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I posted this today on my blog - djrtistic.tumblr.com :
“Who’s better….Magic or Bird? Jay or Nas? Michael Jackson or Prince? Dr. Dre or DJ Quik?”
The first three of those are lasting debates that we still talk about to this day. The one that only tends to happen in L.A. would be, who’s the better rapper/producer: Dr. Dre or DJ Quik? To an outsider, they would think it’s no comparison…Dr. Dre is a wordlwide mogul who’s headphones have probably made more money than Rap itself has made this decade. Yet, it’s a serious debate that happens pretty often among Rap heads who are just as familiar with Quik’s catalog.
I would personally say that Dre is the better overall producer who has been a huge influence, even outside of Rap…but musically, DJ Quik is my pick. His Jazz and Funk influence have always remained strong, and I understand why he appeals to those of us who were born and raised in Compton, L.A., Inglewood, or even the Bay. Quik is also the better Rapper.
Regardless of who is seen as being better…I have decided to list 40 of my favorite DJ Quik songs, which includes songs he produced for other artists.
Also, make sure to check out my mix, which features a lot of these songs: 75 Minutes of DJ Quik: https://soundcloud.com/djrtistic/75-minutes-of-quik-djr-tisticcom
1. DJ Quik - Safe & Sound
This is the song that originally got me into Quik, back in 1995. The way he flipped the “Strawberry Letter 23″ sample, the hook, the Kenneth Crouch chords, and the talkbox at the end? Perfection.
2. Suga Free - Y u bullshittin
This is easily the biggest, longest lasting, L.A.-Only Club record in West Coast History, hands down. Outside of the city, you’ll hear “The Next Episode,” “California Love,” “Gin & Juice,” and “Drop it like it’s hot,” but in a club filled with L.A. natives? No other song will get anything near the same reaction. Almost 20 years after it’s initial release, YG, Problem, and Trey Songz have all recently used the lyrics from this track’s chorus. EVERY DJ will mute the 2nd bar of the verse, allowing the crowd to sing along. It took me years to realize that it was basically a more West Coast sounding version of Pac’s “Heartz of men,” basically replacing the NY style horn sample with a sitar.
3. DJ Quik - Dollaz & Sense
After “No vaseline,” this is most likely the 2nd strongest diss track the West Coast has ever produced. Everyone’s reaction after hearing him say “You left out the G, cause the G ain’t in you:”
4. DJ Quik - Thinkin bout you
This album cut never made it to radio, but it’s one of the smoothest, most polished “Rap songs for the ladies” I’ve ever heard. It’s his take on “Back then they didn’t want me,” in the Jazziest form.
5. Suga Free - I’d rather give you my bitch
I can’t even tell where Quik got his inspiration for the instrumental on this track. At 114 BPM, it reminds me of early 80′s Funk with a touch of early L.A. Electro, but with a modern polish that still sounds good two decades later.
6. DJ Quik ft. AMG, Mausberg, and Suga Free - Down, down, down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIupvCZJaoo
If “Ain’t no fun” was L.A. ‘s favorite “Posse track for the club,” this was the one that represented the second half of the decade. After three dope verses from Quik, AMG, and Mausberg, Suga Free came through and dropped an extremely memorable, catchy, hilarious verse.
7. 2Pac ft. DJ Quik and AMG - Late Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQDLEdX-Bio
This track was released after Pac’s death, and never received the play that it should have due to bad timing. Quik put his touch on the Donald Byrd “Wind parade” sample and made another classic.
8. DJ Quik - You'z a Ganxta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Ri6fp8Q10
I might consider this to be one of the best “damage control” tracks of all time. Along with Pac and Nas, Quik has always been known to show two extreme sides as a rapper. On “Safe & Sound,” we heard him reppin the “P” pretty hard at times…but on this track, which followed Pac and Biggie’s death, he made the claim that he was no longer involved in that lifestyle. Regardless, he made it sound great, and ALMOST convincing.
9 . DJ Quik - Tonite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hykZtBaPKps
Quik’s second single, following “Born and raised in Compton,” and still his biggest, most known solo single.
10. Mausberg ft. DJ Quik - Get nekkid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvZCs27gg70
This song was the direct inspiration for the production of Kendrick Lamar’s “King Kunta,” which is one of the biggest L.A. records of 2015. It was released after Mausberg’s death, and never received much radio play, but became another L.A. club classic.
11. DJ Quik ft. Suga Free - Do I love her
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9yQ1f4irQU
Another classic verse from Suga Free that everyone raps along to.
12. Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and Xzibit - Live from L.A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CKCVmpzcXs
Who remembers this show on BET?
13. DJ Quik - Mo pussy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZrrZYNCo8
Another L.A. Club classic. Word to the…..304s!!
14. DJ Quik - We still party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2pX7ezEKIs
One of my favorite album cuts ever, from any artist. I flipped when I realized he sampled Schoolhouse Rock on here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EicxQxzsW4)
15. Truth Hurts ft. Rakim - Addictive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sw77Dminl8
Easily his most famous production since the turn of the Millenium. Too bad the lawsuit happened!
16. DJ Quik ft. El Debarge - Whateva u do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NExfDGtR618
One of those songs that shows that Quik was almost overqualified as a Rap producer/Rapper.
17. Tony Toni Tone ft. DJ Quik - Let’s get down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpY_ElM4CYk
18. Suga Free - Whistle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CHOXtcpb5s
After Rhythmalism, Quik was my favorite L.A. rapper/producer, snatching Warren G’s spot at the time. I remember being so anxious for Quik’s 2000 album, “Balance & Options,” that I bought this compilation called “The Konnectid Project” a week earlier, since I realized that Quik worked on it as well. I heard it, and it eventually ended up getting more play in my car than “Balance & Options.” This was the standout track on there.
19. DJ Quik - Born and raised in Compton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8FsmlX0Fuo
My favorite part is still the 808 breakdown…”so here’s some bass in your face!” The Eazy-E/NWA influence in Quik’s style was strongest at this point.
20. Snoop Dogg and Kurupt - Caught up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofwiS89p3W0
21. DJ Quik and Kurupt - 9 times outta 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHe18yE2kXM
22. Suga Free ft. DJ Quik and AMG - Inside out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpLrhsoMP1U
23. DJ Quik - Jus lyke Compton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfv4cnVjvGA
Shoutout to Denver, though.
24. DJ Quik ft. Kam, 2nd II None, Hi-C, and Playa Hamm - Keep tha ‘P’ in it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wzkY3iDkT4
25. DJ Quik - Summer breeze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5KtEQT3ncE
26. Mausberg ft. DJ Quik - No more questions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqAIwFfq__4
This HAS TO BE the most aggressive I’ve ever heard Quik rap, even more so than when he was dissing MC Eiht. This is an example of how sharp his flow is, especially when he’s angry.
27. El Debarge - I like it (DJ Quik remix - Live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scavDac7d1s
If only I could find a studio version of this. El sounds rough throughout, but that last note? Yep.
28. Truth Hurts ft. DJ Quik - I’m not really lookin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60w9jDIzNY0
This song should have blown up in that era of “Grown Folks Party R&B” that included songs like Erick Sermon “Music,” Next “Wifey” and “Too Close,” Ideal “Whatever,” Jaheim “Just in case,” and Dwele “Find a way.”
29. DJ Quik ft. Raphael Saadiq - Well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFGZycxdJUM
Those strings at the beginning and the end of it hit me every single time.
30. DJ Quik - Boom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBFnhXXeOVc
Similar to “No more questions,” Quik is a great rapper when he’s irritated.
31. DJ Quik ft. Nate Dogg - Black Mercedes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCnjpw-K_MA
The first time I heard this, I remember Nate Dogg popping up halfway through the verse…man, it was an instant classic for me at that point.
32. 2nd II None - Up in da club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bthOJ4Q909w
33. Danny Boy - So in love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nglKfsDv5Q
This entire album, mostly producted by Quik, was very well put together. It was completed back in 1996, but wasn’t released until 2010. It may have lacked the true standout single it needed to blow up at the time, but the entire project was extremely well crafted, showing Quik’s Jazz and Gospel influence.
34. DJ Quik - Quik’s Groove 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyYScyiX3M
I’m about 95% positive that most people would choose another one of Quik’s Grooves over this one, but this is my personal favorite. It was the most upbeat and funky for sure. I remember first hearing the drums-only version of this song on the B-Side of the “Trouble” single vinyl, which I still have somewhere.
35. Suga Free - Doe doe & Da Skunk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDFnGX86kYY
36. DJ Quik & Kurupt - Do you know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h190oKUSHk8
He flips Tony Toni Tone’s “Anniversary” on this one.
37. DJ Quik - Roger’s groove
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzpCKsdyYMw
R.I.P. Roger Troutman. This sounds exactly like what would have been created if Roger and Quik had collaborated in 99.
38. 2nd II None - Back up off the wall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BHdH2AJh0Q
39. DJ Quik ft. Suga Free and Playa Hamm - No doubt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFiRWtDK5bg
40. Hi-C - Do it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZcvNiwTTk8
At 8 minutes long, I always end up listening to the entire song. The piano solo at the end, along with the talkbox? Yep. ------------------------------
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