Rapper Tracy Lynn Curry, AKA the D.O.C., provides Dallas Cowboys with inspiration

If you want to know whey the Dallas Cowboys went “ruthless” on the Los Angeles Rams Sunday at SoFi Stadium, it’s because they got a lesson on getting “a little funky” Saturday night at the team hotel.

Tracy Lynn Curry, the legendary rapper known as The D.O.C., which stands for Dallas Oak Cliff, gave an inspirational message to the team.

“The D.O.C. was our guest speaker and he knocked it out of the park,’’ coach Mike McCarthy said. “He was phenomenal. Had a great message.”

“We talked a lot about resilience and his journey of perseverance and the things he’s doing and I know the men really enjoyed connecting with him last night.’’

I asked McCarthy if knew who The D.O.C was and responded with fake incredulousness.

“You don’t think I don’t know who DOC is?’’ McCarthy responded. “Let’s talk some football so I can get out of here.“It’s going to be a helluva ride home.’’

Actually, McCarthy did know, as his daughter Alex has a relationship with Curry through their business dealings in Los Angeles.

It was McCarthy’s idea to have Curry speak to the team and tell his incredible story.

“With our theme being resilience. And his story of perseverance, patience and prayer, he has such a strong message,” McCarthy said. “He has a documentary coming out that is very powerful. I thought it would be an incredible message to our team. It was an honor and privilege to have him. He was awesome. He couldn’t have been better. The players enjoyed having him.”

Many of the Cowboys players, including running back Ezekiel Elliott, linebacker Micah Parsons and quarterback Cooper Rush, didn’t know his story.

They know now.

In additional to giving the Cowboys a motivational speech, Curry showed them clips from an upcoming documentary about his life.

Curry, who was born in West Dallas and is a huge Cowboys fan, is one of the legends and founders of West Coast Rap and is considered one of the most influential figures in gangsta rap through his lyrics, stories and production skills.

He was initially a member of the Dallas-based hip hop group Fila Fresh Crew before moving to Los Angeles and collaborating with the legendary rap group N.W.A–where he co-wrote many of their releases–as well as Eazy-E’s solo debut album Eazy-Duz-It. He also worked with Dr. Dre, co-writing his solo debut album, while Dre produced Curry’s solo debut album, released by Ruthless Records. He was one of the founders of Death Row Records along with Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.

In 1989, he released his debut album, No One Can Do It Better, which reached number-one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for two weeks and spawned two number one hits on the Hot Rap Songs chart: “It’s Funky Enough” and “The D.O.C. & The Doctor”. The album went platinum five years after its release.

The debut single, “It’s Funky Enough” spent 18 weeks on the US Top Rap Songs chart, including four at #1.

In November 1989, five months after the release of No One Can Do It Better, Curry was involved in a near-fatal car crash, which damaged his larynx, effectively ending a rap career that many believed would have ended up with being remember as one of the greatest ever.

The D.O.C. continued to write for N.W.A.

In 1991, the D.O.C. left Ruthless Records along with Dr. Dre and Michel’le to sign with newly founded Death Row Records. The D.O.C. also used his talents as one of the writers for Dr. Dre’s debut solo album The Chronic, contributing to the tracks “Nuthin’ but a G Thang.”

Curry was featured on the N.W.A docudrama “Straight outta Compton” and is the subject of an upcoming documentary on his own life.

After speaking with the Cowboys, Curry was spotted at The Catch restaurant in West Hollywood by some Cowboys fans from Dallas and Atlanta.

He spoke Sherry Gonzalez of Bedford and Nicole Thompson of Atlanta and told them he was nervous talking to Cowboys but hoped to start a relationship for some future collaborations.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, a noted hip hop enthusiast, was also surprised about McCarthy’s knowledge of Curry and Dr. Dre. They both attended Sunday’s game together.

Quinn said he is looking forward working with Curry in the Dallas community.