DJ Quik's Ego & So-Called Legacy

[Hancock]

I love DJ Quik. He's in my top 5 producers of all-time (the others are Dre, RZA, Premier, Pete Rock).

Quik is a musical genius. He has one of the best minds in all of music.

I've been listening to all of his albums the past 2 days over the weekend and I noticed something...

The man knows how to make incredible music. He's like the Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal of west coast hip hop.

The man doesn't know how to make a hit record. I will tell you why...He only knows how to make songs about drugs and pussy. Yeah, all rappers mostly rap about this, but none of these songs are going to be played on radio. Most of it is vulgar as hell.

I listened to his discography from Quik is the Name to Book of David and I know why most of his songs weren't received well on the radio or other outlets.

Quik is always bitching about his place in music saying he wants more respect and all of this shit, but he has no track record.

His record sales don't match his bravado. When was his last RIAA certification? Back in 2000 with Balance & Options.

Mainstream publications and fans do not recognize Quik like Quik or we do. The streets respect the fuck out of Quik and so do I.

I think if Quik knew how to make a hit like Dr. Dre and stop limiting himself, he would be more recognized by everyone.

Quik's best album is Safe + Sound, in my opinion.

Quik has always been amazing as a producer and he is pretty much in the upper echelon of producers, but as an artist? He is in his 40's and hasn't done anything creatively with a pen and piece of paper. People say Snoop is lazy, but he has the record sales and recognition. Dr. Dre has 2 studio albums, but you know his legacy...

DJ Quik should be Dr. Dre lite, but he's not and I think this is why. Quik is clever with his delivery and some of his lyrics, but he is like a pimp...

Anyone have any thoughts about what I wrote? I needed to write this since Quik is a popular figure on this forum and he always has so many threads. I just think Quik is all hype as far as his accolades, but as far as his overall talent as a musician (producer), not many can fuck with him. He's no hitmaker, that's for sure.

[Black Excellence]

quik has accomplished a lot and sold millions of records he deserves to stunt on niggas.

[Will_B]

Quik is just out there enjoying himself

[DJSpin]

The man doesn't know how to make a hit record. I will tell you why...He only knows how to make songs about drugs and pussy. Yeah, all rappers mostly rap about this, but none of these songs are going to be played on radio. Most of it is vulgar as hell.

Quik's best album is Safe + Sound,Rythmalism in my opinion.

This is why I love quik's music. He raps about my favorite things, and things I can relate too, getting fuct up, partying, and getting laid!

[bouli77]

i much prefer quik's trajectory than dre's or snoop's. dude is living the life. doesn't have the hasle of superstars, but he's revered by connoisseurs. fame is not a blessing, it's a curse. that's why most rappers say fuck fame gimme the money. Quik is a legend in the industry and that speaks for itself. who cares about hit records and record sales really ? I'm sure Quik's eating good regardless and is thankful for his lot. on the other hand Dre is Jimmy's bitch and caters to a bigger audience without hesitating to sell out, Quik keeps it funky, he drops wack shit like everybody else but at least he's not doing it on purpose or as a sacrifice.

i really see Quik as a cool dude with encyclopedic knowledge about music who just enjoys his life, he's proud and maybe bitter and that's what makes him flip when he's drunk but I can understand where he's coming from even though at 43 he should know himself a little more than that.

[MOBNigga06]

You say that Quik should make hit records like Dr. Dre. Why is that? I'd rather him make records like much of what we find on The Book of David: So Compton, Nobody, Flow for Sale, Luv of My Life, Real Women, Killer Dope, etc.

These records are not hits and they're not going to dominate the radio, but they're extremely high quality songs, with dope lyrics over the best production. Why should Quik avoid making music like this and prefer to make songs for the radio? He's already a multi-millionaire and he is going to have royalties coming in for the rest of his life. He doesn't need to make music just to become super rich. He has the freedom to make the music he wants and we fans should be happy to get this high quality music rather than bullshit like what Dr. Dre puts out.

So I applaud Quik for making the music he wants to make and not being like Dre, who rarely releases music and only releases shitty music for the radio.

May Quik continue to be Quik. 

[Jimmy H.]

The game has one Dr. Dre already.  Quik don't need to do nothing but keep making great music.  And the way I see it if Kanye can bitch all day with radio play and nearly 20 Grammys to his credit, Quik can vent a little about how slept on he is.

[Mr. Theo]

Not disrespect to Dre and others.. (Kanye West..etc)

But DJ Quik is a TRUE MUSICIAN. Not entertainer,pop star,celebrity and other shit.. he is a musician, and excellence in what it does.

On Money Question:
DJ Quik isn't on the Forbes list..but he make money..he got royalties ..he living the good life..he got cars,equipament,house on Woodland Hills,he got a studio,he he travels around the world..

Fame:

DJ Quik has fame, in California and Japan..and Brazil to Italy .. all over the world ..DJ Quik is heavily known..but as i said ..dude is not celebrity.


Music

Quik got 8 albums and a 9th album on the way..he makes the music he wants..he doesn't care about record sales, radio airplay..promotion and etc...is just good music..at fullest...the music with creative freedom.


Life

DJ Quik goes to Compton every week.. alone..or with his son..anyway..dude goes to Compton Swap Meet,Spruce Street,South Central LA. alone..no bodyguards..no entourage..
The man goes to Bellflower just to sing on the karaoke.. all by himself..no security ..no cops..no buzz

Quik goes to parties in Hollywood, to Japan..to NY.. to Atlanta..alone or only with 1 security ( is more like a Friend ) Big Rob.. he don't need 10,20security on his own..


DJ Quik is musician.. a great musician..he makes music because he loves music...noT for the fame,money,celebrity status. he is a musical encyclopedia,
and he lives like a normal person..he make normal things everyday..


No disrespect
Dr.Dre is what it is today because his "friend" Jimmy Iovine.

DJ Quik don't need a Jimmy Iovine in your life.

DJ Quik describes itself perfectly in his songs:


"I gotta be simply one of the greatest, one of the hardest
One of the smartest, one of the brightest
One of the ones who helped start all this
Some niggas eatin' simply because I chose to be an artist
Way back when I was homeless, way back when I was careless
Way back when my sisters used to kick me out their apartments
They back with their hands out, but they made me so heartless"


"And even though I don't win no Grammys
I still get love in the streets, from the pappys and mammys
I'll be damned they ain't family"


"The number 23 on the beats, 'bout to do ya
Mister Blake A.K.A. DJ Quik talkin' to ya
And I'll prove I'm proper and yo game is whack with 1 line
I'll never put my name on a track that wasn't mine"


"New game..

Ay, my musical style is far from intermediate
And my lyrics stay flow as if I was collegian (smart)
Take my style you need it
Cus the shit I'm hearing on the radio is so repeated
So repetitive, not to be confused with competitive
Get a bar of this you need a sedative
It'll keep you up all night
Analyze it; dissect it, pretty tough all right
Cus I got some magic goin down
I summon up my powers and get tragic on the sound
Levin maggots on the ground (wow)
And I'm trying to do it twice and get some rich ass figures
Cus I'm tired of being nice to you bitch ass niggas
And the truth is, I ignore disses"


Quik is the realest artist.

[PhunkyDoob]

So t/s, let me ask you, what's a hit? Are we talking a quality song or just a popular song? See this is my issue, when fans start to talk about hits & shit like that not knowing
the business undertone to it. There's so much you guys do not know about how everything from the radio, to award shows work. I dont claim to know it all but i do know stuff. Im not talking conspiracy or anything either. So i get frustrated when people say stuff like hit. What's a hit? No song is a hit. It might become a hit, but there is no thing called a hit while it's made or released.

Everything goes back to market, marketing, advertising/sponsors, demographics, climate, marketability, interests & stuff like that.

[V2DHeart]

Looks like Tyrese Gibsons house in the Luv of My Life video, it's not though 

Always gotta watch these people with their claims. Most rent their homes

[KURUPTION-81]

quik gets respect on most forums.

Everyone says he is underrated but only in terms of mainstream, anyone who has heard his music gives quik props.

[Hancock]

So t/s, let me ask you, what's a hit? Are we talking a quality song or just a popular song? See this is my issue, when fans start to talk about hits & shit like that not knowing
the business undertone to it. There's so much you guys do not know about how everything from the radio, to award shows work. I dont claim to know it all but i do know stuff. Im not talking conspiracy or anything either. So i get frustrated when people say stuff like hit. What's a hit? No song is a hit. It might become a hit, but there is no thing called a hit while it's made or released.

Everything goes back to market, marketing, advertising/sponsors, demographics, climate, marketability, interests & stuff like that.

Tonite is a hit. It's the perfect example of what I am talking about. It's radio friendly. You can play it at the clubs, tailgate party, shit, any party! Play it at any venue. Then you go from Tonite and you get freaking Sweet Black Pussy and you can't even play that on the radio or anywhere except around your friends. I know Sweet Black Pussy is not a single, but look at the singles he came out with during 1991-1996. Let's Get Down with Toni Tony Tone was the quintessential song of my middle school life and I loved it to death. He's the main feature of the damn song and it was hot. That is another big hit that I heard everywhere that I can remember.

This is how Tonite performed on the charts:


Chart (1991)   Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100   49
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales   38
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs   13
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks    3

This is his highest and most successful single he's ever done and I wonder why...

[Matty]

appreciate some of the OPs comments.

i would really like to hear more r&b/pop music, this is where a lot of his production abilities seem to shine in relation to potential hit records. lets get down is a big jam, the truth hurts joint. r kelly home alone. adina howard talkbox. these are hit records.

[pixtr]

Life

DJ Quik goes to Compton every week.. alone..or with his son..anyway..dude goes to Compton Swap Meet,Spruce Street,South Central LA. alone..no bodyguards..no entourage..
The man goes to Bellflower just to sing on the karaoke.. all by himself..no security ..no cops..no buzz

Quik goes to parties in Hollywood, to Japan..to NY.. to Atlanta..alone or only with 1 security ( is more like a Friend ) Big Rob.. he don't need 10,20security on his own..

I'm not pussy so I don't need security

[Mr. Theo]

Life

DJ Quik goes to Compton every week.. alone..or with his son..anyway..dude goes to Compton Swap Meet,Spruce Street,South Central LA. alone..no bodyguards..no entourage..
The man goes to Bellflower just to sing on the karaoke.. all by himself..no security ..no cops..no buzz

Quik goes to parties in Hollywood, to Japan..to NY.. to Atlanta..alone or only with 1 security ( is more like a Friend ) Big Rob.. he don't need 10,20security on his own..

I'm not pussy so I don't need security

What?