My original DJ Quik ''Trauma'' Review for those interested...

[Conan]

I mentioned that I was gonna type this up a while ago, and now the edited version is up on AllHipHop.com. However, it's been edited by the site's music editor meaning several things have been cut. So, instead I've decided to post the review I originally wrote here:


The Game may have kick started proceedings earlier this year, but now a West Coast pioneer has returned to ensure that Compton’s presence in rap continues to be felt. With his latest solo offering ‘’Trauma’’, veteran music maker DJ Quik has crafted an album that sounds just as accomplished as anything that the good Doctor ever blesses the listener with.

Beginning with the typically funky ‘’Intro For Roger’’, Quik hits hard with his trademark horns, obscure samples (something that sounds like a heart monitor) and instruments. Sounding slightly crazed in his flow, Quik gives us some reasons why his new record is titled ‘’Trauma’’, greiving over the death of the dearly missed Mauseberg by bleakly stating that ‘’my best friend’s dead’’ and complaining about the haters that tried to talk him out of pursuing his musical passion.

The cut slides effortlessly into the relatively upbeat ‘’Fandango’’, and Quik seems refreshed after releasing some of the skeletons from his closet on the preceding track. Now ready to relax and have a good time with the club revellers that surround him, guest B-Real laces a bouncy chorus, instructing drunken party-goers to ‘’spin around ‘til you get a hangover’’. Quik’s beat pulsates, complete with chiming bells, crashing drums and an excellent guitar sample that appears near the song’s grand finale.

Meanwhile, proving Mack 10’s theory that ‘’it ain’t a hit ‘til Nate Dogg spit’’ to be correct, Quik enlists the baratone boomer on ‘’Black Mercedes’’, a song that has all the makings of a summer anthem. Nate sounds inspired on the cut, his voice sounding slightly higher than usual. Meanwhile, Quik serenades his female target over the melodic backdrop, compelte with mellow keys and the occasional breezy strums - you can almost hear the swaying of palm trees and splashes of the shore. Sounding like nothing he has released before, the Quiksta sounds just as surprised as the listener when he admits that ‘’I can’t believe I might be liking this chick’’, and isn’t simply looking for a one night stand.

At well under an hour, Quik’s latest is the definition of short and sweet. An extra song would have been appreciated but there is certainly no filler material to be found. Meanwhile, while some of the features could have loyal followers of the artist sctatching their head the Western veteran has brought the best out of every person involved. Nay-sayers may have instructed him to give it all up, but fans can only thank Quik for overcoming personal trauma and ignoring their demands. In doing so, he has crafted the best thing to come straight outta Compton since ‘’Chronic 2001’’.

4.5 STARS

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That's my ''OG'' version of the CD. The major changes that come to mind between this and the AHH review is that the final score was lowered to 4 stars , which by AHH standards is still incredibly good, descriptions of the 'key' tracks were cut a little and the final line was changed to ''In doing so, he has crafted another heater straight outta Compton''. Personally, I preferred my Dre reference since it tied in nicely with the opening paragraph reference. I can understand why it might be changed though, as I guess they thought that final line was hyperbole - but, in my eyes, ''Trauma'' is superior to ''The Documentary'', which is the other biggest album to come out of the CPT since ''2001''. At the end of the day, I think most edits were made because of me going over my word limit and I trust AHH's judgement, but I just thought I'd drop my version for those on the forum that aren't over on that site.

Side note - what does everyone reckon? 4 or 4.5? It's not a 5 star in my eyes. anyway.

[Westcoastin']

pretty bangon review, i didnt like it QUITE as much as you....but it was very good,  id say 4/5....maybe only because its hard for the newer stuff to stand up against the older stuff, althought its nice to see artists grow.

[dameons]

yeah....it was a soft album that didn't deliver any hard tracks like "john Doe".

[Lucien]

yeah....it was a soft album that didn't deliver any hard tracks like "john Doe".

you're kidding right?

[Conan]

I would say that it is quite a soft album, although there are several harder cuts. As for the score, it was hard to decide between 4 and 4.5. I knew it deserved more than 3.5 anyway. So because I was struggling myself to give a final score, I wasn't really tripping when it was awarded the 4. As I said, its still a great score by their standards.

[Diabolical]

nice review

[stinga4lyfe]

You know what, I love the homie Quik and I'm a HUGE fan but this album is not on a Dr Dre's level..  I'm sorry for giving the real, but when Dre drops his albums, the vibe is crazy and you feel the music a litte better than a Quik album.  this album is tight, not saying that but I'm not putting it in the place of my "Quik is the name" album. 

[Juronimo]

I would give it a 4.5. Since everyone wants to compare this to Dre's work, I think Quik's music has more feeling to it. It's more personal and this album is a very pesonal album. This album is better than anything Dre has done since he left Death Row and it's a hundred times better than Documentary.

[stinga4lyfe]

I would give it a 4.5. Since everyone wants to compare this to Dre's work, I think Quik's music has more feeling to it. It's more personal and this album is a very pesonal album. This album is better than anything Dre has done since he left Death Row and it's a hundred times better than Documentary.

Are you seriously on some dope?  You really think this album is better than Chronic 2001?  Homie, let me have some of that shit u smok'n cuz it must be good!!   

[ToOoOoN!!!]

props for the review! my 2005 album so far 

[Active Ingredient]

4.5 seems good

i wouldnt have a problem with a 5 either. there isnt one track on that cd worth skipping, every one of em is bangin. all the lyrics are on point, each song transitions well from one to another; its hard to find anything wrong with this album.

[Lil Jay]

I would give it a 4.5. Since everyone wants to compare this to Dre's work, I think Quik's music has more feeling to it. It's more personal and this album is a very pesonal album. This album is better than anything Dre has done since he left Death Row and it's a hundred times better than Documentary.

it is pretty good but i wouldnt say better than 2001

[Juronimo]

I would give it a 4.5. Since everyone wants to compare this to Dre's work, I think Quik's music has more feeling to it. It's more personal and this album is a very pesonal album. This album is better than anything Dre has done since he left Death Row and it's a hundred times better than Documentary.

Are you seriously on some dope?  You really think this album is better than Chronic 2001?  Homie, let me have some of that shit u smok'n cuz it must be good!!   

Yes I do. I don't expect too many people to agree. This album has way more feeling to it. Chronic 2001 is a great album but this album is on another level. Quik's music, at least on this album just sounds more personal to me and I feel it more. Now if I said this album was better than Chronic/Doggystyle, than I'd pass that joint right on over. 

Chronic 2001 - 4 mics
Trauma - 4.5 mics
Streetz is a Mutha - 5 mics