15 May 2021

DJ QuikBurns a Death Row Records Check Live

DJ QuikBurns

David Marvin Blake is better known as DJ Quik, born on 8th January 1970 is one of the most popular DJs, emcees, and producers.

It’s been 30 years since DJ Quik is in this industry. DJ Quik’s contribution to California rap music has been influenced millions of artists around the country and world, who have been taken him as inspiration for his music.

Recently he drew the attention of the entire rap scene by burning a Royalties check from Death Row Records live through his social networks. After contributing decades in the music industry and heralded work along with some of the Hip-Hip and R&B’s biggest stars, he seems dissatisfied with his position regarding compensation and credit.

It was on April 28, 2021, when in an Instagram Live session, he carried out the action that would end up going around the world. The artist (and we suppose with good reason) complained about the lack of appreciation of him after all the contribution of him to the musical genre that ended up changing the world.

These were the exact words of the legendary producer and rapper

"I'm not happy. I'm offended by the Death Row Records check and this amount of money. After all the work I did for all these motherfuckers. I think the respect factor is important and there are none here.

So, for you to see how much your money means to me, after all the things I did for Tupac, all the help for Tha Dogg Pound's project. I want my money, and I want my credits for everything I did for this industry”.

He then put the check on a barbecue and proceeded to set fire to it, adding: “All the 2Pac shit I did. I helped with Tha Dogg Pound project. Devil, you are a bitch.”

Then he added: “I want my real money and I want all my credits for everything I did in this industry,” he said. “All the songs, including ‘Hot InHerre’ by Nelly and Pharrell. I want my credit for that being ‘Get Nekkid’.

“I want my credit from Kendrick Lamar for… no disrespect to Kendrick. I love you guys. TDE, you guys are awesome. But the fact that y’all left my credit off ‘King Kunta’ was crazy.”

After listing several other records, he said, he worked on but he did not get credit for.

As if that wasn't enough, Quik explained how he put his life in danger working for Death Row Records, as he constantly received death threats. Either way, it seems that the multidisciplinary artist from Compton is very upset about having received a check whose amount must be very small.

About his successful career

Throughout Quik’s lengthy career, he has racked up a slew of production credits beginning in 1991 with 2nd II None’s self-titled debut, AMG’s Bitch Better Have My Money, his album Quik Is The Name, and Hi-C’s Skanless.

In 1996, he added 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me, Tony! Toni! Tone!’s House of Music and Shaquille O’Neal’s You Can’t Stop The Reign. Other credits include Luniz, Jermaine Dupri, Snoop Dogg, Erick Sermon, and Janet Jackson.

After such a great successful career, we can only hope that those with the power to rectify the situation can do their part to ensure that Quik is compensated for what he is brought to the table.

After his recent outrage, the industry must begin to realize that it has to give money, attention, and recognition to its artists while they are still alive. That does not happen like with DMX or Black Rob, with whom love and admiration came when it was too late.