Dubcnn: What’s up y’all its Jose of Dubcnn we’re
here with Blaqkout. It’s Kurupt and Quik. And of course Vegognatti, Kurupt’s cuz.
And we’re just chillin’ here man playin’ pool, you know, just kickin’ it. These
are two West Coast legends.
Kurupt: Doin’ it man, and doin’ it big
and enjoying it.
Quik: we gon’ have a problem nephew. I’mma whoop your
ass, I feel bad about it.
Kurupt: See what’s goin’ on is me and Quik’s
nephew is playing right against Quik and Quik seems like he’s finnin’ ta take
his pampers off and whoop him.
Quik: Seem like it? I’m already doing
it! I wanna forfeit the game because I’mma do it.
Dubcnn:
First off I wanna thank you guys for the exclusive digital drops you guys gave
us for “What You Wanna Do” and “Moroccan Blues”, that was sick and those were
great tracks, I loved them.
Kurupt: Thank you very much.
Dubcnn: So I guess we’ll get to the questions and start talkin’.
First off, what’s the situation with the label? Which label are you releasing
it on?
Quik: We’re releasing it on Mad Science/Fontana.
Dubcnn: So that’s your label. Do you think it’s a better experience
compared to working with a major label?
Quik: It’s different.
It’s always two different experiences. You take on more work when you’re the label.
So obviously we gotta work a little harder, but at the same time when the record’s
a success you get to have more control in the project. And that’s better than
anything else to me.
Dubcnn: So I was looking at your MySpace
and you said you’re doing sheet music. Can you tell me about that? What’s up with
that?
Quik: Well yeah, Jeff Gallego he transcribed some of my
music for the orchestra to play at a show I did at the Grove a couple months ago.
Dubcnn: So you’re gonna have symphonies playing Quik music?
Quik: Yeah.
Kurupt: Ain’t that good?
Dubcnn:
That’s sick, that’s a good deal man. So how did you guys link up? I know you guys
were working on the Snoop album and you just vibed.
Quik: Yeah
that’s what happened.
Dubcnn: How did you decide, “I wanna
work with this dude and we wanna do a project”?
Kurupt: Well
you know we was workin’ on “Ego Trippin’” Snoop’s album. Unk brought it to the
table like, “You know what Kurupt, we could do this.” Also I told Unk, “People
are waiting for you, it’s time to drop some of that new shit.”
Quik:
I’m whoopin’ his ass!
Kurupt: “It’s time for that new Quik man, everybody
wanna hear you, you’re relevant.” And you know, he was just like, “I really gotta
feel for this music right now,” and I was just like, “Ain’t no music without gettin’
on that mic because you’re a relevant force in this ballgame.”
Quik:
Thank you man. ‘Cause you know I was like semi-retired and I didn’t wanna rap
no more. And Snoop was like, “You can’t do that Quik, what are you thinking about?
Stop being lazy, whatever you on. Get off of it nigga, get over it and get back
to work. They wanna hear you.”
Kurupt: No shit. So you know Quik came
to me. Me and Quik and Terrace , Terrace Martin, we was all throwin’ ideas, workin’
on the album, you know just throwin’ things, Unk came up with something like,
“You know what Kurupt we could do a whole project together,” and I was like, “You
know what let’s make that happen.” Ya dig? It was all talk at first, ideas flying
and flowin’, you know what I’m sayin’ and then Unk was just like, “You know what
I got the studio set up, let’s go in here and knock it out.” We went in. Game
over.
Quik: Yeah, real quick too, it was like the album didn’t take a
long time to do the record. It was kind of fun. And we had a theme, our theme
was to black out. Our theme was to just black out and do a record that we like.
You know some fun shit; a little different. We could easily go gangsta rap, simply,
but we already know, everybody knows that gangsta rap is hard to sell these days.
People wanna hear much more than just that and plus the negative affects you in
a negative way too.
Kurupt: And plus you know with the gangsta rap, we
always gonna do gangsta rap. That’s what me and Unk is. But we decided on this
album right here to do something different that what they expected us to do.
Quik: More accessible, something for kids to dance to. We like to see kids
dancing to “Exodus”.
Kurupt: Yeah, you know what I mean and havin’ a
ball gettin’ they groove on. ‘Cause you know me and Quik we on a different page,
both of us, in our lives as men, as well as in this ballgame of music. The average
is just what it is, it’s average. We tryin’ to step above the grid. We tryin’
to make music that’s something you wouldn’t expect from us. Some things you would,
but something you really wouldn’t expect from us. We tryin’ to drive the whole
ballgame in the West Coast up to a different level. Higher expectations for what
you gonna release. You can always do the same thing that people are used to you
doing, but to take that chance and that step above that is more the line that
me and Unk is tryin’ to push. He stepped his game up musically and lyrically we
both stepped our game up. We hittin’ them with concepts, we not just hittin ‘them
wit the same old fuck a bitch. We ain’t hittin’ them with the same old dry bullshit.
We steppin’ our ballgame up, we takin’ chances. And we gon’ give y’all a great
album. Unk put his foot in the music and we both put our foot in these lyrics
right here man. You understand me, doin’ it big. Ya dig?
Dubcnn:
Is Unk Terrace?
Quik: He call me Unk.
Dubcnn:
My bad, I wanna talk about Terrace. How did he get involved in the project as
far as production? Because I know you usually take care of most the production.
Kurupt: Well you know Quik did all of the production and T-Mac put
his hands in there as he does, to step it up. Quik and Terrace is a great and
powerful musical force. I mean when they get together ain’t no telling where the
music is gonna go. Quik could’ve done it all by himself but there was certain
records he did that he was like, “Yo T-Mac come over and throw some of your flavor
on here”. ‘Cause that’s what we do. We keep it al in the family. DJ Quik, T-Mac
Terrace Martin and Kurupt Young Gotti. We got a new team here man and this is
just the beginning of the records that we plan on releasing as a team and we just
hope people like it and enjoy it, you dig what I’m sayin? One of my favorite albums
on the record is “Appealin’’’ because its just real talk of business situations
that we go through in our real lives. It means a lot when you hear it. It’s one
of the last records on the album. I hope people can bug out to it and enjoy it.
It’s something you gonna wanna sit down smoke something good to, sip a little
bit of that brown cognac or some of that good patron, relax out and hear some
grown man shit, ya dig?
Dubcnn: I listened to “Watch You
Wanna Do?” and “Moroccan Blues” and they sound kind of Middle Eastern. Where’d
you get that influence from?
Quik: Both of them huh? Well “What
You Really Wanna Do” is original. “Moroccan Blues” is a sample from Andrew Zimern’s
cooking show Bizarre Foods.
Kurupt: That’s what they don’t know. Tell
‘em that again man it’s a cooking show homie. Music come from everywhere. Tell
‘em again Unk.
Quik: Yeah it’s from the Morocco episode from the Bizarre
Foods show with Andrew Zimern from the Travel Channel. They went to go eat in
a Tangine restaurant in north morocco. The food inspires that music and the music
inspires that food. I can’t wait, after making that music, and makin’ a hit record
from just sampling the resident musician in the restaurant, now I gotta go eat
at the restaurant.
Kurupt: I’mma tell you like this, you dig man? Look
at this man. Music is everywhere, inspiration come from all different facets of
the ball game you dig what I’m sayin’, and I’m gonna let you know here shout out
to all our Moroccan fans out there. ‘Cause a lot of people don’t know when you’re
worldwide that means you’re all over the world, ya dig, and your game is wide.
So you know we want to give a shout out to all our Moroccan folks out there. Thanks
for all the support we love you. All these years, you understand me, cause I’ve
gotten invitations to come to Morocco man and do some big things because you know
the Moroccan fans love us and we love you too you dig what I’m talkin’ about ,so
we wanna give a shout out to the Moroccan folks and that record “Hey Playa (Moroccan
Blues)” that’s for you.
Dubcnn: This one’s for Quik. Can
you briefly talk about the record F-ck y’all?
Quik: okay just
get me makin’ this shot. Awww, look at that, now it’s gonna be a bad answer. What
was that?
Dubcnn: Just talk about the record “Fuck Y’all”.
Quik; Okay what about it?
Dubcnn: What’s the
inspiration?
Quik: The music’s the inspiration. The hook is
something everybody wants to say but don’t know how to say it. So to me it’s fun
to perform that record because you give the audience a chance to just get it off
they chest. ‘Cause some people want to say it to some people because people annoy
people. Some people are annoying, some people are overzealous, especially in certain
circles, they kinda think they can approach me any which way because I’m a celebrity.
Some people don’t know that they’re rubbing me the wrong way or they’re ribbing
me or that they’re being disrespectful or annoying. So I just did the record because
basically I want to say fuck y’all to some people and I said it. When we perform
it live I let the audience say “fuck you” to me, I’m like, “Y’all can give it
up to me,” and they be like, “F-ck y’all!” at me. You know let it out, it’s just
a word you know. But when you take it further that’s a different thing. That’s
why the word’s like, “Go fuck yourself”.
Kurupt: Ey, go f-ck yourself
ey, you f-ckin’ stewie. Ey with a cucumber and a carrot okay? Get the f-ck outta
here.
Quik: And hopefully the people that I said f-ck you to at the end
of the record use that as motivation to go out and achieve. They gotta know that
they’re on my mind. ‘Cause I invested a lot of time and effort into these guys
being celebrities and they squandered their fame.
Quik: Oh I’m back to
droppin’ em. I’m bout’ to kill him now, he’s in trouble. Come on back here walk
back here baby.
Dubcnn: So how are the live shows? Just
you two on stage.
Quik: I mean we’re celebrities, we hip-hop
legends.
Kurupt; Nah me and Quik’s groove. We did that “Anniversary”,
it’s called “Do You Know” where we flipped that Toni Toni Toni “Anniversary”.
You gotta peep it cause we dos this. And you know it was great. I felt like bringing
a chair out, sitting the chair down, light up a blunt instead of a cigarette ‘cause
you know I am Gotti Sinatra, they call me Gotstra. I was going Sinatra on these
guys man. I was like, “Zoo zoo zoo baby,” and just go straight to it because the
music, and this is how I know it was true, we was in Honolulu, we did “Anniversary”
and the mood in the entire thing changed into such a mature and grown aura and
that’s what “Anniversary” does to you.
Quik: First of all it’s good music.
Kurupt: And after Quik’s groove we had the live band, so you can just imagine
that flavor and vibe there but we will be coming to you soon with a live concert
with me and uncle Quik strictly for the internet world to make ya’ll swirl to
it. So be lookin’ for that comin’ up the Blaqkout live internet performance we’ll
be comin’ out with that soon and you can feel the vibe yourself and smoke out
like this.
Quik: If I could just add to that, yeah we had fun in Honolulu
and Honolulu performing that record. Like he said it’s sedate like the music is
relaxing so people just kinda enjoyed it. And they was dancing to it like they
heard it their whole lives. It was familiar to ‘em. And as any artist that’s the
best compliment you can get from the audience, for them to appreciate your song
upon hearing it the first time.
Quik: And you do know that don’t you.
You bet you.
Dubcnn: Y’all have travelled around the world
and everywhere and stuff. Where’s the best weed you’ve smoked? I gotta ask you.
Kurupt: I’mma tell you like this man, Amsterdam I love y’all to
death, but y’all need some of these Kush seeds ya dig. Cause y’all weed, y’all
got abundance, you got quantity, but you don’t got quality. Me and Daz got this
thing, we might be goin’ out there takin’ a couple of these Kush seeds out there
so we can start getting’ some Kush in Amsterdam, you dig what I’m talkin’ about,
cause y’all need it in your life. The best smoke Humboldt County baby, you understand
what I’m talking about man, where the grass is always greener and the indo is
meaner nephew, you know what I’m talking about.
Quik: Connoisseur. I
can’t smoke.
Kurupt: Oh yeah, see my unk I gotta take care of him cause
you know what I’m sayin’ peoples is watching him. You know what you see that I
wanted to show you that to see that he is being responsible. Now get of his dick.
Quik: Can’t smoke.
Kurupt: But you know what I’m sayin’ this is
the best bomb right here man, this is called California Classic. We got the OG
Kush we got the Purp, we got the Haze, but the OG Kush is some of the best to
me. We got the Afghan, stick it in your ass; you understand what I’m talking about
man? So you know the best indo and the best smoke come from the only coast, the
best coast, the coast with the most, the West Coast. And don’t you forget it ya
bet you.
Quik: Any more questions about the record?
Dubcnn:
Yeah, just a couple more. You guys have a little bit different styles on your
own. How did you manage to blend that and make the album work?
Quik:
I think familiarity is important, familiarity. And we both grew up on SSL consoles.
So I think just the fact that we had SSL channel inputs in our racks, just to
see it and hear that sound takes us back to the heyday of recording. I think if
we just did it by Pro Tools and it was just a different environment altogether
I don’t know how much I would’ve liked the album upon completion. We’re SSL kids
so we just put SSLs on our racks and it takes us back to “Can Am”, it takes you
back to before we were mixing “All Eyez on Me” it takes you back to the fun, it
takes you back to “Dogg Food”.
Kurupt: And plus you know this album taught
us something man. That’s what so great about our record man because you know what
it wasn’t just about making an album. We learned so much off of the experience
of putting this album together and making the album like Unk perfected this Pro
Tools game and he got it so to a perfection right now he could teach a class ya
dig? And it’s like me I learned how to do these Pro Tools off of this session.
I learned all kinds of tricks of the trade for Pro Tools. Now I’m recording myself
at the house, I got the full blown crackin’ at the house I records myself you
understand me man and do it way big. I got portable pro tools. I got the mic in
my car, I got the stand in the car, I got the Apple Mac in the car with the Pro
Tools you understand me man. I could go in the bathroom man and make a record
at the mother f-ckin’ local 7-11, ya dig me man? I’m in there man. So it was just
a great thing man. We learned things off of this experience, we made the best
music up to date for ourselves and we plan on doing this a long time Quik and
Kurupt man doing the albums. Every year you can expect a DJ Quik and Kurupt collaborated
album which is gonna be historical for the West Coast and also historical for
ourselves man because you know we all we got.
Quik: Especially if we
got Richie Abbott involved. Richie legitimizes this whole thing cause this could’ve
been a real corny project. This shit could’ve come out real stupid, but the fact
that it’s coming out just a year after we started. It wasn’t a project that just
went on and on, it wasn’t beleaguering, it’s kind of actually fun to do. We hope
to be able to do more mashups like this because that’s basically what it is. Now
I’d like to see my man [Kurupt] and Cube do a record for commercial release. I
think right now the point is to just keep puttin’ out records instead of being
gun shy and waitin’ and holding ‘em we just wanna just keep puttin’ out records.
We want people to keep dancin’ because you know it’s getting stagnant. You can’t
stagnate your fans, you gotta keep ‘em motivated by putting out more records,
especially if they love you.
Kurupt: And that’s what this is all about
man. And most importantly I don’t know if I‘ve had this much fun making a record
in a long time man. That was another thing to add to it. There was so much to
this album that was needed. It was just like you know we had the most fun that
we’ve had in the long time making this album and that’s what this is all about.
When we first started out, when he dropped “Quik is the Name” It was fun he enjoyed
himself, he had a ball. He had a ball taking other people to different places.
The first time he took one of his homeboys when he never been out the hood to
a place out of town or a place somewhere else it was big man, that’s what this
was man.
Quik: It was technically a wind because we weren’t thinking
about the repercussions of anything, we didn’t know nothin’. The further I had
ever been out of Compton was just to Long Beach.
Kurupt: Now you’re travelling
all over the world, takin’ your peoples with you.
Quik: It’s a different
game. Now we’re mature and we know how to respect our fame. We know how to share
it too. I like to see people successful cause I don’t feel alone. I like helping
artists develop and what not. I like discovering people; I like listening for
new sounds. There’s a couple of new sounds that’s coming out right now that I
like, I said I wouldn’t talk about it but, I like to see the new ground being
broken. I like what Glasses is doing,. I like Nipsy Hussle’s hustle. I like Problem
and what not. I like to see certain people grindin’ and get they props. Even my
nephew Infrared I gotta shout him out, like the people that you don’t see and
don’t know, but I think have potential to develop into artists that can actually
make some noise. You know those are kind of the youngest people. I said I wouldn’t
acknowledge it but I had to.
Dubcnn: Are there any other
artists making appearances on the album other than you two?
Kurupt:
Yeah we got Tre.
Quik: Tre Mac. See that’s another thing, I found this
artist up in Sacramento, actually he found me he was on my MySpace and what not.
But I saw him perform like in Carmel Monterrey and I dug what he was doing so
I invited down to spit 16. If you get a hot 16, that’s the template for rap. If
you follow how 16s work, they work. Yo-Yo’s on the record he came through. Yolanda,
I’ve been saying I wanted to work with her forever. It’s cool to get another West
Coast legend in here workin’ it.
Kurupt: Damn, boy did Yo-Yo kill it.
Then we got problem on there. We kept it pretty much in house, f-cked with those
that wanted to fuck with us, you know and came out with a classic album.
Quik: I think I’m about to win this pool game too. You kinda done with the interview?
Dubcnn: Yeah pretty much.
Quik: I also want
to acknowledge too that on this album we got like a bunch of great musicians too
like Keith Crouch and Robert Bacon on guitar, and David Foreman on guitar, and
Jubu. Jubu has played on like “Lay Your Head On My Pillow” for Toni Toni Toni,
records like that, he did some really important records. Terrace Martin, obviously
playing keys and horn arrangements and stuff. You know it kind of became fun,
especially to do it instead of just in the box, all computer-driven everything,
it’s cool to let people play real strings. On that note check this out here. I’m
shooting for that corner pocket right there. Is it really that easy?
Dubcnn: That’s a game. Well thanks a lot, appreciate your time for
the interview. When’s it dropping, when can people expect the album?
Quik: The record comes out June 9th on RBC Mad Science, Fontana, Universal.
Kurupt: That’s mad science, pentagon, Fontana, with the RBC twist, Universal
to top it all off, cause we still in the majors baby, but we independently pushin’
and as you can see we sharp as we wanna be, understand, stupid sharp.
Quik: I’m into my video games. That’s how I feel sometimes. 8-bit Nintendo.
Kurupt: Hey good lookin’ man. Thanks for all the support. On a real note
we love y’all Dubcnn we love y’all we got more for y’all ya dig what I’m sayin’?
And get ready for that new DJ Quik solo album it’s comin’ soon and that new Kurupt
solo album “Street Lights” it’s comin’ soon, we ain’t playin’. Chuuuch.
Dubcnn: Alright peace.
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DJ Quik & Kurupt (BlaQKout) // Exclusive Video Drop // Dubcnn
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