DJ Quik says he deserves to be where Dr Dre is

[maxamusa]

He was never going to replicate Dre's knack for signing stars. The west's fall off also hurt him, but that's perhaps something he could have done better. Instead of wasting away in the west working with no name artists, he could have headed to NY more. He worked with Jay for the Black Album, and I was always curious why he didn't set up shop more there, do some engineering/mix work, shop beats etc. By the time the west coast came around again in 2011/2012 Dre was once again in the driver's seat with Kendrick, but there was still room to do shyt. It just never came to fruition. I know Quik did some stuff for Kendrick's second album that got scrapped, alongside Battlecat and other Cali producers.

Couldn't agree more. His talent and skills are undeniable. His career choices have him where he belongs.

Problem
Second 2 None
Suga Free
Mauseberg(RIP)
Hi-C
AMG
are all Niche regional artists. I understand WHY he works with mostly them and its honorable; but thats not how you get to Dre status like you stated.

I listen to a lot of Quik....way 2 funky was one of my most played songs in 2022


Quik is also a mad scientist. A lot of those types have a hard time taking ANY type of direction. His albums have progressively gone more and more left. I respect originality and creativity but sometimes I feel like he may be living in a bubble.

 

[theflyest]

Quik did not have any signature mainstream acts under his umbrella. He had acts that he thought was dope and worked with them.

Dre specifically looked for stars. He may think you’re dope, but if you’re not a star, you’re not coming out. He is the type of guy to sign 100 acts, and based on his evaluation, he may determine only 2 of those 100 acts have star power and will sell records. That’s why Aftermath has signed so many people that have never come out.

The nygga said I deserve lol

 

[Complexion]

Quiks production was just too intricate and soulful for the masses to be a commercial smash in the 90s. Heads knew and know, tho as it was obvious talent behind the boards when those melodies floated into your awareness.

Also if you remove Quik from the equation I'd be willing to bet that Death Row sound would not have the same level of polish and funk because he did a heck of a lot of work behind the scenes there, even though he couldn't sign up as an artist. That would've pushed his profile further but even then he's a musician, first and foremost, and not a chart chaser.

Its like Prince vs MJ in that sense as the former could do it all dolo but the latter knew the pulse of the market and how to get the right people around him as well as the nature of marketing and leveraging his position using self promotion.

 

[Mr. Negative]

Matter of fact he need to drop a quik's groove album show off his instrumentation real talk.

I been saying for YEARS that Quik could put out instrumentals and market them as like jazz/adult contemporary and it would prolly open up a whole other lane for producers.

 

[DANJ!]

Part of what hurt him is working with wack and borderline wack rappers other than Mausberg.

This is the key thing.

Quik is dope as hell, always has been as a producer, even more musical than Dre is I'd say. But the artists he's poured energy into and the product that came out of it isn't on par with Dre's. You can't take a team like Ruthless or Death Row and then say, "but AMG, 2nd II None, Hi-C"... it's just not that.

Also, Quik has consistently been his own worst enemy in spite of his talent. He's probably lost more opportunities than he's benefited from throughout his career.

 

[Complexion]

I been saying for YEARS that Quik could put out instrumentals and market them as like jazz/adult contemporary and it would prolly open up a whole other lane for producers.

This would and could be a Nas level renaissance move as it would showcase what Quik is truly capable of when not trying to fit into the narrow limits of hiphop. In my ears he was more of a jazz/funk producer than rap as there were layers upon layers in his tunes and, just like jazz, you've got to know what you're listening to otherwise you'll miss it.

Hopefully Quik reads this because he posts like a Coli breh anyway!

 

[O.Red]

I been saying for YEARS that Quik could put out instrumentals and market them as like jazz/adult contemporary and it would prolly open up a whole other lane for producers.

Interesting you say that because I have always felt like the instrumentals lane is not curated in hip hop

 

[Mr. Negative]

This would and could be a Nas level renaissance move as it would showcase what Quik is truly capable of when not trying to fit into the narrow limits of hiphop. In my ears he was more of a jazz/funk producer than rap as there were layers upon layers in his tunes and, just like jazz, you've got to know what you're listening to otherwise you'll miss it.

Hopefully Quik reads this because he posts like a Coli breh anyway!

last time I said it here I was hoping somebody with a twitter account would pass it on, even if I didn't get the recognition for making the suggestion.

 

[Complexion]

That alone could bring so many dope but out of commission producers back to the lab to cook up tracks how they feel, without limits.

Dre, you can tell, wanted to do this. He dropped hints with The Planets which is a fantastic concept. The sad thing about hiphop is that its got very narrow limits on what it can handle or expect beyond the drums, a dope 16 and catchy hook.

Quik could literally propel himself to a place far beyond what he thinks he is capable just by doing this as melody is sorely missing from modern music and Quiks productions sound like sunshine.

 

[Mr. Negative]

Interesting you say that because I have always felt like the instrumentals lane is not curated in hip hop

It's really not, but that only, IMO, because most instrumental albums are geared solely towards hip hop. It takes something heavy like Donuts or Madlib's Beat Konducta stuff (and even then, only some of them) to make waves enough to make waves.

Plus at this point I think folks feel dudes making beats is a dime a dozen. Gotta make something that kinda transcends the genre.

 

[Mr. Negative]

That alone could bring so many dope but out of commission producers back to the lab to cook up tracks how they feel, without limits.

Dre, you can tell, wanted to do this. He dropped hints with The Planets which is a fantastic concept. The sad thing about hiphop is that its got very narrow limits on what it can handle or expect beyond the drums, a dope 16 and catchy hook.

Quik could literally propel himself to a place far beyond what he thinks he is capable just by doing this as melody is sorely missing from modern music and Quiks productions sound like sunshine.

exactly. I was trying to say this with my last post, but I couldn't find the right words.

 

[KnickstapeCity]

Do the work then, fakkit

 

[DANJ!]

he never had access to it like dre. not blaming dre for his luck but give quik access to mc ren cube snoop kurupt daz warren g em 50 & kendrick his legacy would be greater than dre’s cus he’s a better producer

This is like saying if I have a track record of mismanaging the money I already have, but if I got access to the same money as someone who made great investments, I'd be just as rich as they are. Dre wasn't granted these MFs by a genie, he heard their talent and worked with them, helped them, etc. Just like Quik heard 2nd II None and thought he had a hit on his hands... Even great producers can't always pick 'em.

 

[Complexion]

exactly. I was trying to say this with my last post, but I couldn't find the right words.

The West is famous for that funk and those old Detox sessions with Battlecat and co just freestyling in a lab and everyone was throwing their piece in with some improv beats kicking was pure excellence. The spirit of Jazz resurrected. Quik should think Blue Ocean and carve out a whole new lane, a brand new niche like Jazz Hop because unlike these new jacks on soundcloud he's actually got real clout and is time served in the game.

Imagine an instrumental genre of hip hop based vibing music. Its just what the world needs at this moment. Ayo Quik, stick to producing! Holla at me, mayne, I've got the vision and already seen it. All you got to do is bring the soundtrack...

 

[BaRRyG]

Whoever said quick is a glorified engineer....so is Dre