It’s been six years between DJ Quik’s 2005 album Trauma and The Book of David, but his silence wasn’t without reason. The West Coast veteran recently spoke on why he ducked out of the game and only reemerged in 2009 for BlaQKout, his collaboration LP with Kurupt.
Speaking with Cashmere Agency, Q explained that his hiatus didn’t even feel like it lasted for more than half a decade. “You know what’s funny? It didn’t feel like six years. Maybe I take for granted the fact that I think that I got time in hip-hop, and hip-hop is such a time-pertinent industry,” he said. “I was just finding me. I was actually looking for a new direction.”
Though his reasoning varies with each response, Quik explained that there were two forces behind his self-imposed exile. “The true reason was because I got custody of my daughter and wanted to raise her,” he continued. “That was more important to me than doing beats and making music and going on tour to me, because she’s my offspring. But the other contributing factors to my truancy of hip-hop is I didn’t gel with the new music. I saw where music was going and I couldn’t get on board with it.”
His disinterest in contemporary hip-hop played a big role. “[I] tried to endorse the new hip-hop movement in the West Coast. But I started looking at one point to who I’m gonna pass the baton to, and unfortunately, it just didn’t seem like the kids came from our school of hip-hop, our school of R&B and all that,” he said. “So it’s hard to just say, ‘OK, you’re the new “it.”’ I mean, everybody would want that endorsement from one of their peers, but if you’re not ready for it, that can do more harm than good.”
The time off from rap paid off, inspiring him to conceive his latest release The Book of David organically. “Believe it or not, Book of David is the most organic record I’ve ever done. It happened so fast, it was just done. I didn’t even have time to dwell on it, it just came out,” he said. “You’d be hardpressed to find handwritten lyrics for this record. It just came out. After hanging out with Jay-Z and fuckin’ Biggie and seeing how they rap, how they compose records without paper, paperless.”
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man at first, honestly, i was a little disappointed in the book of david. it’s just becuase the beats aren’t what i expected from quik. but it’s one of those records where the substance is in the lyrics. the lyrics are so fucking intuitive man….the beats aren’t qqqqquiite as good as quik has came in the past (especially on trauma), but the album is to listen to lyrics on this one, and the beats sit in the background, but fitting each song perfectly. not saying the beats aren’t good either…buy the fucking album is what i’m saying, you will not be disappointed.
I agree 100%. The beats could have been a little better, especially considering the layoff. But his lyrics are on point. Let’s hope he saved them for suga free.
DJ quik is the most unappreciated producer in music history. if you dont believe me check out his DVD “visualism”! now comparing Trauma & Book of David. the beats off Trauma sounds more full like more complete and the book of david….you can tell he took a different approach with the sound of the beats but was still able to maintain the DJ QUIK signature sound. both albums were ABSOLUTELY FIRE!!! and its really unfortunate he doesnt have the fan base like some of these WACK ASS rappers out today! But that just shows you how NAIVE people are with what hip hop is….well use to be all about. DJ QUIK YOUR A TRUE LIVING LEGEND… SPEAKING FOR THE REAL FANS WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. LETS GET ON THIS 20/20 SH!T (AND IM NOT TALK BOUT VISION. LOL) AND STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK! SALUTE
Big up to a LIVING hip-hop legend, don’t matter the coast. Quik is unappreciated in hip-hop, celebrate this dude for real!! I will never forget bumpin that “Tonight” joint back in the day drinking OE!!! Keep doing you Quik, nevermind all the critics and fair-weather fans…oh “the beats are different”, “this album was this or that”…enough already appreciate the art he brings and shut the f*ck up!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucZDC0qFYXY