DJ Quik production on Chronic 2000 (Death Row Version)

[Soopafly DPGC]

I always found it a little odd that DJ Quik produced the song "We Don't Love Em' by Top Dogg.  I didn't think Quik had anything to do with Death Row by 1999 and seems really out of place as that is the only song produced by him (other than Late Night, which we already know was an old recording).

So my question is, was this an old DJ Quik beat from the vaults?  Death Row has done this plenty of times in the past with the Dogg Pound 2002 album claiming it had Dr Dre production on it when all they did was use an old Dr Dre beat.  Same with the Real G'z song by Crooked I.  He rapped over an old Dr Dre (Next Episode) beat so Death Row could advertise Dr Dre production on the album.

OR, did Quik really produce this specifically for Top Dogg, was in the studio with him, and perhaps he saw something in him or was going to end up producing some of his album?  Quik and Snoop were tight in the late 90's, so seems a little strange that Quik would produce a song for a guy who is dissing Snoop and was basically a cheap imitation.  But I know Quik has had his ups and downs with Dre's camp over the years, so maybe Suge caught him at a time when he was mad at Snoop and Dre? 

It's a great instrumental and I love the song, probably Top Dogg's best (other than maybe Going Back To Cali), but i'd love to hear the original song/artist this beat was intended for if that was the case.  Thoughts?

[HighEyeCue]

very dope beat



imo it sounds more "Safe+Sound" than "Rhythm-al-ism"

[Soopafly DPGC]

very dope beat



imo it sounds more "Safe+Sound" than "Rhythm-al-ism"

Which was around the time Quik was heavily involved with Death Row. Which lends to the idea that maybe this is a leftover beat from 95/96 when Quik was actively producing for Death Row. And Suge pulled it from the vaults and had Top Dogg rap on it.

[BJV]

very dope beat



imo it sounds more "Safe+Sound" than "Rhythm-al-ism"

That snare drum, the kick and percussion make it sound more late 90's Quik to me

[dj coma]

I always found it a little odd that DJ Quik produced the song "We Don't Love Em' by Top Dogg.  I didn't think Quik had anything to do with Death Row by 1999 and seems really out of place as that is the only song produced by him (other than Late Night, which we already know was an old recording).

So my question is, was this an old DJ Quik beat from the vaults?  Death Row has done this plenty of times in the past with the Dogg Pound 2002 album claiming it had Dr Dre production on it when all they did was use an old Dr Dre beat.  Same with the Real G'z song by Crooked I.  He rapped over an old Dr Dre (Next Episode) beat so Death Row could advertise Dr Dre production on the album.

OR, did Quik really produce this specifically for Top Dogg, was in the studio with him, and perhaps he saw something in him or was going to end up producing some of his album?  Quik and Snoop were tight in the late 90's, so seems a little strange that Quik would produce a song for a guy who is dissing Snoop and was basically a cheap imitation.  But I know Quik has had his ups and downs with Dre's camp over the years, so maybe Suge caught him at a time when he was mad at Snoop and Dre?

It's a great instrumental and I love the song, probably Top Dogg's best (other than maybe Going Back To Cali), but i'd love to hear the original song/artist this beat was intended for if that was the case.  Thoughts?

This wasn't a beat from the vault. Quik was hired to do work for Death Row around the time of Chronic 2000. There's even footage of him at Can-Am in early 1999.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbrKmGsmGhg?si=ZfC1pc5u-5EA8YCz&t=605

There's at least one song that uses the same guitar melody (Up N Da Club by 2nd II None on the hook and outro, also released in 1999) but I don't think one beat came from the other. Quik would sometimes reuse melodies or sounds in different productions.

[Soopafly DPGC]

This wasn't a beat from the vault. Quik was hired to do work for Death Row around the time of Chronic 2000. There's even footage of him at Can-Am in early 1999.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbrKmGsmGhg?si=ZfC1pc5u-5EA8YCz&t=605

There's at least one song that uses the same guitar melody (Up N Da Club by 2nd II None on the hook and outro, also released in 1999) but I don't think one beat came from the other. Quik would sometimes reuse melodies or sounds in different productions.

Thanks for the insight. So Quik just sold a beat to Death Row and it wasn’t for any specific artist?  I was listening to the Inside Out Compilation and there’s a prerelease version of this song on there and Top Dogg says ‘it’s 1998’ in the original, changed to 1999 in the released version. So this song was originally made in 1998.

[Quadruple OG]

Thanks for the insight. So Quik just sold a beat to Death Row and it wasn’t for any specific artist?  I was listening to the Inside Out Compilation and there’s a prerelease version of this song on there and Top Dogg says ‘it’s 1998’ in the original, changed to 1999 in the released version. So this song was originally made in 1998.

Song was originally recorded in 1998 for Inside Out, but when that release was cancelled and turned into C2K, Top Dogg rerecorded the song (there are a few differences in lyrics between the version in 1998 and the one rerecorded in 1999) for C2K.

C2K Version:


Inside Out Version:


Also, not sure if this is a coincidence or whether the songs are connected, but the beat for "We Don't Love 'Em" has a similar sound to "Got a Nu Woman" by 2nd II None, specifically during Top Dogg's verses

[HighEyeCue]

That snare drum, the kick and percussion make it sound more late 90's Quik to me

just listening to it again

that's fair

[Fonky Fresh]

It's during that time period they shot the video for Sweet Black Pussy. Reggie talked about it i recall.

[thegooddoc]

The beat is cool, but the rapping is not good.  I'm surprised that Suge let this song get released. There is no way that Quik had any say over whether or not this song got released. My guess is that he sold death row the beat.

[Bossplaya369]

Why was his name censored on "Late Nite"?

"Yo pac, its ya boy ...."

Instead "its ya boy Quik"?

Same w "Last ones left" by 2Pac ...?? On the retail DR cut the part where he shout outs Quik (Same w OFTB Dogg Pound etc.)