“ DJ Q-U-I-K
With no C still, you can’t be me” DJ Quik rapped towards Compton's rival MC Eiht Of CMW better known as “Compton’s Most Wanted” in his 1994 diss track “Dollaz and Sense” featured on Death Row Records Soundtrack “Murder Was The Case” DJ Quik was born “David Marvin Blake” in Los Angeles California he eventually settled in Compton California, as young as five, his love of music became present in his household as Quik said himself in an interview in the following statement. “ My Sisters used to have me play the records. for their boyfriends. (Who) used to come over like watch what he can do. I couldn’t really talk I was in diapers but I could play The Ohio Players heaven must be like this. I knew what side of the record it was on” (Quik) as a teen found himself coming to the new age of the Westcoast Hip Hop scene Mixmaster Spade and Toddie Tee, King Tee, Uncle Jams Army, in the midst of such exposure also resulted in Gang Violence, Quik says in the following statement “I grew up a Blood (Piru) neighborhood so all the crip neighborhood they. had the money so we used to go DJ some of their parties. then get chased out of their neighborhood. once they realized where I was from. but the music transcended all that.” Quik put together an underground mixtape called “The Red Tape” which featured his friend’s 2nd II None (KK and (Gangsta D) AMG and HI-C, “ I would sell em for 10 buck’s word to mouth” Quik song’s Tonight and Born & Raised In Compton would later be introduced to the mainstream in the next couple of year’s on his debut
The Red Tape Mixtape
Quik and His Friends shopped their deal to Bryan Turner Of Priority Records but was turned down because NWA and Eazy E (a Compton based Rap group) had already set their deal with Bryan they (Priority Records) didn’t want another one
“Profile Records signed DJ Quik after a bidding war in 1990 Quik began writing and engineering/producing his own material as he previously did. this time at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles famous for ‘Michael Jackson Off The Wall and Thriller Bad” Projects,
Released on January 15th, 1991, Three days before Quik's Birthday shot to success as Gold in the first few weeks, “Quik Is The Name’ first single “Born and Raised In Compton” already a hit in the streets was now all ear’s across the globe, a cautionary tale of living and surviving in his city
On June 10th, 1991, Quik lightened the mood for the next second single sampling “Kleer” “Tonight”
for his own version titled “Tonite” an anthem about partying and getting drunk out of his mind and eventually “Calling Earl “( slang word for Vomiting) telling the man above he’ll never do it to ultimately do the same thing over again “Tonite”
Quik’s Third Single and final; “Quik Is The Name” was released on November 11th, 1991 filmed in Compton where he grew up Quik gives us a demonstration of why his name is a force to be reckoned
Quik didn't shy from themes of Gangsterism and Promiscuity on this album his overall theme was pretty straight to the point and raw for listeners in the first track of the album “Sweet Black P****” raunchy gritty funk that not even Dr.Dre had touched production-wise yet and a similar Eazy E voice tonality funny tale about why he loves it and think it’s sweet. Quik noted being influenced by Blowfly's dirty rap songs (Blowfly's real name “Clarence Reid” was a songwriter and singer who penned hits for Betty Wright and other’s Artists of TK Records in Miami Florida)
“Deep and Skanless” are Posse cut’s featuring Quik (himself) AMG, 2 II None
HI-C, the same formula used on the mixtape artistically speaking enjoyable tracks. obviously inspired by The D.O.C. and NWA Posse cuts (Parental Discretion Iz Advised and The Grand Finale) but also back to The Marley Mar Symphony,
“8Ball” (Not to be confused with 8Ball written by Ice Cube and performed by Eazy E although contains the sample) and Loked Out Hood is perfect storytelling at its finest. as a lyricist Quik. doesn’t get many props there. it’s worthy to note I never heard a slouched verse. from Quik catalog ever to this day,
“Dedication” an ode to the homies that didn’t make it to see his shine and “Quik’s Groove” share the same backing track joined by Stan Guitar Man Jones who famously provided work for NWA and Eazy E [recording’s]
“Tha Bombbud” has Quik channeling his inner reggae style influenced by people in his neighborhood who played all types of reggae music Quik in the following statement in an interview: “My Templet was Sugar Minott. even Sister Nancy. everybody (was) like reggae Bob! Marley! like no it’s a bigger story”, he continues “I wanted to do a record pretty much showed people what my range of music was I kinda wrote that from scratch.”
“Tear It Off” is a fun duet with AMG, fast pasted back and forth reminiscent of a Kid & Play and Big Daddy Kane-style party track. one of the different track’s that doesn’t rely on profanity.,
“I Got Thar Feeling” shuffle beat a sample of “The Emotions A Feeling Is” (1977) Quik showcases his macking ability style of how he would approach and win the opposite sex,
Quik saw platinum success with this album not to mention 1991 was a busy year he produced his childhood friends' projects and went on tour, here is Quik detailing what he categorizes his own music but also a bit more information about the key players at the beginning of his career
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