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." His most popular albums are Quik Is The Name and Safe + Sound. . On "Safe + Sound" appears "Dollaz And Sense," which was a diss track to Compton rapper and member of the rival Tragniew Park Crips MC Eiht. Though full of bravado at the time, Quik now admits to fearing for his life during the period.
Instead of joining the G-Funk movement during the 1990's, DJ Quik had his own style that 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 in the 1990's) 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 (e.g. "Doin' Too Much", "Buss'n Rocks", "Don't Tell"), Talib Kweli ("Put It In The Air"), Whitney Houston ("Fine"), Kurupt ("Can't Go Wrong"), Jay-Z ("Justify My Thug"), Xzibit ("Sorry I'm Away So Much"), Ludacris ("Spur of the Moment"), Chingy ("Bagg Up", and "Wurr's My Cash"),Dr. Dre, 2nd II None, Hi-C, Suga Free ("Street Gospel" album and on the "New Testament" album), 8Ball & MJG ("Buck Bounce") and others. Though he formally produced only "Heartz of Men" on 2Pac's masterpiece "All Eyez On Me" album, he went uncredited for work on many other tracks on the album; on that track he used his real name David Blake, because Profile did not allow him to use his stage name. 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 faced personal and professional tragedy when his friend and protegé Mausberg was murdered on the 4th of July, 2000. This was compounded by the death of his best friend Daryl Reed soon after.
Following 2000's "Balance and Options" CD he was dropped by Arista Records which in 1998 had bought Profile Records. In September 2005, DJ Quik released his first independent album on his own new label, Mad Science, which was supposed to be distributed by Warner Bros but Quik was forced to let Time Warner and so 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." Over the years, Quik has morphed from a hardcore gangsta rapper to a mainstream producer and rapper who is not afraid to change his style. He has not abandoned his West Coast roots and now produces very much his own unique style.
Dollars & Sense
DJ Quik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now let's get down to business, bitches
Cause it seems like y'all just keep on tryin to diss this
Nigga that you know that's been down for years
I've clowned for years, and y'all could never fade my peers
One two three four five six seven
Nine, ten, Eiht you can't win
Cause all the way around nigga I gets respect
Tragniew Park you say huh
Wanna be rippin, but now it's time to do some set trippin
So listen close, cause I don't want y'all to miss
That I'm bout to break it down for this bitch, check it
Acacia, Poplar Maple Spruce Cedar Elm
Westside trees sprayin all the fleas
that's from the three and four hundred block P-Funk riders
(So niggaz watch yo' ass at that center divider [gun blast])
Now Aaron Tyler, tell my why you seem so tame
When I caught you at the airport, shakin like a crap game
You looked up and you seen my niggaz comin
And you looked like your bitch ass was bout to start runnin
But all I wanted to do was kick a little coversation (yo whatup)
And see if we can fix this little situation
But would I fuck you up was what you wondered
Yeah, that's probably why you changed your little pager number (punk ass)
But bitches like you don't grow
You can't even look me in my eye, let alone go toe to toe
And callin me skinny, youse a clown
I'ma call you Theo, cause you weigh ninety-two point three pounds
Wack ass actor, movie script killer
Fool don't you know, Quik is still the nigga
Compton psycho, boy you oughta quit
Your records don't hit, and bitches don't jock your shit
You need to stay down you Compton clown
and get off of the nuts of the niggaz with guts
Because I'm down with the Trees, I'm down with Death Row
I'm down with Black Tone, and I'm down with the fo'
So when we cross paths and I hope that's soon
I'ma boot your motherfuckin ass to the moon
You need to quit bangin under false pretense
Cause if don't make dollars, it don't make sense
[chorus]
If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense
So don't kill game, let the pimpin commence
If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense
So don't kill game, let the people, commence
If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense
So don't kill game, let the pimpin commence
If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense
Because you gotta give it up to the crown prince
Now I'ma swing it to the right and, right into the left hand
Take a deep breath and, cook it like a chef and
this is dedicated to the C-P-T
No better yet T-T-P, or the niggaz that look up to me
I make it my business, to be that true forever
and whenever I can come clever well that's my endeavor
so whether or not you understand, that there's only one DJ Q-U-I-K
with no C still you can't be me
Because I'm floatin in my Lex and, depositin fat checks and
gettin mad sex while I floss the NSX and
doin what I wanna, and youse a goner nigga
for thinkin that you can catch me slippin on a street corner
Remember Compton's in the house, and Quik is in the hood
Sippin yak with all my niggaz cause it's tooted good
So don't knock it til you try it, cause Eiht he tried to knock it
But he's still walkin round with my nuts in his pocket (beyotch)
So put tha P in it represent and sip that Miller
And for those of y'all concerned, this is still Eiht Killa [gun blast]
Let me take a load off my scrotum little pest
If it don't make dollers nigga, you know the rest
[chorus]
Now I done sold my fuckin soul to the shit that I kick
While you groupie ass niggaz keep on ridin the dick
You oughta know that DJ Quik ain't your average everyday motherfucker
(hah) Slick like a snake cause I stuck ya
Now, I never had my dick sucked by a man befo'
But you gon be the first you little trick ass hoe
Then you can tell me just how it taste
But before I nut I shoot some piss in your face
you fuckin coward, tremblin like a nervous wreck
Cause when I caught your ass, you put yourself in check
And when you left my presence, you left expedient
You ain't no fuckin killer, youse a comedian, beyotch
Tell me why you act so scary
Givin your set a bad name wit your misspelled name
E-I-H-T, now should I continue
Yeah you left out the G cause the G ain't in you
Remember that time you was rollin on the Westside
And a little brown bucket pulled up on your side
Caught at that light in your Camry in the midst of a
REAL killer, tell me did you feel a little nervous (hell yeah)
You was in the shadow of death
With two trey-five-sevens pointed at your chest, hmm
Whatchu gon do, where was your niggaz that kill at
You ain't got no killers so kill dat
Holdin up your hands and beggin for a pass
You lucky they didn't just to get to dumpin on yo' ass
Cause this game you think is funny is some real shit
So you need to be more careful who you fuckin wit, beyotch!
[chorus]
[line 4] I'm through playin with your punk ass
Shouts goes out, to my well known road dog
What's up Dozun Tru, they don't understand it baby
they can't fade us out here on these Compton streets (beyotch)
It's bigger than they can imagine
To the whole entire Death Row family
Both sides, whassup niggaz
And my nigga big Suge, known for keepin shit poppin
To my nigga Big J, my little nigga Hi-C, little straight G
And that little singin ass nigga Danny Boy
Y'all don't understand, y'all can't fade this
I'M the first nigga that was "Bangin on Wax"
Yeah if you remember, nineteen eighty-seven underground tapes
And it don't stop, and it won't stop
The lyrics of DJ Quik's "Dollars & Sense" is a diss track, aimed at a Compton rapper named MC Eiht. With lines like "Compton psycho, boy you oughta quit, your records don't hit, and bitches don't jock your shit," DJ Quik makes it clear that he does not respect MC Eiht as a rapper. He also accuses Eiht of falsely claiming gang affiliation, claiming that "bitches like you don't grow, you can't even look me in my eye, let alone go toe to toe." The song is a well-crafted and ruthless takedown of a fellow rapper.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense," emphasizing the idea that success is the only thing that matters in the music industry. DJ Quik boasts of his own success throughout the song, bragging about his car, money, and sexual conquests. He also shouts out other rappers and his crew, showcasing his extensive network in the music industry. The song is a testament to the cutthroat nature of the rap game, with Quik making it clear that he will do whatever it takes to stay at the top.
Line by Line Meaning
Now let's get down to business, bitches
Time to stop messing around and get serious
Cause it seems like y'all just keep on tryin to diss this
It appears that you keep trying to diss me
Nigga that you know that's been down for years
I've been in the game for a long time
I've clowned for years, and y'all could never fade my peers
I've been entertaining for years and my peers respect me
One two three four five six seven
Counting up to set the rhythm
Nine, ten, Eiht you can't win
You can't win Eiht
Cause all the way around nigga I gets respect
I get respect from all angles
and youse a nigga that can't even get no props in your set
You can't even get respect from your own group
So listen close, cause I don't want y'all to miss
Pay attention because what I'm about to say is important
That I'm bout to break it down for this bitch, check it
I'm going to explain this to you
Westside trees sprayin all the fleas
Westside gang members are shooting and killing their enemies
Now Aaron Tyler, tell my why you seem so tame
Why are you acting scared, Aaron Tyler?
When I caught you at the airport, shakin like a crap game
When I saw you at the airport, you were shaking like a person about to gamble.
You looked up and you seen my niggaz comin
You looked up and saw my guys coming
And you looked like your bitch ass was bout to start runnin
You looked like you were about to run away like a coward
But all I wanted to do was kick a little coversation (yo whatup)
I just wanted to talk to you
And see if we can fix this little situation
I wanted to see if we could sort things out
But would I fuck you up was what you wondered
You were wondering if I was going to beat you up
Yeah, that's probably why you changed your little pager number (punk ass)
That's probably why you changed your number on your phone's answering service (you coward)
You can't even look me in my eye, let alone go toe to toe
You're too scared to even look me in the eye, let alone face me
I'ma call you Theo, cause you weigh ninety-two point three pounds
I'm going to call you Theo because you weigh 92.3 pounds
Fool don't you know, Quik is still the nigga
You should know that DJ Quik is still at the top of his game
Your records don't hit, and bitches don't jock your shit
Your music doesn't resonate and no one likes it
Because I'm down with the Trees, I'm down with Death Row
I'm affiliated with Westside Trees gang and Death Row Records
I'm down with Black Tone, and I'm down with the fo'
I'm also connected with Black Tone and the Foes
So put tha P in it represent and sip that Miller
Put a P in your drink and represent your gang while drinking Miller beer
And for those of y'all concerned, this is still Eiht Killa [gun blast]
And for those of you wondering, Eiht is still a killer
So don't kill game, let the pimpin commence
Don't ruin the game, let the pimping continue
If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense
If you're not making money, then it's a waste of time
Now I done sold my fuckin soul to the shit that I kick
I've devoted my life to making music
While you groupie ass niggaz keep on ridin the dick
While you cling to me and try to take advantage of my fame
You oughta know that DJ Quik ain't your average everyday motherfucker
You should know that I'm not like everyone else
Slick like a snake cause I stuck ya
I'm a skilled, cunning person who has succeeded through deception
You ain't no fuckin killer, youse a comedian, beyotch
You're not actually a killer, you're just acting hard
So you need to be more careful who you fuckin wit, beyotch!
You need to be more careful about who you mess with
And it don't stop, and it won't stop
This will keep going on and on
Contributed by Grace C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.