DJ QUIK - Rhythmalism | Review By: Incognito


 

1. Rhythm-al-ism (Intro) - "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, pimps, playas and women of the night, welcome to the world of rhythmalism." Quik invites you to his realm of rhythmalism, gettin the album started off on an upbeat note. The beat strikes a cord right away, pretty unique and different from Quik's previous compositions. He drops one fast verse and just let's the music cut in till the end...a short song. Nothin special from Quik though. 3.5 out of 5.

2. We Still Party - This's what I'm talkin bout...dope Quik song. It's straight up funk with some rock guitar flavor tacked on. Quik stands on the mic alone, doin his thang an just "groovin off the spirituality". It's basically a song sayin shit ain't changed, Quik's still partyin all day, everyday. The production is tailored perfectly by the man himself, showin off his god given ability. One of the best songs the album has to offer, Quik fans will love it. 4.5 out of 5.

3. So Many Wayz - (featuring 2nd II None & Peter Gunz) - Compton homies 2nd II None and Bronx rapper Peter Gunz (whatever happened his ass) come together for a smooth track. Quik's right hand man on production at the time, G-One, is alongside him on the beat. Peter Gunz is tight with his raps spittin over their dope west coast instrumental. The song has a nice mellow hook to it also, makin the track appealing. Another great song in my opinion...4.5 out of 5.

4. Hand in Hand - (featuring 2nd II None & El DeBarge) - This was the first single off the record leaning towards and r&b feel with El Debarge on the hook. Quik takes a different approach here, goin soft on the beat...still tight. KK and Dee of the duo 2nd II None really do their thing here, they are always tight. El's chorus is just straight up catchy, doin his thing singin about money and pussy! Though Quik's verse is overlooked here...still a dope song. 4 out of 5.

5. Down, Down, Down - (featuring Suga Free, Mausberg & AMG) - This was made for the club scene...it's a banger. AMG gets the second verse, "Cause you got more bounce than Roger Troutman, I don't know when it's in or out an..." The young prodigy Mausberg gets his only spot on the album here spittin a descent flow, and Suga Free is always freaky on the mic. The hook done by Quik is nice, "When we come up we gettin down, down ,down/step in the club they give us pound, pound, pound/ lookin for somethin that be nice brown and round when we come and hit the world with a brand new sound." Quik's electric keyboard orientated beat satisfies me once again. I also like the scratches that come up through out the track. This was eventually the album's 2nd second single. 4 out of 5.

6. You'z A Gangxta - This may very well be my favorite song on this album. It's basically a song that states Quick isn't a gangsta anymore, he's not the banger he used to be. "Fuck what ya heard baby, I'm Dj Quik, whether on tv or in the streets I'm still the shit." This is a great song, Quik tells an interesting story from the MC Eiht inccident, up to the night Biggie was shot. Quik even checks himself, "See some don't realize the power of lyrics, cause when you rap about death you talkin to spirits." The beat is way tight, you can even here RTD2 from Star Wars as a part of the beat in the background. At the end Quik sends a message to his one time rival MC Eiht, "And to MC Eiht, you get yo head together maybe we could do a record...I'm out." 4.5 out of 5.

7. I Useta Know Her - (featuring AMG) - A VERY funky Quik song with his long time homie, AMG. The song is pretty humorous, packin funny rhymes about bitches they use to know from their days of 1991. Check a line from AMG, "She was askin me question after question, till she seen mine my life-sized erection/I bend over prepare to do my duty/then see my nigga Quik's name on the booty...bitch, I useta know her." LOL, both Quik and AMG go back and forth tradin the mic smoothly with their clever raps. Quik's talk-box hook adds on even more funkiness inherited in the song already. Overall this is a nice, fun filled melody produced by none other than the Quiksta. 4 out of 5.

8. No Doubt - (featuring Suga Free & Playa Hamm) - This is one of Quik's experimental songs that is made up of a rugged rock guitar, mixed in with some funk tunes as well. Playa Hamm serves his only appearance on this record, and Suga Free comes in as well. This is a pretty good song once you give it acouple of spins, it has a nice hook, "No doubt, I got somethin fo yo mouth, no doubt, I got somethin fo yo mouth, no doubt, I got somethin fo yo mouth/now run and tell em what we all about." Good song with average lyrics. 4 out of 5.

9. Speed - (featuring AMG) - SHIT...this is as sick as Quick gets on this album. The title says it all, his raps come up to par with the crafty beat. Quik explodes right when the tight drum kicks come in, "The Q-U-I-K is the name I spell/124 beats per minute I rock well." An uncredited AMG comes just as hot, "Faster then the Concord on board call me the pilot/baby better let me know she's excited." Man, the hook is dope too, "When I'm on speed, I'm faster than most, and I could rock a party from coast to coast", one of the best songs this album has to offer, way tight. 4.5 out of 5.

10. Whateva U Do - This song is more of a jazz/lounge/laid back Quik song then any other of his previous recordings. Not one of the high points on the record, but an average song for me, some fansmay turn this song away for it's softness. G-One helped produce the beat as well as lend live drums from himself to the track. Another one of Quik's experiments here that shows his growth as a musician 3.5 out of 5.

11. Thinkin' Bout U - Again, nothin great from Quik, another experimentation. He takes a more laid back approach towards the mic, rappin about a girl he wishes he had and so forth. His beat is much like his lyrics, slow, and laid back. Though this song is at the bottom of my list in terms of play time. 3 out of 5.

12. El's Interlude - (Performed by El DeBarge) - Quik gives El DeBarge his own song here. It's a very smooth, and soulful song, classic El Debarge. Quik handles the beat, which is some very smooth funk. A meaningless song in my opinion though. 3 out of 5.

13. Medley For A "V" (The Pussy Medley) - (featuring Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, AMG, 2nd II None, Hi-C & El Debarge) - All the pimps, playas and hustlas come together to make a song about their favorite body part. The Dogg Pound's Snoop, and Nate Dogg collaborate with Quik and his click for a dope song. Vocalists Nate Dogg, and El Debarge combined harmonies makin for a kick ass duet. Nate is the best though, his part is amazing. Snoop gets the opening verse dishing out pretty tight raps. The rest take turns doin their thang. The beat was laced by Quik and G-One, some funky shit. A good song...fo shizzel. 4 out of 5.

14. Bombudd 2 - My ideal song to blaze up a sack to. Quik borrows the identity of Bob Marley for this song! It's a reggae flavored track with Quik just singin the whole time about weed and shit. I like this song, it gives the album more dimension. 3.5 out of 5.

15. Get 2Getha Again - (featuring 2nd II None, AMG and Hi-C) - Another dope song with El DeBarge makin another strong appearance for the hook. The raps are nice, but Quik takes a back seat on the mic, though his beat is a banger once again. A good song for the end of the record. 4 out of 5.

16. Reprise (Medley For A "V") - We reach the album's finale, Quik's groove 4 is composed of rock and funk elements. G-One helped produce it also, not really much to say here, it's just an instrumental. It's a short track with not too much depth because it has no lyrics. 3.5 out of 5.

Quik's most diverse album to date incorporating hip hop, funk, soul, r&b, rock and even reggae still packs classic Quik songs. Song's like "Hand in Hand", "I Useta Know Her", "Whateva U Do", and "Bombudd 2" sound like they come from different areas of music but all from one artist. After a 2 and a half year hiatus since the criminal minded "Safe + Sound", the Quiksta returns with a very dimensional record. It shows growth, Quik focuses on one thing here, and that's being a musician, shedding his gangbangin image in the song, "You'z a Gangxta". The great thing about the album is that there are no interludes at all, just 16 tracks of music containing classic Quik songs like, "We Still Party", "So Many Wayz", "Down, Down, Down", and "You'z a Ganxta". Quik was accompanied by his long time homies 2nd II None, AMG, and Suga Free, he even squeezed in his west side homies Snoop and Nate Dogg for the anthem, "The Pussy Medley". Quik even put out some nice raps like on "You'z a Gangxta" and the adrenaline filled song "Speed". G-One also lends his production talents on 4 tracks as well. If you don't have this album, go get it after you read this cause it's a well rounded record, any true Quik fan should own it, if not any fan of west coast music. Still, I would take Quik's newer album, "Balance and Options" over "Rhythmalism" any day, that's just me, this is still a good record. Don't let me forget the beats, the album is well produced with Quik tapping into many regions of music satisfying your ears to the fullest.

 

4/5 Dubs!



 

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