On this day in Hip-Hop history, legendary west coast DJ, rapper, and producer DJ Quik was born in 1970.
David Marvin Blake, a.k.a. DJ Quik, was born in Pomona, California, and shortly after relocated to Compton, California. His love for music began at a very young age, and by age 12, he could already play several instruments. Quik jumpstarted his path to fame by selling mixtapes he made with the turntable he received while still in school. Through self-promotion, his fame began to rise, and he started to DJ and host events in Southern California.
Whether due to knowledge of his future success or lack of interest, Quik dropped out of high school in the 11th grade. Shortly after, he suffered homelessness when his family home was taken away in foreclosure. There’s little information about what happened during DJ Quik’s life, but in 1990, everything changed.
DJ Quik had created so much of a buzz on the streets by selling tapes and making appearances at parties and events he gained the attention of local record labels Ruthless Records and Profile Records. Despite a one million dollar offer from Eazy E, Quik signed with Profile.
On February 12, 1991, DJ Quik released his debut album, Quik Is the Name, which debuted at #29 on the Billboard 200 chart, where it would peak, and sold 50,000 copies in its first week. The album hosted hit singles “Born and Raised in Compton” and “Tonite.” after about four years, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA and had to date, sold 1,068,203 copies. After his debut success, Quik produced eight more solo studio albums and a collaborative album with rapper Kurupt called Blaqkout in 2009.
Outside of music, DJ Quik has made appearances as an actor on popular TV shows: Method and Red, Entourage, and Everybody Hates Chris. His career is one of the more influential ones on the West Coast. Quik was an instrumental part of the G-Funk sound and helped it to gain popularity early in the rap world. Countless rappers, producers, and DJs alike have noted their influence by DJ Quik, and if you ride around SoCal today, there’s no doubt you can hear one of his hits playing on someone’s stereo. If you don’t already listen daily, take some time today to appreciate the career of one of the West Coast’s OGs.
Released on Profile Records during a time when their roster consisted of righteous rhymers like King Sun and Poor Righteous Teachers, Quik was pioneering in helping to usher in the “gangsta rap” sound on a mainstream scale in the early 90s and labels were just beginning to shift their marketing dollars towards this sub-genre of Hip-Hop.
With the help of producers Courtney Branch, Greg Jessie and Tracy Kendrick, Quik managed to produce a rap classic that sold 50,000 in its first week with only a $30,000 budget for production. Recorded in Westlake Recording Studio in Los Angeles, the same spot where Michael Jackson’s epic Thriller masterpiece was created, Quik and crew finished up the album in 17 days.
The album’s lead single, “Born And Raised In Compton,” climbed to Number 6 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs, while tracks like “Tonite,” “Deep” and the album’s title track solidified the funk sound that later saturated West Coast Hip Hop music.
Salute to the Big Homie for laying down this pioneering project that will forever be considered one of the Top 100 Albums in Hip-Hop!
T.I. is gearing up to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. In New Orleans from June 29 to July 3, the festival’s evening concert series will showcase a lineup of prominent hip-hop artists. The Atlanta rapper will be part of a special performance curated by producer Jermaine Dupri, representing […]
DJ Quik has become one of hip-hop’s greatest living legends. His 1991 debut album, Quik Is the Name, produced two DJ Quick songs that reached the Billboard Top 20 R&B singles chart. The album also went Platinum. Quik’s success would continue throughout the ‘90s as he dropped a handful of classic G-Funk albums.
The rap icon has earned his status as a pioneer in hip-hop through his distinct voice and multi-layered music. His production has influenced countless beat-makers over the decades. His lyrics continue to be the zenith of gangsta rap artistry. Impressive DJ Quik songs are in no short supply, but here are seven tracks that encapsulate one of the most influential careers in rap music.
7. “Summer Breeze” (1995)
“Summer Breeze” is one of DJ Quik’s best summer jams. Released in 1995 on his album Safe + Sound, “Summer Breeze” samples Jermaine Jackson’s classic hit “You Like Me Don’t You.” It’s a perfectly crafted, smooth, laid-back track that puts listeners in the headspace of chilling on the beach.
It’s also one of the more “radio-friendly” tracks from Quik. It eschews tough tales from the streets for introspective lyricism about lost summer days. Quik’s flow, the soulful vocals on the refrain, and mellow instrumentations make “Summer Breeze” a must-play at any summer cookout.
6. “Jus Lyke Compton” (1992)
The lead single from DJ Quik’s second studio album Way 2 Fonky is an illustrative homage to his hometown in a roundabout way. Released in 1992, “Jus Lyke Compton” paints a vivid yet anecdotal picture of how gang culture exists across the country. Quik’s sharp and sardonic lyrics glide over a smooth and funky beat the entire track. The song’s deeper meaning might be easy to miss due to being a head-nodding banger.
However, heads who give a closer listen will hear Quik playfully chastise various cities for being “Jus Lyke Compton.” It’s a wonderful example of introspective gangsta rap that meditates on how tales from the streets can come from all corners of the country.
5. “Loked Out Hood” (1991)
“Loked Out Hood” is a classic G-Funk anthem by any measure. From its funky, fast-paced beat to Quik’s rapid-fire bars, the track remains one of the genre’s finest examples. Quik’s smart and illustrative lyrics about gang life are on full display here. While the track wasn’t one of the singles from DJ Quik’s debut studio album, Quik Is the Name, it has become a classic jam. “Loked Out Hood” sampled funk acts like B.T. Express and P-Funk All Stars, showcasing Quik’s knack for finding incredible songs to chop and screw. This one’s a banger, through and through.
4. “Dollaz + Sense” (1995)
“Dollaz + Sense” is a classic jam that encapsulates the essence of West Coast gangsta rap. From DJ Quik’s second album, Safe + Sound, the track tackles money, power, and bitter rivalries within the rap game. With its tongue-in-cheek title, “Dollaz + Sense” has become an all-time classic from DJ Quik’s vast library of songs.
Songs like “Dollaz + Sense” helped propel Safe + Sound to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Decades later, Long Beach rapper Vince Staples would pay homage to the song on his 2022 album Ramona Park Broke My Heart. That track was appropriately titled “DJ Quik.”
3. “Put It On Me” (2002)
“Put It on Me” is an incredible collaboration between two West Coast Rap icons. The song originally appeared on the soundtrack to the 2001 film Training Day. It would later be released on DJ Quik’s sixth studio album, Under tha Influence, the following year. The track was produced by legendary rapper/producer Dr. Dre, who might be the only West Coast figure to meet DJ Quik’s greatness. Dre lays down a couple of verses, but the lion’s share of rapping comes from Quik’s bravado. The song was a hit single and helped propel the Training Day soundtrack to No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Soundtracks chart.
2. “Pitch In On A Party” (2000)
“Pitch In on a Party” was the lead single from DJ Quik’s fifth studio album, Balance & Options. The track is a party anthem that effortlessly blends funky basslines, a catchy hook, and snarky rhymes. Quik’s ability to craft songs with broad appeal through universal themes of throwing down on a good party is in full effect here.
With a classic G-Funk beat and Quik’s sharp lyrics, “Pitch In on a Party” is an infectious track that encapsulates the spirit of wild gatherings. This track is a banger for any house party or summer bash and represents some of Quik’s best latter-day work.
1. “Tonite” (1991)
“Tonite” is a West Coast banger that embodies the vibrant sounds of G-Funk. With its funky beat and sultry hook, the track has become an enduring classic within the genre. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks charts and helped propel DJ Quik’s debut album, Quik Is the Name to classic status.
The song recently appeared in the 2023 film, You People, starring Nia Long, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, and Jonah Hill. The opening beat of the track is an earworm that even casual listeners will recognize. It’s hard to determine which DJ Quik song has the longest legs, but “Tonite” is a track that is larger than life.
It’s never easy to lose your best friend, especially when they’ve been rocking with you since the very beginning. Prayers to The Game, who is currently grieving over the loss of his hype-man, Avante “AR” Rose. Apparently, AR passed away after committing suicide.
Sharing to his 13.8 million followers on Instagram, the Los Angeles rapper opened up to his followers about the loss of AR, posting multiple photos of themselves together and with some big names like Drake, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg.
In the caption, The Game writes, “I waited a few days because the initial impact of hearing you were no longer here on earth, simply crushed me.”
“Since kindergarten it’s been me & you side by side going through life together. Staying up past our bedtimes watching WWE, to walking to the store to get a soda & chips every time we mowed another lawn & made $1 a piece, to growing up, smoking our 1st joint together, stealing cars, joining gangs, waiting on each other to get out of jail, sellin dope, gettin shot & surviving it all so that we could learn how to rap from watching “106 & Park”…… travel the world, stamp 4 passports, meet fans & see places we never imagined… It was ALWAYS “Chuck & AR”. It hurts my hurt to know that all I have left is my memories & I’ve been drowning them with my tears this entire weekend.”
The Game even reveals he was crying as he typed the caption. He continues, “I miss you so much !!! My emotions are all over the place because of the entire situation & it’s hard to feel the way a person should normally feel when losing a best friend, brother… due to the fact that you not only took your life, but you took someone else’s as well. I send a tremendous amount of prayers to her family and my heart is with you all as you process the untimely death of your daughter, sister, niece, cousin, family member. In no way shape or form do I mean any disrespect at all or condone his actions in the matter but I promise you didn’t know the Avante I did. The Avante I grew up with, fought with, cried with & stood back to back for 30 years with was a happy, comedic father & friend who loved hard & would literally do anything for me, my children or anyone he loved.”
AR was also present for each of The Game’s children’s births and didn’t miss any of their birthday parties. He was also there for The Game when he got shot and woke up from his coma, even being the one to take The Game home.
Via SNBC13, apparently, Rose shot his girlfriend, Kassandra Arevaloz, before taking his own life a few days later. Allegedly, Rose and his girlfriend argued before the shooting transpired, and she was pronounced dead when Torrance Police arrived at the scene.
Snoop Dogg paid his condolences by posting a throwback photo of himself with AR and The Game, with the caption, “AR condolences to the female who lost her life ”
West Coast hip-hop legend is back with a new single, “Class.” The song is an intro to the 10th full-length album from Quik that will be released through his own Mad Science Recordings and Compound Interest.
The new single blends West Coast flavor, laden with harmonies, jazzy guitar, and a laidback beat. Quik’s trademark flow is also present in the new track.
The upcoming record by Quik will be his first significant work since the critically acclaimed 2017 collaboration, Rosecrans with Problem. Quik is set to join forces with West Coast heavyweights Mack 10, Warren G, The Dogg Pound (Daz & Kurupt), Suga Free, Amanda Perez, and Kid Frost for the “Cali Classic Tour.”
West Coast gangsta rap pioneer DJ Quik was recently interviewed on the All The Smoke podcast and talks about the times he was around late music icon Michael Jackson. The Compton rapper/producer says that his first run-in with MJ was during the recording of his 1991 single “Tonite”.
Quik says that he was at Westlake Studios, where Michael recorded his epic Thriller LP and says that MJ’s team made a strange request when he came into the studio.
Dj Quik recalls being told to look at the wall while Michael Jackson passed through the studio, so nobody could look directly at him
“They came through, warned everybody that Michael was finna come through, and he didn’t want nobody to see him coming through or looking, right? We taking a break from the studio, and these guys come in, and they was like, ‘We about to bring somebody through here, can you turn and face the wall?’”
Nevertheless, Quik says he and his team faced the wall when he passed through the studio. He added, ‘It’s like damn, Mike didn’t want anyone to look at him, the f*** is this?”
DJ Quik is a renowned American rapper and record producer. The artist grew up in a musical family and started his career in the late 1980s as a DJ before releasing his own music in 1991. His initial album became a commercial success. As a result, DJ Quik, whose real name is David Marvin Blake, has crossed paths with many of the big stars of the 90s. In a recent episode of All The Smoke, a podcast, Quik reveals that he had multiple encounters with the late music sensation Michael Jackson.
One of the most famous singers of all time, Michael Jackson had a wildly successful career. He had been in the Jackson 5 as a child before moving into his solo career. At the height of his career, everyone was dying to meet and work with the singer. In the 1990s, DJ Quik got to live everyone’s dream, but it didn’t go how he thought it might. While working on a single, Quik was renting out a studio that Michael Jackson frequented. One day, Jackson’s team gave everyone in the studio an odd set of instructions. Everyone was to turn away and face the wall so Michael would not be seen.
The first encounter occurred in 1991 while DJ Quik was recording his single “Tonite.” His crew was taking a break when Jackson’s team came through to request that people turn their attention elsewhere. “They didn’t ask us to leave,” Quik states in the podcast. “They just asked us to turn around, and face the wall.” He reiterates how bizarre the whole ordeal was. “It was weird as s***, you know, like police s***.” Of course, while turned around, Quik couldn’t help himself from sneaking a peak at the legendary musician.
But the next time Quik saw Michael, the experience was a lot more chill. Michael had booked Quik’s studio this time, and perhaps the pop star felt more at ease in someone else’s environment. “There was another one where he booked our studio,” the rapper goes on to explain. “I think he was more cool then.” Although at this time, Jackson still did not speak to DJ Quik directly. The experience left Quik thinking that the musician simply did not want to associate with him. To hear more stories regarding celebrity encounters with Michael Jackson, stay tuned.
condolences to the female who lost her life 
for my Bro Bro. 
