From The Midnight Life, available now.

Produced by DJ Quik.

One producer that doesn’t really get his due props is Compton’s DJ Quik. Sure, the man has produced some defining LA classics, even spotted working on Dr. Dre’s Detox at one point, after producing Truth Hurts’ “Addictive” for the Beats mogul. Despite his old hits being mined for new DJ Mustard songs, people don’t usually place Quik in their “greatest producer of all time” conversations, even though he should be considered.

Utilizing much more than your standard drum machine and samples, Quik has worked with live instrumentation and takes a unique approach to beat-making. Such is the case on the first track on his new album, The Midnight Life, which finds a pair of broke rappers begging Quik to reveal the secret of what hip-hop’s future holds. His response, “a banjo,” is met with clowning, as he then proceeds to open the album with “That N***a’z Crazy”, which is propelled by a crisp, polished banjo, very much in the style of Andre Young.

However this track gets a little bit messy, with an overbearing R&B singer crooning over Quik’s lyrics to the point where they are almost inaudible. Perhaps this is why Quik is left out of those aforementioned conversations, as the song could certainly use a better mix down.

Nevertheless, he does have a handful of great tracks here, using unpredictable methods of sampling and track arrangement. Songs like “Trapped On The Tracks” (feat. Bishop Lamont & David Blake) and “Puffin The Dragon” do have the post-2001 influence attached to them, yet both are great and are completely different from one another. When he follows with more traditional funk driven fare on “Pet Semetary” and “Life Jacket,” his long range is shown.

Later on “Shine,” he meshes trap drum programming with somber pianos for a well produced concoction for protege David Blake. And just when you think you’ve got him figured out, he switches things up on sultry bedroom instrumentals “Bacon’s Groove” and “Quik’s Groove,” as well as the chilled out “Why’d You Have To Lie” (feat. Joi)

Far from a perfect album, there are some minor gripes. Suga Free’s pimp-to-ho conversational style is still painful to listen to (“Broken Down”, “Life Jacket”) and sometimes Quik delivers some head-scratching lines, despite a tight delivery and cadence. And not every song works, such as the dated “The Conduct” with Mack 10. And for as fully endowed as “Bacon’s Groove” is, that crackly snare seems a bit out of place.

But minor gripes aside, Quik still shows that he hasn’t lost it on The Midnight Life.

Quik is the name will drop his new album, The Midnight Life, on October 14th. Stream it ahead of time today.

Random Redman remix of DJ Quik’s “Pacific To Atlantic,” in anticipation for the Muddy Waters 2 mixtape.

New track from DJ Quik’s new album Midnight Life, due 10.14.14.

First single from Quik’s upcoming The Midnight Life LP.

1. Intro
2. That N****r’s Crazy (D. Blake)
3. Back That Shit Up feat. Tay F 3rd & David Blake II (D. Blake, D. Kim, D. Blake II)
4. Trapped On The Tracks feat. Bishop Lamont & David Blake II (D. Blake, P. Martin, D. Blake II)
5. El’s Interlude 2 (D. Blake, E. Debarge)
6. Puffin The Dragon (D. Blake)
7. Pet Sematary (D. Blake)
8. Life Jacket feat. Suga Free & Dom Kennedy (D. Blake, D. Walker, D. Hunn)
9. That Getter feat. David Blake (D. Blake, D. Blake II)
10. The Conduct feat. Mack 10 (D. Blake, D. Rolison)
11. Shine feat. David Blake (D. Blake, D. Blake II)
12. Bacon’s Groove feat. Rob “Fonksta” Bacon (D. Blake, R. Bacon, Jr.)
13. Broken Down feat. Suga Free & Tweed Cadillac (D. Blake, D. Walker, C. Brown)
14. Why’d You Have To Lie feat. Joi (D. Blake, J. Gilliam)
15. F**k All Night (D. Blake)
16. Quik’s Groove 9 (D. Blake)

Directed by RILLAH.

Trapped On The Track by DJ Quik feat. David Blake & Bishop Lamont from RILLAH on Vimeo.

In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of “The Black Album”, artist and producer DJ Quik sits down with JAY Z’s Life + Times to discuss his production on “Justify My Thug”. Quik talks his inspiration for the record, the relationship between a producer and the rapper, and Madonna’s involvement in the making of the song. Directed by Bayan Mogharabi for Scheme Engine.

Directed by Jon Casey and produced by Forest Casey.

Bootleg Kev talks with DJ Quik at the 2012 Dub convention. They speak on production, influences, classic beats, cars, and more.

The west coast allstars rhyme cypher from tonight’s BET Hip-Hop Awards.

DJ Quik and Kurupt are working on Blaqkout 2 right now, and this track may be included within the set.

BOOM!

*sigh*

LISTEN: DJ Quik Doesn’t Believe “Detox” Will Ever Come Out