![DJ Quik: ‘I Deserve To Be Where [Dr.] Dre Is’](https://hiphopdx.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/dj-quik-i-should-be-where-dr-dre-at.jpg?w=860)
DJ Quik has had a few things to get off his chest this week while reflecting on the journey of his decorated career in music.
As an architect of the West Coast’s G-Funk sound in the ’90s, Quik expressed that he believes his career should match the mainstream acclaim of his friend and Hip Hop billionaire Dr. Dre.
“I know it’s early. But I deserve to be where Dre is,” he declared on Twitter on Tuesday (December 6). “I don’t think it’s fair, but I understand why. I’ve never had a machine behind me, that always hurt my friends more than it did me.”
Quik was swift to explain that there was no vitriol in his rant and showed Dr. Dre love while referring to him as the “big brother” he never had.
“This doesn’t need to be on a podcast. Because you have fire starters, who want to spin everything to get more ratings,” he wrote. “But the truth is: I love Dr. Dre, like a big brother, one I never had. It pains me when people pit us against each other.”
He then went on to explain how this wasn’t a “mental breakdown” but rather him expressing himself as freely and neutrally as he could.
“I know I’ll never be as popular as I need to be, but I have 10s of artists superstars,” the West Coast legend added. “And when they shine, I just smile. The janitor doesn’t get all the glory, but he keeps the backstage, clean as a triage.”
The Compton native’s career has had several parallels with Dr. Dre as Quik would “fill the gaps” for N.W.A. when Dre wasn’t around. The two were involved with Suge Knight and had aligning stints at Death Row Records in the ’90s. They even linked up again in 2002 for Quik’s Under Tha Influence standout cut “Put It On Me.”
DJ Quik has often bemoaned the lack of appreciation for his contributions to Hip Hop. Earlier this year, he burned a three-figure check from Death Row Records on Instagram Live in the midst of a rant about not receiving the proper credit.
“I’m not so happy,” he said. “I’m real offended by this Death Row check and this amount. As much work as I did for these sons of bitches, I feel the respect factor is crazy. There is none. So to show you how much your money means to me, Mr. Death Row Records — all the 2Pac stuff I did, help with Tha Dogg Pound project. Devil, you are a bitch. I want my real money and I want all my credits for everything that I did in this industry.
“All the songs, including ‘Hot In Here’ by Nelly and Pharrell. I want my credit for being ‘Get Nekkid.’ I want my credit from Kendrick Lamar — and this is no disrespect to Kendrick Lamar, I love TDE, you guys are awesome — but the fact y’all left my credit off ‘King Kunta’ [To Pimp A Butterfly] was crazy.”
He added: “All Eyez On Me, it’s my credit, I want that. ‘In Da Club,’ ‘If I Can’t,’ I helped with those records by 50 Cent. I want that too. I want all my credits. I’m starting to get to a point where I’m impatient and I feel disrespected. I’m not going to be the underdog of this music industry anymore. I am to be respected as a king and a lord that I am, a God when it comes to production. I need all of my fucking credits.”
Nah. Dr dre only has his name, MAINLY, from years of building image. Half of the songs from albums people blindly assume are prod by Dre aren’t. Dre is highly overrated. But he has image, which is what counts most. That, and he oversaw some of hiphops best debut albums, between Snoop, Em, Kendrick, and many others. But yea, Dre is overrated as hell, but DJ quick doesn’t have image.
I’ve been telling people for years he is the most overrated producer ever from dads to DJ quik to Scott storch that’s who’s he’s hid behind
Thats a fact. Dre is not in top 10 hiphop producers. Those who think he is really don’t know the music, or argue about beat making VS creating an entire album. Well, Dre hasn’t been good at making entire albums for years either. Eminem gave him the spark 2001 needed. Snoop gave The Chronich what it needed. Compton was meh. Dre Presents The Aftermath is a throw away. But when I say producer, I generally mean the beat maker. And Dre isn’t and never was one of the greatest beat makers. And this is coming from someone who once saw Dre as the greatest to ever do it. I used to be a hard-core dre fan
Why can’t DJ QUIK , SCOTT STORCH , EVEN MEL-MAN surpass Dre then cos according to you they are all greater than him
Even those dudes will tell you that Dre was heavily involved. You trippin’ if you think they did all of the work or that they were carrying Dre. I get annoyed with people throwing around that genius shit with any hip hop producer because for the most part, they’re not creating unique shit, but Dre’s ear is unmatched in hip hop history. This same thing came up with the people trying to put Kanye up over him. Dre is simply the GOAT with this rap shit. He made two superstars. Neither Eminem nor Snoop have reached those heights again in their career after Dre stopped producing everything they did.
Ok so if it wasn’t dre how come not 1 producer in hiphop history every made music beats or full albums like dr dre? Yall are just haters. Dres a producing and beat engineering goat Noone ever had full cohesive albums like him.. many copied noone ever got beats to sound like dre.. EVER..
I didn’t claim that at all. Re read what I wrote. Dre isn’t the goat at all. Only those who don’t know all that much about hiphop believe that. If Dres ear us unmatched, Explain Compton? If the album qas great it would’ve sold millions. It was a bust. UT was sonicly bad for the most part.
No one else ever had gull, cohesive albums like Dr Dre? Now, I beg to differ. I think Ab-souls Control System had amazing production and was cohesive with great theming. I thought All Eyez On Me was amazing, Dre produced 1 track. I mean, those who say stupid things like you do about Dre just really aren’t aware of how many amazing pieces of work exist. And the reason others won’t reach the same success is that Dre is a household name that even white girls know, who aren’t hiphop heads. Dre sold millions of pairs of headphones with his name on em.
So, Mighty, where exactly did I say Dj Quik, Scott Storch, and Mel Man were better than Dre? Oh, that’s right, I didn’t. I just said I don’t think Dre is one of the best. He’s good, sure. Helped craft some very catchy beats. But the catchiest of all Dre beats IMO had the melodies made by others, and the drums done by Dre, which I find to be the easier part. IN DA CLUB, melody done by others. Still Dre, melody Scott Storch. Xxxplosive, forget who, but melody not by Dre. Stranded on death row Daz Dillinger… wouldn’t call any of the producers you mentioned better or worse than Dre. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. None of them are that versatile honestly. I’m just saying I don’t see Dre as a top 10. I don’t see Scott Storch or Mel Man there either. DJ Quik likely not either. The best producers in hiophop don’t really get any shine. They aren’t very mainstream. Dewaun Parker is a great one.
It’s called the game passing you buy, but we’re talking about his career. Quik’s shit the last ten years hasn’t been hot either if we’re talking about that. Quik is basically saying that his shit in the 90s and 2000s was just as good as Dre’s and that’s just detached from reality.
Just keep at it Quick. Eventually they’ll give you flowers and you can be up there with Dre, Snoop, Tekashi, Eminem and them.
Tekashi? The rat? L
See what happens when we give people there flowers before death or retirement? Get rich people whining about what they deserve.
I still remember coming home with some 12″ inches when I was 15. May Aunt asked to see them. She was like “oh, Sweet Black Pussy. I love that one”.
Damn, I was embarrassed.
I still remember coming home with some 12″ inches when I was 15. My Aunt asked to see them. She was like “oh, Sweet Black Pussy. I love that one”.
Damn, I was embarrassed.
Dr.Dre is a smart business man. DJ Quik is like the dumb kid in high school that over thinks how talented he is when he’s just average and his business savy doesn’t exist because he was too cool for school. You reap what you sow.I’ve seen suckers play themselves like DJ Quik my entire life. Quik you did this to your self, if only you have half a brain, stay in school, you just sound dumb now at 55
Eazy-E never wanted to sign him, he lie alot. I know a interview way back he did saying Eazy-E was giving Aids to women and Eazy-E knew he had it. Then years later he talking good on him. He say alot and back track… Never been a fan of him. And only heard the dolla n sense track only. But heard he made a song called he ” not a gangsta” after pac got killed… Studio Gangsta….. Rest EZ (EAZY-E)
Eazy was going to sign Quik, and Eazy helped him alot when Quik was re-negotiating his old record deal. But Quik himself, burned those bridges when he started rolling with Suge. And once Eazy had Uneek & Bone thugs on Ruthless, Eazy didn’t need any of Quik’s producing services. Eazy & Quik wasn’t seeing eye to eye before he passed. Eazy himself confirms this in his final (uncut) interview, which is sadly hard to find nowadays. Part of that interview is on youtube though. Phyllis Pollack (employee at Ruthless) conducted this particular interview.
Quik’s superfans say this, but nah bruh. Quik has never propelled anyone to superstardom. Dre did it twice and made Death Row the hottest label in the industry, not to mention the NWA years as the main producer. That’s just some delusion on Quik’s part. Although I get nauseated at people calling Dre a genius for basically sampling Parliament songs and puting dope drums on them, his variety and ear is way out of Quik’s league. I could always tell when I heard a Quik beat right off, and that shit was hit or miss.
I don’t know man. Quik is nice but not that nice. Plus Dre has a whole team helping him out.
I don’t know man. Quik is nice but not that nice. Plus, Dre has a whole team helping him out. Nobody climbs to the top alone. Can’t be done.
You’re right, Pharrell had Chad Hugo, Timbaland had Storch, Danja and J-Roc and Dre had Storch, Mel-Man, Mike Elizondo plus the Aftermath producers
Your mama climbed to the top with nothing but her mouth.
As much as i like his music, this is delusional … Quick never made nothing that comes close to the chronic or doggystyle or dre’s nwa work. Dont exaggerate buddy, u had the occasional primo record but you’re a dwarf and dre is a giant. Plus, a WHOLE lot of your beats almost sound the same…. Like cooking a different dish with the exact same ingredients over and over again. A lot sounds pretty generic and reheated tbh… Dre has entire perfect albums. All from 20 years ago, but still the achievement stands.
Yep. Always could tell a Quick beat when I first heard it whether it was something he did for himself or somebody out the South or wherever it was. It’s like comparing an R&B star to a person like Prince or Michael Jackson who crossed over and became a pop superstar. People need to stop reaching.
Dre is a producer Quik is a beat maker. Huge difference and I like Quik.
Nigga you deserve deez nuts.
Im with Jay on the image thing. DJ Quick is a legend and every bit the producer Dre is. Image and promotion can take you very far and that’s no knock on Dre. The most marketed athletes are considered the best athletes, but if you are a true observer of the sport(s) you know that’s not always the case.