Customer Reviews

Trauma

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With little fanfare DJ Quik's latest album "Trauma" has arrived. The album didn't receive a lot of pre-release hype and the project seems to have bounced from label to label (Warner sent me an early press release in May, then later I was contacted by Capital), but the project seems to have found a home on Quik's Mad Scientist label.

As an avid Quik fan the first thing I noticed about "Trauma" is the number of features from people outside of his regular little clique (Suga Free, Mauseburg (who has passed but you know with hip-hop people can get on tracks as we are still hearing new music from B.I.G.), Second II None, El Debarge).

Quick seems to have stretched this go round and it works really well. The song "Get Down" featuring Chingy is a hot song which could have easily been a radio single. Wyclef Jean shows off a new side of his lyrical style on the song "Ladies & Thugs." Other hot tracks include "Indiscretions In The Back of a Limo" featuring T.I. and "Pacific Coast Remix" featuring Ludacris.

The album opens up with the skit doctors office which is followed by "Intro For Roger." This song features a nice little beat. Quik's lyrics though make one reflect, especially the line, "My best friend is dead, my heart is a stone." Quik has gone through a lot of stuff as far as dealing with the loss of friends to the streets and one can assume failed relationships based on his lyrics. He doesn't hold back lyrically and seems to express himself quite well. The track for the first single "Fandago" is crazy wild but I wasn't as impressed with the lyrics as I was the beat/track. The song "Get Up" featuring The Game and long time collaborater AMG is a really good song.

Another thing different about this album is "Quiks Groove," features vocals. Quik managed to get Jodeci on the track.

Overall Quik hasn't changed that much. He still produces these mellow laid back hip-hop albums with that classic funk song. Almost 15 years since his debut, DJ Quik is still "Way 2 Fonky" and most Quik fans will appreciate this album. I really enjoyed this album and days after listening to it certain tracks were still in my head, especially "Get Up," "Get Down," and "Indiscretions."

Well, after a wait of 3 years (during which we heard some retirement rumours from Quik), DJ Quik, the greatest producer in the game is back!! "Trauma" is Quik's 7th album, and it's almost 15 years since the relaese of his classic "Quik is the Name". Now, on "Trauma", Quik gave us another classic, and to me, it's the best album he's had since "Rhythm-al-ism" in 1998. Don't get me wrong "Under Tha Influence" and "Ballance & Options" were both 5 star classics, but this one has the same consistency as "Rhytmalism". Trauma is just a PERFECT album, with every single song being amazing, different, and coherent with the album. To me, Quik is the best producer on the West Coast, and in the rap game, period!... The man is a genius. His sound is so RICH, so melodical, so MUSICAL. You actually get to hear LIVE instruments, instead of samples or monotonic repetitive beats! Quik always innovates, never duplicates and he changes his style a bit on every single album. As far as rapping is conerned, it seems Quik just gets better with each album. He always was a GREAT rapper, and on Trauma he drops some of his best verses ever. You know he always had that sense of humor, but it's more than that. Quik is a mature cat, and on this album, he really gets much more PERSONAL - quite a few songs deal with things Quik has been through in the last few years (the industry, the trouble with his familly, growing up in Compton, the death of Mauberg and Roger Troutman, beefing with some members of his crew - especially Suga Free, and many other personal issues). So, on this one, you really get to know Quik a lot better. Quik doesn't necessarily spit the biggest words in the dictionary, but he does combine the words he uses together in clever and visually evocative ways. Quik is also a lyricist who is not hung up on rhyming every single line, willing to rhyme three times in two lines and then flip assonance for several lines or not even use a rhyme at all if it would get in the way of making an impactful point lyrically Other than the album being personal, it's mostly about making you feel good. Most of it is laid-back and mellow. As other Quik albums you get a lot of top-notch guests, including : B-Real, T.I., The Game (coming out with another mediocre verse, mentioning as usual Dr. Dre and 2Pac), Wyclef Jean (a GREAT performance by him on the song), Nate Dogg (doing the best singing you've heard from him in the last 10 years), Jodecci, Ludacris, Chingy (who actually soung very good on the song "Get Down".). And of course you can't have a Quik album, without AMG being on it! AMG is the only one that's on 2 songs, and he's his usual dope self... Quik isn't messing with Suga Free (Quik called him a "dope addict" on an interview he did, and he also said "Fu** Suga Free) since he feels Suga Free and some of his former partners aren't that serious about their work as he is...Anyway, you get another perfect album by the Compton legend. Too bad it's less than 45 minutes long, but hey - it's short and sweet, and you'll never skip a song! Unfortunately, "Trauma" won't get him the attention and sales he deserves, but I guess Quik is used to that already... Real fans should hope this genius doesn't quit, and keeps releasing those Way too funky albums (pun intended)!

As a DJ Quik fan from Quik is the Name, this album represents the growth and development as a producer and artist that Quik always talks about in interviews. This album is the continuation of the creativity and expression shown on Rhythmalism, and is without question one of the best DJ Quik albums ever. Although Quik's sound has changed since his heavily sample driven days on Quik is the Name and Way 2 Fonky, the live instrumentation and true Funk sound are giant steps forward.

This is the Quik album that I really hope does well and finally places him squarely in the conversations of hip-hop heads and casual fans alike, regarding great producers (both old and new)- right there with Dre ,Primo, Timbaland and the Neptunes.

As a musical opus you are not going to find anything on the shelves that is the quality of production of this album (and that includes Kanye and everyone else you can think of). And the guest appearances, as mentioned by other reviewers, are some of the artists' best works, with T.I. and Ludacris making outstanding appearances.

For those who don't know DJ Quik and his pedigree, this is a great starting to point to get to know his work. And for those who are familiar with what the Quikster can do, this belongs in your collection.

Man Dj Quik is back with a vengance. This by far is one of Quik's best Cd's in a few years, well worth the wait. I love Fandango, Black Mercedes & till Jesus comes, this is definatelly some of the West Coast flava that has been missing. Other stand out cuts are Intro for Roger, Pacific remix feat Ludacris & Get up feat The Game & AMG. Go and get this CD.

DJ Quik brings out the best in every guest he works with; his tracks show amazing creativity and care; his rap skill is second to none; every album shows a new take on hip-hop, while maintaining the high quality of previous releases. 'Trauma' is no exception.

Mr. David Blake has earned a very special place in hip-hopstory. He essentialy is self trained and through the ninety's he produced west coast style that he helped pioneer. Now the important thing to remember is Mr. Blake always exceled at the style he was pursuing. Even with personal issues his music always appealed to the masses. As of the last album he diversified his style and is unquestionably more well rounded. Many listners should not talk about how an album was produced well. We frankly do not know what Mr. Blake knows about 12bars. This Trauma album must be understood not as a great rap/hip-hop record rather a great number of pieces that make for a superior music experience. Mr. Blake is not a ghetto rapper he is a professional and giving this 5 stars is pathetic. It rather deserves double that amount. Forget Elvis, the Beatles Young Jeezy 50 cent. They can amount to the Phenomena known to all as DJ QUIK!

Its a shame that DJ Quik doesn't get the recognition and respect he deserves as one of the greats in hip-hop...im here in India and it's a mystery to me how people in his own country fail to recognise his talent...one of the few hip-hop producers to use live instruments in his music....this album's got such a complete sound....its some real hip-hop....he's always a step ahead of his time...this album is no different...dont even think twice about picking this up....keep doing it quik!!!!

Every person has a soundtrack to there life, for me it's been the stuff Quik puts out. All his albums have given me a profound enjoyment of beats, lyrics and all things related to dope a$$ music. From Quik is the name, to Trauma I felt them all. In my eyes dude can't do anything wrong. I've never heard him drop anything wack and it won't ever happen. Get this album if you love AMAZING music. And to the Quiksta himself I say "thank you" for all his albums... but this one especially cause I thought he was retired forever. Keep doin yo thang Quik, you'll blow up eventually. I'll keep buying your stuff!!!!

This album is hot. Clearly one of the best I have heard this year, definitely the best westcoast album I have heard this year. Sounds fresh - that's a huge statement for a gangsta rap album and Quik sounds revitalised.

Guests - I must admit Nate Dogg has sounded a bit stale in his last few appearances on the westcoast but on this album he sounds like he's back to his old Uncle Nate Dogg and that's all good to me.

Surprise, surprise - I am not a big fan of Game but he actually sounds good on this album.

Nice to hear B-Real of Cypress Hill again, he's been quite for too long.

AMG - Nice to hear him back with Quik. Together they sound well - listen to Track 14 entitled California.

Quik's Groove - For fans of DJ Quik's previous work, the Quik Groove has always been one of the highlights of the album. The G-spot so to speak. This one doesn't disappoint, it includes vocals from Jodeci and is real mellow.

If you are not a hardcore DJ Quik fan, then this album is a nice introduction. If you are a hardened DJ Quik like myself, then you will be well pleased.

I am not one to hyperbole but this album has gone a long way in restoring some of my faith in the westcoast gangsta rap and I have been listening to westcoast rap since the late 80s.

Peace

Before Kanye West even thought about going into the studio, DJ Quik was the artist/producer who made it "cool to be cocky". Since 1991, Quik has been hitting 'em upside the head with smooth and laid-back anthems on album after album. Unfortunately, it seems like with each album comes more drama for the Quikster. He's been through a diss battle with MC Eiht, a falling out with nearly every artist in his stable, and poor label deals with Profile and Arista respectively. All of these setbacks are nothing comapred to the tragedy that befell when his protege, Mausberg, was murdered in 2000. All of the personal turmoil mixed with Quik's inability to get the type of respect he deserved resulted in Quik briefly retiring from the rap game. With his seventh album, "Trauma", Quik is out of retirement and doing it like only he can.

"Trauma" is DJ Quik's best work in years and easily the best album of the year so far. There is just too much going on with this record. Quik has collected an all-star line-up including The Game, Ludacris, B-Real, T.I., Wyclef Jean, Chingy, Jodeci, and Nate Dogg, for this one. Even if you're not a fan of some of those listed artists, you'll be hard-pressed to hate what Quik has done with them. Chingy has never sounded as dope as he does on "Get Down". The outrageous "Fandago" has Quik wilding out with B-Real over an anarchy-inducing instrumental. The smooth "Quikstrumental" featuring Jodeci is like some mid-90's R&B on crack. "Ladies & Thugs" with guest Wyclef Jean is a hyper-active musical masterpiece. And what would a DJ Quik album be without AMG? His long-time collaborator shows up along with The Game on "Get Up" and helps close out the LP with the hard-hitting "California".

While "Trauma" is only fourteen tracks deep and runs under forty-five minutes, it covers so much ground. It's got a little bit of everything. You won't need that "skip" button on this one. DJ Quik remains one of rap's most underrated producers and the best-kept secret in music but if "Trauma" finds its way into your CD player, it may not find its way out for awhile. If you're not too familiar with Quik's work and are really looking to hear something different, I strongly suggest that you give this one a listen.