DJ Quik might be the most underrated West Coast producer out there. He's been putting in quality work since the early '90s and, one could argue, is right up there with Dr. Dre in terms of the quality of his best beats.
He can also be maddeningly inconsistent. After a double-shot of funky excellence with Rhythm-al-ism and Balance & Options, several subsequent efforts were a bit less than stellar.
And as far as dream pairings go, well, it might be five or 10 years too late, but Quik releasing a collaborative album with Philly native and Dogg Pound founder Kurupt should be a gangsta classic.
It is... kind of. Kurupt and Quik weave a dozen tales of street life, player-ism, weed, women and cars. Quik has always shied away from the roughneck gangster aesthetic, focusing instead on his penchant for partying, and he brings that side out of Kurupt on many of BlaQKout's best moments.
The reggae influence Quik has sprinkled throughout his albums makes an appearance on the drum-heavy "Watcha Wan Do," he chops up a soul vocal on "9x's Outta 10" and churns together an electro-hip-hop breakdance jam with "Jupiter's Critic and the Mind of Mars," complete with robotic vocal effects coloring Quik's excellent hyper-speed rapping.
There are several gangsta-funk-by-numbers tracks, too, but for the most part, BlaQKout is a welcome return to form for both Quik and Kurupt.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. —
