Vertical Entertainment has landed North American rights to “The Doc,” a documentary about a rap legend whose life and career was upended after a near-fatal accident.

The Doc, a hip-hop lyricist and producer who wrote for Nwa and Dr. Dre, was involved in a 1989 car crash that took his voice. “The Doc,” directed Dave Caplan, picks up 30 years later as he considers a dangerous experimental surgery that could restore his vocal cords.

Vertical will release the movie in theaters in the spring of 2023, following its world premiere at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

“The Doc is an incredible talent and visionary who helped usher the hip-hop movement into mainstream America,” Peter Jarowey, a partner at Vertical, said in a statement. “As his remarkable life is revealed on screen, it is like watching the history of hip-hop unfold before your very eyes as witnessed by industry legends who count him as a friend,...