Fostering Community: The Work of Regional Icon Doc Free
Written by Everett McCabe
Photography by Cooper Harrison
Tulsa has experienced near-constant expansion over the past decade—physically, culturally, and artistically. Amid this evolution, certain figures have played an instrumental role in shaping the city’s creative landscape. Among them, the multi-talented Doc Free stands as a cornerstone of Tulsa’s arts and music scene.
Born and raised in East Tulsa, Doc Free is a true polymath. A longtime member of the Clean Hands art collective, a fixture in the DJ circuit, and a skilled rapper, his influence stretches across multiple artistic mediums. His introduction to Tulsa’s creative community in the mid-2000s was shaped by a broad spectrum of venues and people. He credits local hip-hop artist BBoy and his studio, Movement918, as a major influence, along with his connection to rapper Mr. Burns (a.k.a. Earl Hazard).
The now-defunct venue The Pink Eye also left a lasting impression. “It satisfied the other side of my musical cravings—the rowdier cravings,” Doc recalls. From nights at The Colony to sets at Soundpony, he found a space where he belonged. “I found a community that made me feel at home—less like an outsider than I had imagined.”
Doc Free further cemented his role in Tulsa’s cultural fabric as a key contributor to Fire in Little Africa, a landmark album commemorating the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre. “We [artists] in the Tulsa community were all looking for a way to celebrate and lift up Greenwood for the 100-year anniversary, as our living ancestors from that fateful time were still seeking justice,” he says.
Recorded over several days in two historic locations, the album brought together more than fifty artists, spanning rappers, spoken word performers, sound engineers, and instrumentalists. “Obviously a little chaotic with so many moving parts,” Doc admits, “but the energy I felt in those days of process has yet to be matched.” His contribution, North Tulsa Got Something to Say, is a slinky, soulful tribute to his hometown’s resilience.
“You feel the pain, but you also feel hope and determination—an energy that will never die,” he says. “It was a supreme honor to record and witness the spirit of Black Wall Street working within all of us.”
For Doc, art is a vehicle for connection. “Really, it’s an unending quest for understanding,” he explains. “Music and art forge our strongest connections.” Clean Hands embodies this ethos, evolving from a creative hub into a collective dedicated to visual storytelling through mural work. “Back in the shop days, it was about cultivating the local scene and inspiring the next generation—whether that meant providing a space for creatives to kick back or hosting collaborative shows.”
Doc carries this philosophy into his DJing. “When I DJ, I want to understand the crowd—that energy is a two-way street, and we allll got enough room to drive, bebe,” he says with a laugh.
His sets are eclectic, spanning Brazilian funk, disco, nu-metal, and post-punk. “I like to play a lot of things that make people ask, ‘Ooo, what’s that?!’”
His presence can be felt across the city, but every Sunday, he holds court at Heirloom Rustic Ales, where he hosts Table Talk, a vinyl club centered on community and discovery. “I encourage others to pull up, bring something to spin, or learn how to if they’re curious.”
Tulsa wouldn’t be what it is today without the work of Doc Free and other artists like him. His ongoing efforts to uplift the city’s artists and creative community remain invaluable.
Follow Doc Free on Instagram: @docfree918