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.
Keep Tha 'P' In It
DJ Quik Lyrics
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[Guy 2]-Ay man, what is it man?
[G1]-Who own the record man?
[G2]-Man, who the hell are you man? Walkin up on me lookin like you so
broke, man, if it cost three cents to shit you'd have to throw up. You know
who own the record. Man, why don't you sit your ignorant ass down, man, and
listen.
So is it my turn again? (Yeah nigga it's yours)
Oh I done kick a funky verse for the P-funk? (Of course)
Well count down nigga to end for these fakers
Bet we hit this time and we fade no takers
Who thought the funk was despondent out the Westside
Not be along for the ride (But it's only for the trees)
That's right, so peep the shot
And if I get it hot, baby I'ma rock the twat
Cus aint no party like a party in the Penthouse suite
And you know how we do it, baby, yo Tree
So if the mack of the smack brings fear
Them perpetrators right when they was cowards right from the very start
Pretendin theys the ones that true
But pimp who is they foolin? (Not me or you)
Fools confused, thinking we's on a decline
Cus we kicks the P's and tell 'em about the funk this time
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
[2-Tone]
Comin at that ass again it don't stop
Bust a lean in yo 64 shift, take a hop to the top
Where the hustlas hang out
Endo remains to sprout; ?? knows what I'm talking about
And gets host from my block to your neighborhood
Tell 'em Quik when you know it's back to no good
I wish you would, cus I'm true to this gangsta shit
Now take a Tic Tac, and bust 'em like a hoe in the hood, bitch
Took my endz ho
They say it's never enough you know?
I gots to have mo'
But I'ma shake the spot infact
I just jacked his trick and his fo' so I can crack-a-lack
And straight P-funk anytime
It's only right you peeped the rhyme, I got to take mine
Check yo ass with the shit that stank
Cus 2-Tone came to the game, aint a damn thang changed
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
[Kam]
It's the 1 to the 9 with the 9 to the 4
When I thought you knew the drill, but you still don't hear me though
Kam and Watts up, from the grass roots
No daisy duke shit, knockin crazy ass boots
Nigga please, we kick it like G'z
Puttin down work when I lurk don't even sneeze (Fuck the Goldies)
That's just the Eastside way of getting chips
When your raise up chillin with the dogs and the rips
New cars get tagged, ridas get wrecked
Niggas caps get peeled back, and chins get checked
Don't expect no love, boy, no apology
Kids aint fallin for yo child psychology
In 9 and 4 mindin yo business is the best bitch
Screamin 'Watts riot' we aint even made a mess yet
Ya shouldn't speak with a weak heart
You gots to finish everything you start
And aint a damn thang changed
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
[Hi-C]
Now niggas transform like deceptive cons
We'll slice your ass up like Jeffrey Don
Quik drop bombs on the P-funk tip
Even though a nigga rap you'll still get that ass whipped
Please don't slip, aint a damn than changed
Numb yo ass up like some nova cane
Have you all fucked up like you smoked some loot
Hi-C still sippin pussy like soup
We got Kam, Hamm, New D, and Quik
And me myself, mista big dick
No I might not know which bitch that I want
But I know on thing I *scratch*
From ya speaker and not from ya ass
Cus some of y'all bitches just wont take baths
Hand picked niggas just can't me tang
Cus we true to the game
And aint a damn thang changed
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
*scratches* Nothing has changed,
nothing has *scratches* gots to have the funk
[2nd II None: Gangsta D]
Can ya tell me? (Who that nigga flipped?)
Goddamn muthafucka it's the Gangsta D
Kickin shit for these niggas and all these bad necks
Cus I got the dope shit for each and every set
Next..
[2nd II None: KK]
Up on line it's that black ass K
I could never switch it for ya cus I'm still the same way
Me and D can flip the shit kick down a funky flow
We represent the (P-Funk)
You know what its stand for
[DJ Quik]
Now back up in yo ass again it's mista Quik and I clown
I got the shit that shake 'em down, break 'em down, take 'em down
And now that I'm
Chillin with niggas mista 2-Tone, 2nd II None, Playa Hamm and Kam well
Goddamn
Doin it like we do it, aint nuttin but trues to it
Rollin with the funky 'P' I thought you knew it
Cus it's nothin but the best
For the trues from the West.. Side
Cus aint nuttin changed and you know that's right
[General Jeff]
Yeah, this is General Jeff
Bringin up the real
Lettin ya know we representin with a all-start line up for that ass
Peep this out
We got Quik, 2nd II None, Hi-C, Playa Hamm, 2-Tone and that nigga Kam
If that don't move your ass I don't know what will
But no matter what, you gots to keep the P in it
That's mandatory, baby, cus aint nuttin changed
The lyrics of DJ Quik's Keep Tha 'P' In It is about the gangsta lifestyle of the Westside, represented by a group of rappers who come together to spit bars and empower each other. The song begins with one of the guys asking who owns the record, then the other guy insulting him by saying that he looks broke and that he knows who owns the record. Playa Hamm then starts rapping about how they're going to hit and fade no takers. He talks about how the funk is not despondent, and they're only for the trees. He also talks about partying in the Penthouse suite and how he's going to rock the twat if he gets it hot. He emphasizes that there's no party like a party with the 'P' and how they'll keep telling people about the funk. The song also features verses from rappers 2-Tone, Kam, Hi-C, and Gangsta D, each talking about their gangster lifestyle and how they've remained true to themselves and the game, carrying on the legacy of P-Funk.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the Westside gangsta lifestyle and how they've kept it true to the game. The song talks about how nothing has changed – they're still repping the same things they were before, and they'll continue to do so. The song reflects the culture of the West Coast and a certain mindset that characterizes the gangsta lifestyle.
Contributed by Violet D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.