DJ Quik

DJ Quik (born David Martin Blake on January 18, 1970) is a West Coast rapper and record producer from Compton, California. He was raised at 436 West Spruce Street in Compton, California. As a teen he took up an affiliation with the Tree Top Piru Bloods, hence why his name is spelled Quik with the C conspicuously missing. A lot of Bloods would let the name “Quick” (because CK stands for Crip Killer) but he chose “Quik” to represent the Red but at the same time in some form of respect for the other side . He grew up without a father and moved out of his mother’s home when he was only 17. He lived in the house as the only male with 8 sisters. His home life was far from stable as he raps in a song that one of his sisters was selling drugs to one of his other sisters. He began selling homemade mixtapes (like “The Red Tape”, 1987) after he received a turntable for his 9th grade graduation and then began doing shows DJing around Southern California when he moved out. He signed to Profile Records in the summer of 1990, reportedly as the label’s first six figure signee. Not only could he rap and write his own songs, he could produce as well.

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.