DJ Quik Salutes West Coast Freshmen Class, “I’m Not One Of These Late Comers”

Written By S. Samuel

With the recent influx of West Coast newcomers like Kreayshawn and Odd Future invading mainstream hip-hop, SOHH recently spoke to DJ Quik to get his take on the new freshmen class.

The Game
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While renowned as a rap veteran with over 20 years in hip-hop, Quik said he has always stayed up on the latest and hottest West Coast newcomers.

“I anticipate the new artists coming out of the West Coast as much as the principal of a junior high or a high school anticipates the freshmen, or how the principal of high schools anticipate the freshmen,” Quik told SOHH when asked about his perception of new rappers from his home region. “I don’t anticipate at all. I just want them to enroll into school, get their education and graduate with honors. I love what Dom Kennedy is doing. I’ve done work with Kenderick Lamar. I’ve always been involved in the newcomers [like] Jay Rock. I’ve tried to do records with Jay Rock. I deejayed for The Game when he first came out. I’m always looking for new sh*t. I’m happy to see new artists get down. The bottom line is Jay Rock and Dom Kennedy, I know those guys are going to do well. Just know that I was there and I’m not one of these late comers — I’m still in touch. I still deejay, produce and rap.” (SOHH)

In April, Slaughterhouse’s Crooked I hit up SOHH to share his assessment on Odd Future and other West Coast burgeoning stars.

“Odd Future has a crazy cult following, big shows, high-energy sh*t when they’re on stage,” Crooked I told SOHH. “It’s a good thing. I look at people like that, groups like that, groups like Pav Div, Dom Kennedy, Blu, Kendrick Lamar, Horseshoe Gang. I look at all the emerging acts on the West Coast right now and I see how it’s going to form and I see who the new kings of the West Coast are going to be and who the new guys are that are going to represent and take it to another level. It’s a good thing because for a minute there, we was trapped in some f*cking Chevy and Chuck Taylors. That’s not no disrespect, but that ain’t the West Coast right now. We was trapped in that time warp and couldn’t get out of that sh*t. The public wouldn’t even let us out but now I’m seeing these new acts coming out and things are working out like they’re supposed to. It’s a great representation of 2011 West Coast sh*t out there right now.” (SOHH)

Grammy-winning rapper Eminem also recently shed light on Odd Future getting mainstream exposure.

“I think that from the stuff that I’ve heard — I haven’t heard a lot from them, I still have to go check out everything that they’re doing — but I’ve heard enough to know that it feels like they’re pushing boundaries and buttons, and that’s definitely one of the things that I’m familiar with, especially when I first came out — I love it, I love the fact that they’re doing that. And the dudes can rhyme.” (MTV)

This week, Oakland female rapper Kreayshawn officially announced a record deal with Sony Music/Columbia Records.

East Oakland native, visual artist, swag assassin, and undercat Kreayshawn (Kray-shawn) has officially signed with Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The 21 year-old will release “Gucci Gucci” via digital retailers on Tuesday, June 14th and prepare her forthcoming full-length debut album, due later this year. Described by GQ Magazine as a “loveable oddball,” Kreayshawn says of the new partnership, “I’m excited to work with my new Columbia family. They understand my vision and are going to let me continue everything I’ve been doing. My hope is to inspire others to be young, wild, and free.” (Press Release)

Check out some recent DJ Quik footage below:

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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