptalk.Net: That is fine and I can respect the privacy.

The DOC: Absolutely, Dre is my brother. I love him. I would never speak on something as personal as that, especially about the good doctor.

Raptalk.Net: I respect that. Rumors are swirling that you're currently in the process of regaining your original voice to come back for one last album. Can you respond to these claims at this time?

The DOC: Dr. Dre has been on my ass for the past couple years about this shit. He's been on me; he just beats it in my head. I got so frustrated that when he went to Detroit to start working with Eminem, I took the initiative to see a doctor. I had been talking to Snoop that day and he was saying the same stuff that Dre said. I don't think that I was in a position to find a doctor and go see a doctor. I challenged Snoop to help me find a doctor and he did!

I decided to go see this guy and I found out that all the stuff we thought was wrong wasn't; in fact, they can fix it. I called Dre immediately after coming out of the doctor's office and he was happier than I was. He started yelling through the phone and that we got bigger fish to fry and all kinds of stuff. He was a little worried for me because the doctor said that it could be a dangerous procedure. Everybody was so excited that I don't see how I can't do this. Number one, it is in my opinion what Hip-Hop is all about. After going through all this shit that I've had to go through, to be able to have an ending so poetic is really in my opinion reminiscent of what the Hip-Hop movement is all about. That, plus it made Dre so excited, it made Snoop so excited and all my closest friends we're really excited to know that it was possible.

As nervous as I am about it, I'm going through with it. I still have a couple of more tests to go through to see what is the best way to enter my neck...Oh my God, can you believe that? To go into my neck... They go in with this thing. We had thought that the vocal cords had been severed which they haven't been. They thought it was crushed and it hasn't been. They thought it wasn't working but it does work. It just isn't functioning properly. I use all the muscles that are around my vocal cords to speak with. The doctor said that I'm not even supposed to be speaking at all today; I've worked the muscles in my throat so that I speak with muscles instead of chords which is a really weird thing. You can imagine how powerful this thing will be once they set everything back in its normal place.

I'm really excited in a sense but it's a really dangerous thing they say, so I'm nervous in a sense. I take it as providence of a spiritual God; I believe in God really strongly. I know that he didn't bring me all this way, sit me in this position for nothing. There is something to it; I can't stop now - I gotta' follow through.

Raptalk.Net: We wish you the best of luck with that and will be keeping you in our prayers and hope that the procedure goes perfectly, ideally. Does it guarantee a full recovery if successful?

The DOC: The doctor says it will put me in a position to where in three months time of hard work, I can be speaking with 70% of the voice I had then. The rest is up to me. It's about me working my ass off which I am prepared to do to take myself through the process to making this thing everything that it can be. As I said, it's a scary thing because nobody wants to be cut in the neck. It's not my thing but I think that the testimony is that so much spirit in me; it would benefit a lot of people. Incidentally, Dre was so excited about it that he wants to do a Reality TV show around it and let the whole Hip-Hop world come in and see me go through this. I thought that would be a huge idea because when I went in the first time to see the doctor, I took in a camera with me so that I can have it for myself; but that shit is interesting as fuck and I really enjoyed watching it and it's very captivating to see all this stuff and all the things they had to do and DOC is kind of a funny guy. Who knows, maybe you will be able to see all of this on television. I think that would be a good idea and so does Dre.

Raptalk.Net: That would be a cool concept and I'm sure the Hip-Hop viewers would tune in. The surgery would be done to bring back The DOC for one final album with your voice in place. Are you eyeing that?

The DOC: I am going to go through this thing and concentrate on that first. I'm going to go through the process first. I don't want to forecast too far in the future and too deep into it. I don't have an idea where I would go with it or what I would do with it. Just the opportunity to have that choice 20 years later is ****g amazing.

Raptalk.Net: It would be a storybook ending to what has been an illustrious career in my opinion.

The DOC: That's what I said (laughs).

Raptalk.Net: (Laughs) how do you want to be remembered? If all goes well, we don't want to future forecast I understand but let's say the album comes out and everything goes as planned; how do you want to be remembered?

The DOC: If there was a way for those coming up after me to take something from me, it would be that there is nothing more important in this world than family. There is no success, no amount of money, no amount of women for the guys or niggas for the girls - there's nothing you can want more in this world than you're family and the love that you have for those people. If you've been blessed enough to get in this game, take something from it and enjoy it because you never know when it could be taken away from you. Like the great ones we've lost like 2Pac and Biggie Smalls, when you give your all to this rap music, you can't anticipate anything from it. I don't have any negative stuff to say about any rapper from (MC) Hammer's stuff to those guys in Texas with the "stanky legs" song; it's all good. If it's something that can help an up and coming kid make money for his family, do that shit. I love it and I support it.

Raptalk.Net: No doubt. I super appreciate your time DOC. Do you have any last words for Raptalk.Net?

The DOC: Dallas, Forth Worth, funky-town! Texas is the shit. Keep it up on the west coast; we about to blow this bitch up for y'all!

great read, hopefully we get to hear him. This interview is like 2 months old, but it wasnt posted here

21andComptonBLVD

Hell yeah, you know in his mind he wants to release one final LP that just has an impact on rap like "No One Can Do It Better" had.

Ya Boy

yo dre thats the formula!

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LawrenceSouljah

Damn, thats a blessin' right there. For him, Dre and the fans. I hope he can really get his voice back, Cuz if he comes out again, I wanna hear the Real D.O.C. and not another Keke Da Sneak

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I see you using an old style, I wondered where you had learned it from. You know very well, it's yours too

Europe Guy

if any1 havent heard d.o.c. yet, heres the video of his single, from classic debut No One Can Do It Better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QdgC6w0gL4

21andComptonBLVD

He has like 5 singles on that album, and they are all classics but these ones are the ones that stand out and everyone knows The D.O.C. by

"It's Funky Enough"
"The Formula"
"No One Can Do It Better"