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DJ Quik’s Diva-Like Behavior
Is “Amerika’s Most Complete Artist” also a complete diva? Last night’s Ruby Skye show –featuring Quik, Kurupt, the Kev Choice Ensemble, and Trackademicks–was, from the look of things, a wholly entertaining concert, featuring not one but two live bands, two classic West Coast artists, and an undercard of some of the Bay’s finest emerging talent. Appearing onstage in a tuxedo, a ponytailed Quik definitely gave his fans their $30 worth (though the same could not be said of the venue’s $7 12-oz. beers), even if he was outshined somewhat by Kurupt (whose classics, among them “New York, New York,” XXplosive,” and “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)” earned a more enthusiastic audience response than Quik’s “Tonite” and “Born and Raised in Compton”).
However, according to ASD’s trusty spies, at the rapper-producer may also have been somewhat of an egotistical playa-hater behind-the-scenes. Apparently, Quik thought he was James Bond and Frank Sinatra all rolled into one, delaying the opening of the show so he could take a photo shoot in the venue lobby, refusing to allow the other acts to sound-check, and not allowing the local musicians to store their gear in the backstage room.
Despite Quik’s attempts to sabotage his opening acts, even without a sound check, the KCE outplayed Quik’s Blaqkout band, who were competent but fairly listless. The closest they got to stretching out was a long vamp on “Tonite,” which was no match for Choice’s classically-inspired piano riffs. Not to take anything away from Quik, but Choice actually seemed like a more complete artist, in that he seamlessly transitioned from rapping to bandleading to being an instrumentalist, while Quik just rapped or posed for the crowd.
Quik’s onstage banter offered some hints as to his conceitedness; at one point, he remarked, “that’s okay, my hair appointment isn’t until tomorrow.” The off-the-cuff remark may have been intended as a joke–I’m sure it was hot onstage, especially with a tux on–but in light of the allegations of backstage bullying, it seems more insightful than perhaps Quik intended.
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| Divalicious? DJ Quik |
Where’s Davey?: DJ Quik is a Diva
Diva?
“Where were you Davey?”
Quik gave a slammin ass show. (“My God there’s no please hip hop elitist these days.”) I don’t remember anyone but Quik coming off stage to engage and party with the crowd. Shaking hands, taking pictures, throwing money, and himself into the crowd. That doesn’t sound like diva behavior to me. And everyone knows that a night out in a Tuxedo is way more fun then in some baggy jeans and white tee.
“Where were you Davey?”
You didn’t even mention his stage dive to the floor of Ruby Skye. The crowd refused to get off their asses and catch him. Parting like the Red Sea, as Quik -and his perm- backstroked through the air to a Hennessy drenched floor. I guess people were too busy thinking about how hip hop has changed too much and real rappers don’t perm their hair.
“Where were you Davey?”
So what if sound checks got bump in scheduling. Out of respect to Quik, no one should be complaining. Kev Choice and Trackademicks have a longgg way too go before they can match a career such as Quik’s.
Found you Davey.
I agree. Kev Choice’s band was the best band in the house. Hands down!!!
NB
I was there last night, and I will agree with two things:
1. Quik took FOR-EV-ER to get on stage. It was shortly after midnight when he and Kurupt finally got into their first song. By that time lots of people in the crowd had been there well over 3 hours, including myself.
2. The Kev Choice Ensemble was much better than Quik’s band.
But aside from that… Quik put on a monster show… like the poster above me said, Quik gave 100% on every song and got into the crowd with us on multiple occasions. I only paid 20 bucks (paid well in advance) so i feel like I got more than my money’s worth.
my bad I meant to say *that* night… not last night… lol
NB if you read the article carefully you see the author is Eric Arnold not davey D.. bad communication always causes problems.. You call me out as if I did something wrong and all I did was post an article from someone who was there..please direct ur angst with eric.. I gave quik a great review when I saw him in LA..
PAY ATTENTION…DAVEY DIDN’T WRITE THE DAMNED ARTICLE
This man (Quik) NEVER quite gets the props he deserves–from the industry or fans!
Wasn’t there, but have seen and met the Quiksta in the past. He’s mega-talented, and always puts his foot in that shit, as far as performances go.
Yeah, ok, so he’s a little conceited–Quik has always had a little “flair” about him, but he’s a cool cat.
No disrespect to Kev’s Choice (caught them on KPFA a couple times), but not quite in the same league…yet!
Sidewayz,
J.Fresh from South Sac
Outwest Entertainment/
GameFace Artist Services
hey this is eric arnold. good to see quik has die-hard fans out there. before we go any further, though, let me explain a few things: 1) this was a blog post which davey listed in its entirety (technically, he should have excerpted no more than a graph and included the link, so that readers would be directed to the original source); as such, it was not really a concert review nor a full critique of quik’s performance, which was pretty good, even though kurupt got a bigger audience response for his classics, and kev choice’s band completely outplayed quik’s, as i noted. 2) rather, it was based on a report of behind-the-scenes drama from one of the promoters, which showed an appalling lack of respect for the bay area from an out-of-town artist who has been supported by the region’s hip-hop community over the years. let me ask you this: WHO makes ticketholders wait because they are having a photo shoot in the lobby precisely at the time the doors are supposed to open–of a venue with an upstairs mezzanine, i might add–but a diva? that’s disrespectful of the fans who are paying $$ to see you. If it was Dre, Em, or Fitty, ok. But Quik? the guy is talented and prolific, but he’s no longer a top-tier act with a current hit. and WHO doesnt let opening acts sound check or allow them to safely secure their gear? that’s disrespectful of other musicians who are just trying to come up. when you think about it, it’s kinda fucked up to play a long set and get the crowd amped for the headliner only to find there’s no place to store your gear, so you have to tote it around with you through the crowded club. mind you, these are actual musicians, so we’re talking actual instruments, drum kits, guitars, etc. etc. 3) after the article ran, i later found out it was quik’s manager who was being difficult, so i can’t confirm or deny that quik directed him to do so. even so, no one but quik said the line about “having a hair appointment”–which is pretty much the definition of male diva-like behavior. don’t hate on me for reporting stuff like this; if you’d rather not know, then dont read it. it’s as simple as that. 4) even if quik is a diva, buy his new album BlaQKout anyway. he might be conceited, but he’s still a great producer and a pretty good rapper.
“Shaking hands, taking pictures, throwing money, and himself into the crowd. That doesn’t sound like diva behavior to me.”
NB, you win the award for Quik apologist of the year–you should be his publicist.
but look at what you’re saying from a rational, objective standpoint. first, you completely ignore addressing the allegations raised, as if they never happened. instead you attempt to discredit notions of quik being a diva by shifting the focus to your idea of non-diva behavior.
actually, nothing you mentioned is inconsistent with being a diva. diana ross may shake a hand or two or pose for a picture while onstage. are you actually gonna argue that such behavior makes her NOT a diva??!!!
diva doesnt mean anti-social recluse. it doesnt mean someone who doesnt interact with their audience. but it does mean someone whose ego is at least as large as their talent. it also means someone who is disrespectful of other musicians and even fans themselves out of selfishness. if the perm fits, wear it.
ps i would even go so far as to say that Quik isnt the only hip-hop diva out there, and egocentricity by artists is precisely one of the reasons why hip-hop is in the state its in.