DJ Quik! Maintaining a strong presence in rap since the 80’s, Quik has been one of the forerunning voices of the West Coast, working with such acts as Dre, 2Pac, and Snoop Dogg during the height of their popularity as artists. Several of his albums have been critically acclaimed, and now on his latest effort he expands his boundaries to the south as well as the west.

The first thing one will probably notice is the presence of live instruments that induces an organic sort of sound. The first actual song, Intro For Roger, is funky but also mesmerizing, with a different feel than plain G-Funk; Fandango, with B-Real, makes heavy use of horns to back good performances by both Quik and Real (the latter’s flow is bonkers!). Til Jesus Comes brings back the flavor of a Death Row-era West Coast, with the same type of stoic bass/drums, edited background singing, and synths, but brings something new to the formula with an electric guitar on the chorus.

Black Mercedes with Nate Dogg is possibly one of the smoothest and G-Funkiest tracks I’ve heard in a very long time, with excellent performances by both Quik and Nate, period. The album continues on with a track featuring Game and Quik’s longtime partner in rhyme AMG, then one featuring–yes–Chingy. You may groan, but Chingy’s performance on this song utterly stunned me; it was actually GOOD. Either Quik is god, or he has a ghostwriter and let Chingy get two verses from dude.

The rest of the album, through the smooth funk of Indiscretions in the Back of the Limo with TI and the silky Quikstrumental with Jodeci, brings more innovations and changes in sound, showing Quik has definitely kept up his abilities through the years, if not improved them.

Le Rating: 4.5/5 (Really *****ing Good)

1. Street Level Entrance 

2. Get At Me 

This song has an old school funk type track feel to it. Reminds me of a Zapp & Roger track. This is one of the tracks I like less on this album. That doesn’t take away the fact that this song is dope. 8/10

3. Diggin’ U Out 

By the title you should know what this song is about, Quik basically talks about *****ing his girl. Quik’s delivery is nice on this song. 8/10

4. Safe + Sound

First single off the album. What can I say? This is one of my favorite DJ Quik songs. The bass line in this song is hard and dope. The chorus in this song is really nice “Some believe in Jesus, some believe in Allah/But niggas like me, believe in making dollaz/ Cause even when yo niggas wanna be untrue/You Know the money is still good to you”, and that is some real shit right there. 9/10

5. Somethin’ 4 Tha Mood 

P Funk is the shit. That’s all I can say. This song is an example of that. I mean damn, this track is dope, laid back feeling, makes you feel good. The beat is dope as usual. 9/10

6. Don’t You Eat It 

7. Can I Eat It? 

Another classic DJ Quik song. The bass on this song is nice. This is the type of song I’m sure a lot of guys can relate to. The instruments on the beat go real nice together and lyrics are dope. 9/10

8. Itz Your Fantasy

This song in my opinion has a smooth jazz feel to it. I think this one of those tracks u can bump while making love to your girl. Its similar to “Diggin’ U Out”. Quik comes in nice on this. 9/10

9. Tha Ho In You 

“Tha Ho In You” sounds like it was recorded live, and I like that. I think this is what Quik and the other ones on this song were aiming for. Hi C is featured on this song and comes in nice. There is a nice guitar playing in the background of this song. Dope ass song. 9/10

10. Dollaz + Sense 

Killer diss song!!! This track was dedicated to MC Eiht. I mean damn, this track is one of my favorite songs off this album. The beat has a nice west coast feel to it. Some of the lines on there just killed MC Eiht. Lines such as “Tell me why you act so scary/Givin yo set a bad name with your misspelled name/E-I-H-T, should I continue/Yea you left out the G cause the G aint in you” make you say daaamn!! One of the best songs on this album, one of the best diss songs in west coast hip-hop. Quik also shouts out Deathrow Records at the end of the song.9.5/10

11. Let You Haveit 

This is another dope ass P Funk song off this album. The bass line on this song is dope too on this. Will sound nice if you have a system on yo ride. Quik takes a couple of shots at MC Eiht on this one too. 9/10

12. Summer Breeze

This one I’m not really feeling. The song is not wack, but I never really got into it. It is still a dope ass song. Quik talks a little about how he was growing up with little kids playing in the summer breeze. It is overall nice but not the best Quik song. 7/10

13. Quik’s Groove III

This is in my opinion the best Quik Groove. Its real laid back and real nice if you just chillin’. 8/10

14. Sucka Free

This is a Playa Hamm solo track. The beat like usual is nice. Playa Hamm’s delivery is dope. 8/10

15. Keep Tha “P” In It 

Again, this is one of those songs that make you say, “P Funk is the shit”, laid back type song. Good feel to it, all the instruments on this beat go well together. All rappers on this have a nice delivery. 9.5/10

16. Hoorah 4 Tha Funk (Reprise) 

This is the outro of the CD. DJ Quik talks a little bit in the beginning and the rest of the song is just a beat and some dude singing on the P Funk beat. Dope song for an outro. 8/10

17. [Untitled Hidden Track] 

This is and old school type party track. The lyrics on this song are basically about a party going and stuff like that. It is nice and Quik comes nice on this. 8/10

 

Overall, this album is classic!! This is a classic P Funk album. DJ Quik can get the “Legend” label, he is just that good. This album is great and I don’t think people today give Quik the props he deserves. If you are a west coast rap fan or just like good music, I urge you to go get this album. This album is a must have in your collection.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This was the first Quik album I bought after it got a good review in the source back in 1998. This as I understand was Quik’s first album where he let go of his ‘gangsta rap’ roots and went for the funk.

1. Rhythm-al-ism intro
I can count on less than one hand (if thats possible) the amount of intro’s that can beat this. Straight heat from the start, a great tune and Quik flowing very well.

2. We Still Party
One of few songs on the album where Quik doesn’t share the mic. Great banging drumline and numerous other instruments make this a brilliant track.

3. So Many Wayz (feat. 2nd II none, Peter Gunz)
Another good feeling summer kind of track. Funky production, a talkbox on the hook and the unexpected guest of Peter Gunz works well to create a classic.

4. Hand in Hand (feat 2nd II none)
Great bassline on this. Quik sounds at ease as he spits his usual witty, cheeky and often arrogant rhymes. Still no sign of a bad track on this album.

5. Down Down Down (feat Suga Free, Mausberg, AMG)
The simplist sounding production yet, with the tune made up mostly of the drum loop and bassline. Fast paced track, everyone spitting a nice rhyme. Suga Free drops his usual sexual orientated rap.

6. You’z a Ganxta
I love this track. Great production which even makes a flute sound good. Here Quik asks why he always gets blamed for shit he doesn’t do, and even offers to do a track with his foe MC Eiht ‘when he gets his head together’.

7. I Useta Know Her (feat AMG)
Yet another track which seems somewhat faster paced than most rappers could handle. AMG and Quik spit about a bird they find out they both been banging. Also contains Quik on the talkbox throughout.

8. No Doubt (feat Playa Hamm, Suga Free)
Never used to like this track. It’s certainly not the strongest on the album but no means is it bad. Not really feeling the production.

9. Speed (feat AMG)
A 124 bpm banger. Quik keeps up well on a track which would not be out of place on a Twista album. The name of the track says it all. This highlights Quik’s rapping skills.

10. Whateva U Do
Not really feeling this one, kind of a cheesy track about Quik chatting to a girl.

11. Thinkin’ Bout U
The slowest track on the album, and while the subject is pretty much the same as the previous song, this is a lot better. A great slow track from a males point of view of sex. “Doing what you do to make me do what I did, to almost ***** so hard we almost had a kid”.

12. El’s Interlude (feat El Debarge)
I don’t mind interludes when there’s some kind of point to them. This is a good one. An RnB cut laced by Quik which has Debarge crooning over it. Quik kills the guitar on this one.

13. The ***** Medley (feat Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, AMG, 2nd II None, Hi-C, El Debarge)
A rapping extravaganza about *****! Snoop kicks this one of with a good rap, Nate does what he does best, and everyone else plays their part. Only thing is Quik’s verse is reversed for some reason.

14. Bombudd 2
Quik turns reggae artist on this one. Production, lyrics and rapping style are all reggae style. It’s different, but very nice.

15. Get 2getha Again (feat. 2nd II None, AMG, Hi-C)
A bit cheesy this one but still ok to listen to. Quik and homies rap bout being ‘2gether again’.

16. Reprise
Bit pointless this – same tune as ***** medley but with an awful electric guitar over it.

Quik changed his style for a funky one on this album. It works suprisingly well. With the exception of Dre, you’d find it hard to find a better rappin and producin artist than what Quik showcases here. His beats are a lot deeper than those nowadays from the likes of Neptunes and stand the test of time well. This in my opinion is Quik’s finest hour, and one of westcoasts best releases outside of Death Row.

No hesitation of giving this 4.5/5

Nearly a classic, not quite.

This album was released by Quik in 2002, a little before dropping his Greatest Hits. I think DJ Quik is massively underrated both as a rapper and producer, despite consistantly dropping quality albums throughout his career.

1. Tha Proem (feat. Hi-c, Talib Kweli, Shyheim)

This first track doesn’t feature Quik at all, although like the whole album, it is produced by him. Good intoduction to the album with some nice guest appearances.

2. Trouble (feat. Amg)

A superb track, and one which still grows on me the more I hear it. The pairing of quik and amg is as good as ever. This song flows well, with simple yet effective production.

3. Come 2nyte (feat. Truth hurts)

Another decent track, although I think the production on this one is too similar to a lot of Quik’s other stuff. Truth Hurts sings the hook, and makes a good job of it.

4. Put it on me (feat Dr. Dre)

This is what happens when the west coasts premier producers hook up. Excellent production (produced/mixed by dre), and some good verses and a catchy chorus. It has to be said that DJ Quik somewhat outshines Dre on the mic on this one.

5. Murda 1 case (feat. KK, Chukey, Pharoahe Monch)

Not a bad track at all, but you may skip over this one a little. A nice piano on the production, with Quik’s new reggae artist Chukey on the hook. Pharoahe Monch comes as tight as ever.

6. Ev’ryday (feat. Hi-c, James Debarge) 

Some pretty innovative production which bounces along and becomes catchy. This track was skipped over a fair bit when I first copped the album, but is now certainly one of my favourites. Check out the chorus. Quik’s choruses are usually excellent, this is no exception.

7. Get Loaded (feat Amg)

An ok track (another good chorus carries the song somewhat), but again I think this sounds too much like an old reworked track in terms and does nothing special for me.

8. Gina Statuatorre (feat. Chuckey)

A fairly decent track which see’s Quik and Chuckey rapping and singing about a girl who is underage, but continues to flirt and tease older men – who if give in have to face the consequences. The typical funny and ‘cheeky’ lyrics of Quik are complimented by Chuckey’s regga influence.

9. 50 Ways (feat Wanya Morris)

A suprisingly serious track for Quik, who tackles issues of life, death, his career etc, with Morris from Boyz II Men handlin the chorus. Despite being an unusual kind of song for him to do, it works well and doesn’t seem out of place. The use of the military style drum loop is effective. And is that a subliminal diss to Suge Knight on there, or simply satan himself? The jury is out.

10. Quik’s Groove 6

The mandatory quik groove, like the title suggests, the sixth one. These tracks are instumental only, and serve to show DJ Quiks all-round musical ability. Although not the best one he’s ever done, there’s certainly nothing wrong with having a break from hip-hop to listen to a bit of jazz – this fits the bill.

11. Get tha money (feat. Suga Free)

The famous pimp rapper suga free has this track to himself, and sticks to his usual flow and style. Not a bad track, but nothing special.

12. One on 1

It’s debateable, but this is the best track on the album. If there was one track to stir up the emotions with a lady friend, its this. Very sexy track, El Debarge does some excellent background vocals, and Quik keeps Roger Troutmans legacy alive with the talkbox on the chorus. The only problem I have with this song is its only 3 minutes long.

13. Sex Crymee 

Quik lives up to his name on this one, spitting some pretty fast verses. Good production and a solid track.

14. Birdz and da beez (feat. Hi-c, Amg)

It’s all down to personal taste but I’ve never been a fan of this track. No real flow to the production, and a horrible chorus doesn’t help matters. Possibly the weakest song on the album.

15. Oh well 

Another solid decent track, although the high-pitched tune can get annoying. The talk-box helps this song out, and is not a bad finish to the album

Hidden tracks:

Leave the last track running and the outro will appear – an instrumental, featuring some nice production. Bit pointless but nonetheless better than nothing. After this has finished, leave the cd running again to hear a brief message from Quik, giving shoutouts and thanking you for the purchase. How nice of him!

Another solid release from Mr Quik, one which any west coast fan should not be without. Again this album highlights DJ Quiks abilities both as a rapper and a producer. This is not as good as his Rhythm-al-ism album in my opinion, but will certainly not disappoint. There is talk that this may be his last album. Lets hope not.

Total mark for album 4/5