The D.O.C.’s contributions to the building of the west coast rap scene can never be overlooked; he was there during N.W.A.’s heyday with his own classic album, No One Can Do It Better, featuring two undeniably classic singles, “Funky Enough” and “The Forumla” – the former re-done enough times, reaching as far as the east coast as artists like S.W.V. and Shyne felt it’s influence, each paying homage in their own way. Along with Snoop Dogg, he penned much of Dr. Dre’s classic The Chronic, but what this album would also reveal was the Diggy-Doc’s new “voice”, or lack there-of, on the “$20 Sac Pyramid” skit, a consequence of a car accident where D.O.C. saw his voice box crushed. (Dr. Dre would later touch upon this on 2001′s “What The Difference” with the line “I still remember the window of the car that you went through.”) 

       D.O.C. has done his thing over the years, attempting at reaffirming his position on the map since the accident, but despite these overlooked attempts, Deuce is his best chance at doing so. But not as a rapper, but as a writer and producer – as he puts so eloquently on the intro, “I hold faith in a whole state can help me find the voice I lack / that state is Texas, and they’ll say The D.O.C. is back”.  And they do, as his team of emcees, Uptight, Jazze Pha, and 6Two each hold it down on the vocal tip respectively. 

    However, while this isn’t No One Can Do It Better, D.O.C.’s team is what makes this a significant release, fashioned in the sound of west-coast gangster rap (via Texas). It doesn’t take an American Idol judge to figure out the star of this release is cool-ass 6Two, who’s velvet voice rivals Snoop’s, laced with the country twang of Ludacris. Heads will recognize him immediately from 2001′s “Xxplosive” (you know, “but bitch I’m out your pussy when I nut”), and latching on to that will enjoy joints like “Gorilla Pimpin’”, where he effortlessly displays mic-control over classic D.O.C. production. 6Two also shines on cold murder rap tales like “What Would You Do” and “Judgement Day”, both sporting pristine production the D.O.C., along with help from Jazze Pha and Dr. Dre, respectively. But his best moment, aside from the sex tales and deranged killer raps is “Ghetto Blues”, an incredibly smooth, soulful track where 6Two pours his heart out and tries to overcome the struggle. 

    But while 6Two is the star of this album, he’s not the only thing it has going for it. The reunited N.W.A. (minus Dre) does its thing on “The ?hit”, leaving us hoping for that album. Meanwhile, the entire crew of D.O.C.’s upstarts get their time to shine once the album pops off with “Concrete Jungle” as Nate Dogg lends another watertight hook. And U.P.-T.I.G.H.T. (what’s with the spelling dog?) murders the mic on “Critical Condition” with an (almost) breathless cadence that would make Big Punisher or Kool G Rap envious. And don’t forget the down south posse cut “DFW” celebrates where they’re from with strong Organized Noize  production. 

    Despite a few tracks here and there that suffer from sleepy beats or poor lyrical content (“All In The Family”, “Simple As That”), what really makes this album stand on it’s own is not just 6Two, but rather The D.O.C.’s immaculate production which keeps it all together. While comparisons are only natural, this album won’t even scratch the surface that The Chronic or 2001 did (thanks to independent distribution, a smaller fanbase, and industry politics), but D.O.C.’s album ain’t half bad, and is definitely worth a listen.