No One Can Do It Better

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
No One Can Do It Better
Studio album by
The D.O.C.
ReleasedAugust 1, 1989 (1989-08-01)[1]
Recorded1989
StudioAudio Achievements (Torrance, California)[2]
Genre
Length48:25
Label
Producer
The D.O.C. chronology
No One Can Do It Better
(1989) 		Helter Skelter
(1996)
Singles from No One Can Do It Better
  1. "It's Funky Enough"
    Released: June 16, 1989
  2. "The D.O.C. & The Doctor"
    Released: October 5, 1989
  3. "The Formula"
    Released: 1989
  4. "Mind Blowin’"
    Released: 1989

No One Can Do It Better is the debut

RIAA three months after it was released, and Platinum on April 21, 1994.[5] This was the only solo album The D.O.C. was able to record before a car accident resulted in crushing his larynx and permanently changing his voice. In recent years, however, he has been undergoing vocal surgery. He would not release another album until 7 years later, with Helter Skelter (1996), also released by Warner Music Group, but on Giant Records rather than Atlantic. "The Formula" has been seen as the song that invented G-funk.[6]

Album information

Idolizing East Coast acts such as

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". DJ Yella performs on "Comm. Blues," "Comm. 2," and "The Grand Finalé" as a drummer.

No One Can Do It Better also features additional vocals by Krazy Dee (who also co-wrote the N.W.A song "Panic Zone" from N.W.A. and the Posse), J. J. Fad, Yomo & Maulkie and Michel'le, who were all part of Ruthless as well. Andre "L.A. Dre" Bolton and Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones, who play keyboards and guitar on some of the tracks respectively, also worked for the label.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Source
[9]
Sputnikmusic3/5[10]

From contemporary reviews, music critic

J.D. Considine wrote in The Baltimore Sun praised the album, stating that "what really gives this album an edge is the fact that he never pulls his punches, infusing each track with an impressive ferocity".[12]

In a retrospective review, AllMusic stated, "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."[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by The D.O.C. and were produced by Dr. Dre

No.TitleLength
1."It's Funky Enough"4:29
2."Mind Blowin'"3:35
3."Lend Me an Ear"3:20
4."Comm. Blues" (featuring Michel'le)2:22
5."Let the Bass Go"3:41
6."Beautiful But Deadly"5:10
7."The D.O.C. & The Doctor"4:06
8."No One Can Do It Better"4:50
9."Whirlwind Pyramid"3:45
10."Comm. 2" (featuring MC Ren)1:20
11."The Formula"4:11
12."Portrait of a Masterpiece"2:30
13."The Grand Finalé" (featuring N.W.A)4:40
Total length:47:59

Notes

  • The "Real Gone" edition is basically the same master, with the bass amped, and treble lowered. "Comm. Blues" is also edited at the intro ("8 ball piss").

Cut tracks

Singles

Single information
"It's Funky Enough"
  • Released: June 16, 1989
  • B-side: "No One Can Do It Better"
"The D.O.C. & The Doctor"
  • Released: October 5, 1989
  • B-side: "SomethingTaBumpInYaCar"
"The Formula"
  • Released: 1989
  • B-side: "Whirlwind Pyramid"
"Mind Blowin'"
  • Released: 1989
  • B-side: "Portrait of a Masterpiece (Remix)"
"Portrait of a Masterpiece"
  • Released: 1989 (UK & Germany)
  • B-side:Portrait Of A Masterpiece (CJ's Ed-Did-It Mix)

Charts

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Billboard 200 20
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Peak
position
US
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums (Billboard)[14]
 49

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

  • List of number-one R&B albums of 1989 (U.S.)

References

  1. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
  2. ^ a b "DOC – No One Can Do It Better CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c AllMusic review
  4. ^ "5 L.A. Gangsta Rap Albums to Listen to If You Love YG's 'Still Brazy'". Complex. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  5. ^ "Gold & Platinum Search Results: No One Can Do It Better". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  6. ^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s - Page 4". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  7. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (July 3, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  8. ISBN 9780743201698
    .
  9. The Source
    . Retrieved on 2010-12-23.
  10. ^ Robertson, Alex (March 11, 2013). "Album Review – The D.O.C.: No One Can Do It Better". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  11. ^ a b Weizmann, Daniel (September 1, 1989). "Albums". LA Weekly. p. 89. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  12. ^ Considine, [J.D. (September 29, 1989). "Records". The Baltimore Sun. p. 89. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  13. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r234875
  14. ^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums year end 1989". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – The D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better". Recording Industry Association of America.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=No_One_Can_Do_It_Better&oldid=1204127607"