Biography
When rap music first emerged in the mid 1970s, it connected with listeners immediately by addressing all aspects of urban life with its unique freedom of self-expression. As the music evolved into a global cultural force, at least one rap icon remains true to the music's heritage. That man is DJ Quik. With four gold and platinum albums and production work with 2Pac, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre to his credit, DJ Quik stands as one of hip-hop's most consistent artists and musicians. To his credit he has over 100 million soundscanned recordings! On his forthcoming seventh album, and his first for Mad Science/Fontana distribution, the Compton, California legend sets a new standard for lyrical and musical innovation.
"This record is fun," DJ Quik explains. "It has tons of air." "You won't feel claustrophobic with this record because there is not a ceiling. This record is as expansive as the universe, but yet as confined as a CD. DJ Quik's musical mastery shines as soon as the album starts with Intro For Roger. Typically a laid-back rapper, DJ Quik raps aggressively on the mid-tempo selection about the pain and loss he's suffered over the last several years. My best friend's dead, my heart is a stone, he raps. My soul ain't even mine to own. The lyrics refer to the murder of his friend and collaborator, and the song is dedicated to one of DJ Quik's musical influences, the late Roger Troutman, who was also murdered. "It's about what I've been going through for the last couple years, DJ Quik says. "I know people want to hear what kept me out of the limelight, what I was going through personally. The song is my journal. People that know me will understand it. I just had a lot of dead weight that I had to shed."
DJ Quik's new direction is evident on Ladies-N-Thugs, a sizzling cut that also features vocals from Wyclef Jean. Over a block-rocking beat that boasts an extra thick bassline and sinister strings, Quik and Jean trade lyrical haymakers. "Both Clef and myself understand what it takes to stay rhythmic and be cathartic at the same time," DJ Quik says. "People want to feel how you feel, but they want to feel it to rhythm." Then, on the sexy Nate Dogg-guested "Black Mercedes," Quik turns his focus to the ladies. But there's a twist, of course. He dedicates the first two verses to wordplay and boasting of his sexual prowess, but in the third verse he delivers several thought provoking lyrics, including "What kills more, gangbanging or the gang bang?"
For DJ Quik, it is important to address serious issues in his music, even on what seem to be lighthearted songs. "It's almost like a self-check as well because I did both," he says. "People can talk all day about what's more dangerous, but they're both dangerous. People get hurt with infidelity just as much as they get hurt because of colors in the street. If you're doing something wrong, chances are it's going to be a matter of time before you get bit in your ass."It's a lesson DJ Quik puts into practice on "Jet Set," an old fashioned West Coast sounding song, through which he raps of his new emotional freedom.
"I'm talking about not being confined by having to get a 40 out of the freezer, getting drunk, trying to have sex with the cute girl in the hood, or going to beat up these dudes around the corner just because your homeboy asked you to," he says. "It's a wake up record." In addition to featuring the best lyrics of his career, the new album also contains the type of thick, bottom-heavy warmth virtually absent from modern day music. "I think we all end up missing music when the technology gets better, and in most cases over the years, hip-hop has gotten progressively thinner and thinner in the low end because it became too expensive to do records the old-fashioned way; getting real musicians in, engineers in and some of the older equipment, because it became high maintenance after a while," he says.
"It was more cost effective to go to computers and have the speed. What you lose for speed is sound. My thing was to try to find a sound that was comparable to our old sound." DJ Quik knows of what he speaks. Since debuting in the early 1990s as a talented rapper, producer and talent scout, he has four albums that have been certified either gold or platinum, and a production resume that includes acclaimed work with Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Janet Jackson, Rick James, Chingy, Ludacris, and 8 Ball & MJG, among many others. But as DJ Quik became one of the West Coast rap scene's most revered figures, he was riddled with a series of personal and professional setbacks, including the passings of several friends and a number of disappointing business ventures with recent and long-time associates.
So DJ Quik made a change and removed himself from the negative situations surrounding him. He decided to expand his sound and redirect his focus into his own career. The results have been staggering. In 2003, DJ Quik produced: 'Justify My Thug' for Jay-Z's landmark The Black Album. Some of his other recent beat work includes songs for triple-platinum rapper Chingy, and multi-platinum artists Ludacris and Jadakiss. He also scored the Chris Rock film Head Of State and contributed music to the popular True Crime: Streets Of LA video game.
DISCOGRAPHY DJ QUIK DISCOGRAPHY
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS DJ Quik Quik Is The Name Sweet Black Pussy writer, producer Profile Records Tonite writer, producer PLATINUM CD Born & Raised in Compton writer, producer Deep writer, producer Tha BomBudd writer, producer Dedication writer, producer Quik Is The Name writer, producer Loked Out Hood writer, producer 8 Ball writer, producer Quik’s Groove writer, producer Tear It Off writer, producer I Got That Feelin writer, producer Skanless writer, producer
DJ Quik Way 2 Fonky Americaz Most Complete Artist writer, producer Profile Records Mo’ Pussy writer, producer PLATINUM CD Way 2 Fonky writer, producer Jus Lyke Compton writer, producer Quikz Groove II writer, producer Me Wanna Rip Your Girl writer, producer When You’re a Gee writer, producer No Bullshit writer, producer Only Fo’ Tha Money writer, producer Let Me Rip Tonite writer, producer Niggaz Still Trippin writer, producer Tha Last Word writer, producer
DJ Quik Safe & Sound Street Level Entrance writer, producer Profile Records Get At Me writer, producer GOLD CD Diggin U Out writer, producer Safe & Sound writer, producer
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS DJ Quik Safe & Sound Can I Eat It? writer, producer Profile Records It’z Your Fantasy writer, producer GOLD CD Tha Ho In You writer, producer Dollaz & Sense writer, producer Let Me Havit writer, producer Summer Breeze writer, producer Quiks Groove III writer, producer Sucka Free writer, producer Keep That “P” In It writer, producer Somethin 4 Tha Mood writer, producer Don’t You Eat It! writer, producer Hoorah 4 Tha Funk writer, producer
DJ Quik Rhythm-al-ism Rhythm-al-ism writer, producer Arista Recods We Still Party writer, producer GOLD CD So Many Wayz writer, producer Hand In Hand writer, producer Down, Down, Down writer, producer You’z A Gangsta writer, producer I Useta Know Her writer, producer No Doubt writer, producer Speed writer, producer Whateva U Do writer, producer Thinkin Bout U writer, producer El’s Interlude writer, producer Medley For A “V” writer, producer Bombudd II writer, producer Get2Getta Again writer, producer
DJ Quik Balance & Options Change Da Game writer, producer Arista Records Did Y’ All Feel Dat? writer, producer GOLD CD We Came 2 Play writer, producer Pitch In On A Party writer, producer I Don’t Wanna Party Wit U writer, producer Sekuality writer, producer How Come? writer, producer U Ain’t Fresh writer, producer Roger’s Groove writer, producer Quikker Said Than Dunn writer, producer Speak On It writer, producer
DJ Quik Balance & Options Do Whutcha Want writer, producer Arista Records Well writer, producer GOLD CD Quik’s Groove V writer, producer Do I Love Her? writer, producer Tha Divorce Song writer, producer
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS DJ Quik Under Tha Influence Tha Proem writer, producer Mad Science Recordings Trouble writer, producer Come 2nyte writer, producer Put It On Me writer, producer Murda 1 Case writer, producer Ev’ryday writer, producer Get Loaded writer, producer Gina Statuatorre writer, producer 50 Ways writer, producer Quik’s Groove 6 writer, producer Get Tha Money writer, producer One On 1 writer, producer Sex Crymee writer, producer Birdz & Da Beez writer, producer Oh Well writer, producer Out writer, producer
2nd II None 2nd II None More Than A Player writer, producer Profile Records If You Want Me writer, producer GOLD CD Be True To Yourself writer, producer Let The Rhythm Take You writer, producer Comin Like This writer, producer Underground Terror writer, producer Just Aint Me writer, producer The Life Of A Player writer, producer Aint Nothin Wrong writer, producer What Goes Up writer, producer Mystic writer, producer Punk Mutha Fuckaz writer, producer Niggaz Trippin writer, producer
2nd II None Classic 220 Up N Da Club writer, producer Arista Records Don’t U Hide It writer, producer Whateva U Want writer, producer Make Em Understand writer, producer Back Up Off the Wall writer, producer Y? writer, producer Princess writer, producer Got A Nu Woman writer, producer
Shaquille O’Neal Respect The Way It’s Goin Down writer, producer TWism/A&M
Shaquille O’Neal Can’t Stop The Reign Strait Playin writer, producer TWism/Interscope
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS Snoop Dogg Top Dogg Doin Too Much writer, producer No Limit/Priority Records Buss N Rocks writer, producer PLATINUM Don’t Tell writer, producer
2 Pac All Eyez On Me Heartz Of Men writer, producer Death Row/Interscope Ambitinz Az A Ridah mixer 12X PLATINUM All Bout U mixer Skandalouz mixer Got My Mind Made Up mixer 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted mixer Only God Can Judge Me mixer I Aint Mad At Cha mixer What’z Ya Phone # mixer Ratha Be Ya Nigga mixer
Suga Free Street Gospel Why U Bullshittin? writer, producer Island Records I’d Rather Give You My Bitch writer, producer Doe Doe & A Skunk writer, producer Don’t No Sukaz Live Here writer, producer Tip Toe writer, producer If U Stay Ready writer, producer Fly Fo Life writer, producer On My Way writer, producer Secrets writer, producer Dip Da writer, producer
Suga Free & Konnected In My Face writer, producer Mausberg Sheppard Lane/Universal Aint No Doubt writer, producer Whistle writer, producer I Wanna See writer, producer Hotel Motel writer, producer Pimpin writer, producer Don’t Walk Away writer, producer Gone writer, producer
Deborah Cox One Wish One Wish producer Arista Records 2x PLATINUM
Tony Toni Tone Hits Boys & Girls producer Mercury Records PLATINUM
Tony Toni Tone House Of Music Let’s Get Down writer, producer Mercury Records PLATINUM
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS Soundtrack Deep Blue Sea Get Tha Money writer, producer DJ Quik & Hi-C Warner Bros. Records
Soundtrack Muder Was The Case Danny Boy Death Row/Interscope Come When I Call writer, producer Jewell 2X PLATINUM Woman to Woman writer, producer DJ Quik Dollars & Sense writer, producer
Truth Hurts Truth Hurts Addictive writer, producer Aftermath/Interscope I’m Not Really Looking writer, producer
Janet Jackson All For You All For You (remix) remix producer Virgin 2X PLATINUM
Xzibit Restless Sorry I’m Away So Much writer, producer Loud Records PLATINUM
Soundtrack Life It’s Like Everyday writer, producer DJ Quik Featuring Rockland/Interscope R. Kelly PLATINUM
Soundtrack Training Day Put It On Me writer, producer Dr Dre & DJ Quik Priority GOLD
Talib Kweli Quality Put It In The Air writer, producer Rawkus
Nate Dogg untitled There She Goes writer, producer Elektra Get Up writer, producer
8 Ball & MJG Space Age 4 Eva Buck Bounce writer, producer Jcor/Interscope Jankey writer, producer
Shaunta untitled Don’t Tell Nobody writer, producer Aftermath/Interscope
Soundtrack Made Men Do What you Want writer, producer DJ Quik Redline
Kurupt Space Boogie Can’t Go Wrong writer, producer Artemis
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS Jermaine Dupri Life In 1472 Three the Hard Way writer, producer Columbia PLATINUM
2pac Greatest Hits Heartz of Men writer, producer Amaru/Interscope 6X PLATINUM
Roscoe Untitled How I’m Livin’ writer, producer Priority/Capitol
Soundtrack Above The Rim Dollarz & Sense writer, producer Death Row/Interscope 2X PLATINUM
Jay-Z The Black Album Justify My Thug writer, producer Roc-A-Fella/UMG 3X PLATINUM
2pac Until The End of Time Words 2 My First Born writer, producer Amaru/Interscope 4X PLATINUM
2pac Better Dayz Late Night writer, producer Amaru/Interscope 3X PLATINUM
Chingy Jackpot Loked Out Hood writer, producer Capitol Records 3X PLATINUM
Jadakiss Kiss of Death Shine writer Ruff Ryders/Interscope PLATINUM
2pac Loyal To the Game Loyal To the Game writer, producer Amaru/Interscope PLATINUM
Soundtrack Head of State Movie score writer/ producer Chris Rock Dreamworks
DJ Quik Trauma Doctor’s Office writer/ producer Mad Science Recordings Intro For Roger writer/ producer Fandango writer/ producer
ARTIST TITLE/LABEL SONG TITLES COMMENTS DJ Quik Trauma Till Jesus Comes writer/ producer Mad Science Recordings Black Mercedes writer/ producer Get Up writer/ producer Ladies & Thugs writer/ producer Catch 22 writer/ producer Indiscretions In the Back of the Limo writer/ producer Pacific Coast Remix writer/ producer Quikstrumental writer/ producer Jet Set writer/ producer California writer/ producer
Source: http://www.dj-quik.com
