Customer Reviews

Rhythm-Al-Ism

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This album is a West Coast masterpiece. I have been a fan of Quik since "Born In Raised In Compton" and he has not slacked up in the beat-making department. This album bangs from start to finish. My favorite tracks are We Still Party, So Many Wayz, I Used To Know Her, Get 2getha Again and You'z A Ganxta. This album most definitely proves that Quik is one of the best producers of all time. I am clueless as to why he has not gotten the credit he deserves because he is certainly at the top of my list of favorite producers. Buy this album, and if you are like me, the infectious grooves will keep Rhythm-al-ism in heavy rotation for years to come!

This is the best West-Coast album to come out for a while. Not since Snoop's "Doggystyle" has there been an album this funky. DJ Quik's bouncy sound is centered around lush instrumentation not heard since the days of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. And while Quik doesn't exactly croon like the afore-mentioned soul slingers, his laid-back, high-pitched flow will get anyone mellow. There are rarely any slow or dull moments on this disc. Sometimes Quik lets lower-key grooves ride out a little too long, but most of the time it's almost as satisfying to just cool out to the instrumentals as it is to hear Quik and his usual brethren (2nd II None, AMG, Playa Hamm) spit West Coast player-ism. The best songs have to be "We Still Party," whose infectious guitar lick on the chorus is painfully bounceable, "I Useta Know Her," which utilizes a vocoder as good as Roger & Zapp ever did, and "No Doubt," but that's because of a private joke my friends and I have about MGD. Anyway, if lush party jams is what you're lookin' for, get this album now.

RHYTHMALISM is without a doubt one of the greatest west coast albums to ever be released. Why? Because of the unbelievable instrumentation in the production...Because of Quik's melodic flow...and Because its almost impossible to hit the skip button after the CD is inserted in the player. What sets this album apart from previous Quik releases is his dramatic departure from the straight gangsta sound of the previous release Safe and Sound. On RHYTHMALISM David Blake has a new outlook, a refreshing touch on the production boards and experimental tendencies that make this record a definite classic. Straight from the gates the album heats things up with an adrenaline packed intro followed by what may be the best track "We Still Party". As Quik puts it, "life is much to short to not be fly." This motto is emphasized on pimpish flutes and playalistic keyboards that the Compton DJ plays himself. This album is home to at least LA anthems including "Down, Down, Down", "Hand in Hand" and "Medley for a V" which features Snoop and Nate Dogg. Versatility in tracks is also shown when Quik goes from rapping about a lost love on "Thinking Bout U" to spittin on the reggae flipped `Bombudd II". Overall change is what pushed Q up to that next level. As he puts it on "Youz a Gangsta"...."there's a difference between being a thug and being down." He might not be a murderer or criminal but he'd definitely down with the streets.

If you had any doubts this album proves it - Dante Blake a.k.a DJ Quik is genius, a master, one of the greatest rap producers ever. Like on every album he drops he takes West Coast rap to another level. His rapping skills combined with his musical talent make him a unique figure in the rap game. Rhythmalism is Quik's fourth album and this album has 16 tracks. 12 of them are just BRILLIANT!! A PIECE OF ART. The other 4 are weak and boring. Listen to tracks such as "I used to know her", "Speed" or the incredible "Down, Down, Down" and you'll be amazed of Quik's ability to come tight and original every time. How does he do that?!! The album has also a lot of strong guest appearences by AMG, 2nd II Noone, Suga Free, Hi-C, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Nate Dogg and others. If you want to hear some REAL rap West Coast music, something unique and different, then get this CD! You'll start feeling it right away! It's just music that makes you feel good. How often can you say that about a rap album?...

I got in a bit of trouble and thrown out of school this year and my house too which was a bit of a shock to me. 2 nights before it happened I knew this album was dropping and picked it up. At first it made me feel like ''naaah, what the f...'' and didnt get played except for the first quick flick which I only found i liked one track but not really too much. But then as I packed my bags and had to leave to go up north to some far away city I kept a discman and a few CDs on me for the journey. After going through all the CDs to the point I was sick of them, I thought I would just put this one in. And sitting on the bus it just touched me and i really felt it, i just let it play all through and i just suddenly awoke to how good it really was. I was expecting something more hard like ''Dollaz & sense'' at first, but then it hit me and what quik was saying i was really feeling and it made an impact on me. This album was like my friend on a lonely journey into a new big city accross the country. It made me think about my lifestyle in many ways and opened my eyes to what I was actually thinking of the future, though I did not make a complete change it calmed me down lots. The production which I was not digging that much in the beginning had started to grow on me, and the lyrics and messages i was feeling completely. Quik has been a big inspiration for me and I have admired his work since day one. This again, is another classic from the top musician. I still preferred ''dollaz & sense'', but this has a very deep personal meaning for me as it strangely guided me through a very difficult stage of my life. Anyway, enough of my boring story lol. If you like Quik, which you should, or if you don't know him, BUY THIS NOW!!!. Click add to cart then fill in the rest lol. Tight album. Peace!

DJ Quik is probably not as well known as many rap artists of much lesser talent. Funky funky rhythms, ochestration so much more sophistacted than you would expect from this genre. Gangster-smooth style. Interesting, if often foul lyrics (one of the unfortunte aspects of his immaturity), DJ Quik makes you party, smooth style. I don't like the inconsistency of his music. One minute you're grooving West coast, Gangster style. The next minute, something off and really irritating. I don't understand this about his work.

His talent is obviously on par with Dr. Dre, Timberland, any of the other prominent producers. Hasn't quite hit his stride yet, but if he continues to study the music and stay true to the game, he'll be the best, I predict.

THIS ISN'T HIS BEST ALBUM, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH YOUR MONEY. DJ QUIK HAS SUCCESFULLY PUT TOGETHER A SOLID PLATINUM-PLUS-WORTHY ALBUM THAT NOT ONLY ADHERES TO HIS TRADITIONAL WESTCOAST HIP-HOP SENSIBILITIES, BUT, MUSICALLY IT TRANCENDS AND SURPASSES ALL OTHER SUBSEQUENT HIP-HOP(NORTH,SOUTH,EAST,WEST) RECORDS BY HIS CONTEMPORARIES WHICH THRIVE ON THE EVER-POPULAR AND STUBBORNLY CURRENT MUSICAL, TOPICAL, AND YES, LYRICAL STATUS QUO OF HIP-HOP. MY FAVORITE SONGS .ARE: "SO MANY WAYZ" (DEEP RECURRENT TR-808 BASS DRUM), "HAND IN HAND" (CLEVER USE OF AN ACOUSTIC TRIANGLE PERCUSSION (NOT SYNTHETIC LIKE PUFFY -AKA, FAKE PRODUCER/NON MUSICIAN/GET CREDIT FOR EVERBODY ELSE'S WORK, RODNEY JERKINGS (WHO IS EXTREMELY TALENTED BUT NEEDS TO USE MORE ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS IN HIS SONGS), SWIZZ BEATS (HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A PIANO CHORD IS/WHO IS HE FOOLING?/NON MUSICIAN), AND THE LIKE. EVEN THOUGH "RHYTHM-AL-ISM" DOESN'T DESERVE 5-STARS LIKE HIS 12-26-90-RELEASED DEBUT "QUIK IS THE NAME" OR HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND, HI-C, WHOSE 1991 CLASSIC DEBUT FULL-LENGTH SEVEN-YEAR-OUT-OF-PRINT-DAMN-BEYOND-IMPOSSIBLE-TO-ACQUIRE DEBUT ALBUM "SKANLESS" ON SKANLESS RECORDS (THEN DISTRIBUTED THROUGH ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT) WHICH INCLUDED "I'M NOT YOUR PUPPET" AND "LEAVE MY CURL ALONE", IT DOES HAVE THE MUSICIANSHIP, LYRICISM, GENUINE HONESTY, AND SUSTAINED INTERITY THAT IS CONSPICUOUSLY MISSING FROM TODAY'S HIP-HOP (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST) AND ALL OTHER HIP-HOP-INFLUENCED GENRES (R&B, ALTERNATIVE ROCK, POP, ETC>). IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE ONE OF THE VERY FEW HOTTEST RECORDS OUT, BUT THIS ONE NOW.

Following a three-year hiatus, Compton's DJ Quik, a hip hop pioneer and, in my opinion, the West Coast's greatest producer, returned with his fourth LP, "Rhythm-Al-Ism" in 1998. Every time I listen to a Quik LP, I'm convinced it's his best work, but in all honesty I believe that this is probably his finest album, if not on equal ground with 1995's Safe & Sound. As he so eloquently states on the intro to "So Many Wayz," he believes he and his co-conspirators are the "baddest mothers" in rap history, but "this album is on some cool s..." Indeed, this is a markedly mature effort, where Quik for the most part abandons his raunchy sex rhymes and hood stories for more thoughtful, mellow content. Musically, this is some of his best work ever put to wax. Every facet of his talent is on full display here. It's quintessentially a Quik production, evidenced by the periodic talkbox, rich synths, lush soundscapes, dense percussion, and live instrumentals, but he advances his sound here more than ever before. There is a strong R&B influence here instead of his former p-funk fascination, and this album features some incredibly smooth, soulful music. He even employs R&B veteran El DeBarge extensively to enhance the vibe, and there are multiple instrumentals that are wonderful. Still, it remains upbeat throughout and it's a feel-good, long, and amazingly consistent party as Quik finds himself a decade deep in an increasingly hostile rap game, yet surrounded by friends (longtime collaborators 2nd II None, AMG, Suga Free, Mausberg, Hi-C, and Playa Hamm all appear) and maintaining respect.

After the intro is the feel good opener "We Still Party," which boasts Quik's signature talkbox executed to perfection, and another soulful party-starter, the classic "So Many Wayz" with 2nd II None and Peter Gunz. Both the ultra-smooth "Hand in Hand" and the moody, sinister posse cut "Down, Down, Down" are excellent. Perhaps the most noteworthy offering is "You'z a Ganxta" which showcases the new, mature Quik. Here, he renounces violence in his music and kills his decade-long beef with fellow Compton rapper MC Eiht, even poking fun at his small stature over a gorgeous track laden with his beloved flute instrumentation and a nice hook. It's a phenomenal song lyrically and musically, it's classic Quik.

Quik and AMG lace the super-funky "I Useta Know Her" with tasteful tales of former female acquaintances, and he advocates moderation on the catchy "No Doubt" with Playa Hamm and Suga Free. And although this was the first Quik LP without a "Quik's Groove" instrumental, the slow-jam flavored "Whateva U Do" is the next best thing, with three and a half minutes of flute solo. Sonically this song is wonderful and shows what a genius Quik is, with a sultry sax arrangement, piano chimes, ingenious percussion, and El DeBarge himself. He keeps the vibe smooth on the passionate love song "Thinkin' Bout U" and grants a whole track to Mr. DeBarge, who contributes the perfect "El's Interlude," a really clever insert.

Snoop Dogg accurately notes that "Rhythm-Al-Ism" has no songs about sex on the intro to "Medley for a V," and thus the song becomes a seven-minute marathon with Snoop, Nate Dogg, Hi-C, AMG, 2nd II None, and El DeBarge. He then presents a sequel to his debut Quik Is the Name's reggae track "Bombudd" that's even better than the original, a genuinely feel-good, sunny ragga song. But he saves the absolute best song for last in "Get 2getha Again," where the "Class of '91," Quik's collaborators from as far back as Quik Is the Name, chronicle their lives together over an irresistible blues guitar lick. DeBarge is at his best here with the upbeat, inspiring hook, and the joyful guitar instrumental outro is fitting.

"Rhythm-Al-Ism" may have showcased a more grown-up DJ Quik, but musically, this was perhaps the most beautiful work of his legendary discography. The melodic, enrapturing grooves are musical gems, and this album is pure feel-good, summertime perfection. One need not be a rap fan to appreciate DJ Quik; one needs only to love music in order to get lost in these heavy, intricate productions. "Rhythm-Al-Ism" is an essential listen from one of hip hop's greatest talents.

Quiks most diverse album to date incorporating hiphop,funk,soul,r&b and reggae but still packs that westcoast punch and is filled with quik classics,i own all of quiks albums and this will always be no1.songs like "hand in hand","i useta know her","whateva u do", and "bombudd2" sound like they come from different areas of music but all from one artist
This album shows growth,quik focuses on one thing here and thats being a musician,shedding his gangbangin image in the song "youz a gangsta".The great thing about this album is that there are no interludes at all just 16 fantastic tracks of music containing classic quik tracks like "we still party",my favouite "so many wayz","down down down" and "youz a gangsta".Quik is accompanied by his long time homies 2nd 2 none,amg and suga free and even squeezed in westside homies snoop and nate for the anthem "The pussy medley"which is fantastic,and i cant forget about the production which is simply amazing.This is not only a Quik classic but a all round hiphop classic from one of the best ever,belive me this album will get the party crackin.

I think his debut had the best lyrics. This joint gets off to a good start with We Still Party and pretty much bangs till the end. His production on here is best described as "Late 90's Roger Troutman-esque G-Funk".
Geust Stars like 2nd II NOne, AMG, Suga Free and El Debarge get their shine on.

Top Joints:
We Still Party (Peter Gunz and Quik on the track) Quik jacks the VERB song from School House Rock. (The Jam)
So Many Wayz
Hand In Hand
You'z A Ganxta (Quik refutes rumors that he was involved in Biggie's demise. Also denounces reference to death in rap songs.)
I Useta Know Her (Should be called I Useta Hit That)
Speed
Medley for a 'V' (The P***y Medley)
Get 2Getha Again (Class of 91, 2nd II None, AMG and Quik triple team on this track.)
Reprise (Medley For A 'V)