No One Can Do It Better | ||||
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Studio album by The D.O.C. | ||||
Released | August 1, 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1989 | |||
Studio | Audio Achievements, Torrance, California | |||
Genre | West Coast hip hop | |||
Length | 48:25 | |||
Label | Ruthless, Atco, Atlantic | |||
Producer | Eazy-E (exec.), Dr. Dre | |||
The D.O.C. chronology | ||||
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Singles from No One Can Do It Better | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Robert Christgau | B |
Q | |
RapReviews | 10/10 |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
The Source | |
Sputnikmusic | 3/5 |
No One Can Do It Better is the debut studio album by The D.O.C., which was released on August 1, 1989. It reached number-one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for two weeks, while peaking in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA three months after it was released, and Platinum on April 21, 1994. This was the only solo album The D.O.C. was able to record before a car accident resulted in crushing his larynx; in recent years, however, he has been undergoing vocal surgery. He would not release another album until 7 years later, with Helter Skelter (1996).
Idolizing East Coast acts such as Run-D.M.C. and Public Enemy, The D.O.C. always showed more of a lyrical style, not talking about guns, drugs and violence. The album received a Parental Advisory sticker because of the final track on the album ("The Grand Finalé"). Most of the songs were influenced and sampled from funk artists such as Marvin Gaye, Parliament, and Funkadelic, but one track in particular was influenced by other genres, "Beautiful But Deadly", a rock-hip hop track, influenced by Run-D.M.C. with a heavy guitar riff throughout the song (it borrows from Funkadelic's Cosmic Slop).
All five then-current members of N.W.A contributed to this album. Beats were produced by Dr. Dre, with Eazy-E being the executive producer. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and Eazy all provide vocals for "The Grand Finalé", while Ren also provides vocals for "Comm. 2". Yella performs on "Comm. Blues", "Comm. 2" and "The Grand Finalé" as a drummer.