DJ Quik

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DJ Quik
Background information
Birth name	David Martin Blake
Born	January 18, 1970
Origin	Compton, California
Genre(s)	West Coast hip hop P-funk R&B
Occupation(s)	producer, rapper
Years active	1990-present
Label(s)	Mad Science Recordings
Associated acts	AMG Mausberg Sugafree
Website	http://www.dj-quik.com

DJ Quik (born David Martin Blake on January 18, 1970) is a West Coast rapper and record producer from Compton, California. He was raised on West Spruce Street in Compton. In September 2005, DJ Quik released his first independent album on his own new label, Mad Science. Over the years, Quik has had a variety of music from gangsta rap to R&B, but every production has had a signature touch.

[edit] Biography

As a teen he took up an affiliation with the Tree Top Piru Bloods, hence why his name is spelled Quik with the C conspicuously missing ("c" standing for crip). He grew up without a father and moved out of his mother's home when he was only 17. He lived in the house as the only male with 8 sisters. His home life was far from stable as he raps in a song that one of his sisters was selling drugs to one of his other sisters. He began selling homemade mixtapes (like "The Red Tape", 1987) after he received a turntable for his 9th grade graduation and then began doing shows DJing around Southern California when he moved out. He signed to Profile Records in the summer of 1990, reportedly as the label's first six figure signee. Not only could he write his own songs, he could produce as well.

His debut album, "Quik Is the Name" was led by the success of two top 20 R&B singles, "Tonite" and "Born and Raised in Compton." "Tonite" even charted on the pop charts. The album ended up reaching 10th on the album charts. None of his successive albums reached the success of his debut, though they have been well received in California, particularly his 1998 release "Rhythm-al-ism." On "Safe + Sound" appears "Dollaz + Sense," which was a diss track to Compton rapper and member of the rival Tragniew Park Compton Crips, MC Eiht. Today, Quik is on good terms with MC Eiht.

Instead of joining the G-funk movement during the 1990's, DJ Quik decided to follow his own style that was a new version of P-funk, inspired by artists like Roger Troutman (who even taught him the use of the talkbox, which became a trademark for Quik's sound throughout his career up to 2005, when he then stated he was retiring the talkbox out of respect to Roger) and George Clinton. Throughout his career, Quik has collaborated with and produced for artists including 2Pac ("Heartz of Men", "Words To My First Born", "Late Night"), Janet Jackson ("All For You"), Snoop Dogg ( "Doin' Too Much", "Don't Tell", "Buss'n Rocks"), Talib Kweli ("Put It In The Air", "7:30"), Whitney Houston ("Fine"), Adina Howard "((Freak) And U Know It)", Kurupt ("Can't Go Wrong"), E-40 ("Quarterbackin' [DJ Quik remix]"), Jay-Z ("Justify My Thug"), Jadakiss ("Shine"), Xzibit ("Sorry I'm Away So Much"), Ludacris ("Spur of the Moment"), Chingy ("Bagg Up", "Wurr's My Cash"), Roscoe ("Get Flipped"), Dr. Dre, 2nd II None, Hi-C, Suga Free ("Street Gospel" album + "The New Testament" album), 8 Ball & MJG ("Buck Bounce"), Eazy-E and others. Though he is only credited for producing "Heartz of Men" on 2Pac's acclaimed All Eyez on Me (in the credits he used his real name, David Blake, because Profile did not allow him to use his stage name) he also did additional production and mixed half the album. In 2002, he produced Truth Hurts' Top 10 pop hit "Addictive". Quik used an uncleared Hindi sample on the record, and the copyright holders eventually filed a $500 million dollar lawsuit against Truth Hurts' label, Aftermath Entertainment. Quik also produced another track on Truth Hurts' debut LP, Truthfully Speaking, titled I'm Not Really Lookin' which features rap vocals from him as well.

Quik faced personal and professional tragedy when his close friend and protegé Mausberg was murdered on the 4th of July, 2000. Mausberg was robbed in the street and left for dead with gunshots to the chest. This was compounded by the death of his best friend Daryl Reed soon after.

Following his 2000 album, "Balance & Options", he was dropped by Arista Records which in 1998 had bought Profile Records. In 2002 he released Under Tha Influence. In September 2005, DJ Quik released his first independent album on his own new label, Mad Science Recordings, which was supposed to be distributed by Warner Bros but Quik was forced to leave Time Warner and so he signed his Mad Science with Fontana/Universal. The album is titled "Trauma" and reflects the turmoil in the producer's life over the past few years. He than released "Trauma: Instrumentals". In recent years he has worked with a 74 piece orchestra during a collaboration with Marcus Miller while working on the score to the movie "Head of State."

On June 28, 2006, DJ Quik began a five-month stint in jail for assaulting his sister. He surrendered in Fontana Superior Court a week before to begin his sentence. The incident occurred in 2003 when he pulled a gun on his sister during a family argument, according to police reports. On September 12th, B.G. Knocc Out said that DJ Quik was already out of jail and that the two are talking about doing an album together, but Quik was released on September 29th.

[edit] Discography

It has been suggested that Songs produced by DJ Quik be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

[edit] Albums

• Quik Is the Name (1991) Platinum
• Way 2 Fonky (1992) Gold
• Safe + Sound (1995) Gold
• Rhythm-al-ism (1998) Gold
• Balance & Options (2000)
• Under Tha Influence (2002)
• Trauma (2005)

[edit] Compilations and mixtapes

• The Red Tape (1987)
• All The Best From DJ Quik - Da Finale (2002)
• Trauma Mixtape (2005)
• Trauma Instrumentals (2006)
• Greatest Hits: Live at the House of Blues (2006)

[edit] Singles

[edit] Featured singles

• 2nd II None - Up N Da Club
• Erick Sermon - Focus
• Eightball & MJG - Buck Bounce
• Penthouse Players Clique - P.S. Phuck U 2
• Tony! Toni! Toné! - Let's Get Down

[edit] DVD's

• Visualism: The Art Of Sound Into Vision (2003)
• Greatest Hits: Live at the House of Blues (coming soon)

[edit] Trivia

• His first rap name was Devastating D, when he was just a young DJ.
• He mixed almost half of the double-disc album "All Eyez on Me" by 2Pac.
• His 1995 album, "Safe + Sound", was executive produced by Suge Knight.
• Actresses Nadine Velazquez (My Name is Earl) as well as Shannyn Sossamon (40 Days and 40 Nights) were in the music video "Hand in Hand".
• Appeared on the game show Weakest Link featuring celebrity rappers.

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Official DJ Quik Forum
• DJ Quik's Myspace
• DJ Quik productions @ dubcc.com
• DJ Quik discography @ dubcc.com
• DJ Quik videography @ dubcc.com
• DJ Quik lyrics @ ohhla.com