DJ Quik facts for kids

Quick facts for kids DJ Quik
DJ Quik in 2015
Born	David Marvin Blake (1970-01-18) January 18, 1970 (age 55) Compton, California, U.S.
Other names	Danté Blake Mr. Quik Da Quiksta
Occupation	Rapper songwriter record producer
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Alicia Hill ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	West Coast hip hop gangsta rap G-funk
Labels	Ingrooves Mad Science Fontana Ark 21 Bungalo Arista Death Row Profile

David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), known as DJ Quik, is an American rapper and music producer. He comes from Compton, California. DJ Quik is famous for his unique G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop music. He has worked with many well-known artists like Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and R. Kelly. One of his most famous songs is "Tonite" from 1991. This song reached the top 50 on the Billboard music chart. His stage name, DJ Quik, shows how fast he can create songs.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

David Blake was born in Compton, California, on January 18, 1970. He loved the music of funk and soul artists. These artists, like Roger Troutman and George Clinton, inspired him. Roger Troutman even taught him how to use a special voice effect called a talkbox. This sound became a signature part of DJ Quik's music.

When he was in 8th grade, he got a turntable as a gift. He started making his own music mixes, called mixtapes. One of his early mixes was called The Red Tape in 1987. He began performing as a DJ around Southern California. He left high school at age 16 in 1986. For three years, he did not have a permanent home.

DJ Quik's Music Career

After his mixtapes became popular, record labels noticed DJ Quik. He signed with Profile Records in 1990.

First Album: Quik Is the Name

His first album, Quik Is the Name, came out in 1991. It was a big success! Two songs from the album, "Tonite" and "Born and Raised in Compton," became top 20 R&B hits. The album itself reached number 10 on the music charts. It sold over a million copies, earning a Platinum award. While his later albums were also liked, none reached the same level of success as his first.

Second Album: Way 2 Fonky

In 1992, DJ Quik released his second album, Way 2 Fonky. This album quickly sold over 500,000 copies, earning a Gold award. It included popular songs like "Way 2 Fonky" and "Jus Lyke Compton."

Third Album: Safe + Sound

Before making his third album, DJ Quik actually started another album but decided it wasn't good enough. He destroyed those recordings.

His third album, Safe + Sound, was released in 1995. It reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured his friends and fellow artists like 2nd II None and Kam. Popular songs from this album include "Safe + Sound" and "Summer Breeze."

DJ Quik also worked a lot with Suge Knight and his record label, Death Row Records. He helped produce songs for many famous albums. These included Tupac's All Eyez On Me and Snoop Dogg's Dogg Food and Tha Doggfather. He often worked without getting full credit for his amazing contributions. DJ Quik later said that working with Death Row Records was some of the best times of his life.

Rhythm-al-ism and Beyond

In 1996, DJ Quik produced a song called "Let's Get Down" for the group Tony! Toni! Toné!. This song helped their album sell over a million copies. He also worked with basketball star Shaquille O'Neal on his music.

DJ Quik discovered the rapper Suga Free. He produced Suga Free's first album, Street Gospel. This album was very popular with underground rap fans in California. DJ Quik's production on this album was fresh and new. He mixed jazz, funk, R&B, and even rock and roll into his beats.

In 1998, DJ Quik released his fourth album, Rhythm-al-ism. This album also earned a Gold award. It featured well-known artists like Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. He continued to produce music for many other artists, including Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson.

After his fifth album didn't sell as well, DJ Quik faced some challenges with his record label. He even thought about quitting music. He said he was stuck in a very long contract and wasn't happy. But he decided to keep making music.

In 2003, famous rapper Jay-Z asked DJ Quik to produce a song for his album The Black Album. He also worked on 50 Cent's hit song "In Da Club," providing the drums for the beat.

Mad Science Recordings and New Projects

In 2005, DJ Quik started his own record label called Mad Science Recordings. He released his album Trauma on this new label. The album was a success for an independent release, selling over 100,000 copies.

In 2006, DJ Quik spent some time in prison. This experience made him think about his life and make positive changes.

Later, in 2007, DJ Quik formed a group called the Fixxers with AMG. He even dropped "DJ" from his name for a while and just went by "Quik." They planned to release an album, but it was leaked online without permission.

In 2008, DJ Quik worked with Snoop Dogg on his album Ego Trippin. During this time, a new production group called QDT was formed. It stands for Quik-Dogg-Teddy, including DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg, and Teddy Riley. DJ Quik also released a collaboration album with Kurupt called BlaQKout in 2009.

The Book of David and Recent Work

DJ Quik released his eighth album, The Book of David, in 2011. It featured artists like Ice Cube and Suga Free. The album sold well and appeared on several Billboard charts. DJ Quik even performed live on the TV show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Kurupt later said that he and DJ Quik plan to release a new album together every year. DJ Quik also worked with Snoop Dogg and others to create songs for Dr. Dre's album Detox.

In 2016, DJ Quik released a music project called Rosecrans with rapper Problem. It started as an EP (a shorter album) and then became a full-length album in 2017.

Discography

Studio albums

• Quik Is the Name (1991)
• Way 2 Fonky (1992)
• Safe + Sound (1995)
• Rhythm-al-ism (1998)
• Balance & Options (2000)
• Under tha Influence (2002)
• Trauma (2005)
• The Book of David (2011)
• The Midnight Life (2014)

Collaborative albums

• Blaqkout (with Kurupt) (2009)
• Rosecrans: The Album (with Problem) (2017)
• Chupacabra (with JasonMartin) (2024)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

American Music Awards

Awards

See also

In Spanish: DJ Quik para niños