dj-quik-kurupt-blaqkout

Ten years ago, the thought of West Coast mainstays DJ Quik and Tha Dogg Pound’s Kurupt collaborating on a project might have induced panic attacks among eager fans. While the anticipation for said album has undoubtedly fizzled, the two legends in their own right take the better-late-than-never approach and proceed forward anyway. The slyly titled BlaQKout attempts to combine the pair’s distinctively different styles and if anything, makes for an interesting musical plateau.

Much of the LP operates like a live performance at a House of Blues, with lively instrumentation and an impromptu feel for the lyricism running through its vein. Quik puts in overtime, dropping snarky one-liners alongside Kurupt’s organized confusion all the while providing the production, much of which has a Middle Eastern tinge added to the mix. Both the vibrant “Hey Playa! (Moroccan Blues)” and “Watcha Wan Do” embrace Indian flutes and various chimes to keep the party going. And for those looking for a more traditional (and expected) approach from the veteran posse, “Do You Know” sports an effervescent backdrop with the laid back hook “Yeah, and ya don’t stop! Make it all the way to the top but first ya gotta come on down…” to remind listeners California is still in the house.

Alas, not every match is made in heaven, though. Truth be told, virtually none of the songs on BlaQKout are about anything, with little-to-no emphasis on subject matter. “Fuck Y’all” appears to be an anti-hater anthem but morphs midway to an freestyle session. And peculiar material such as “Jupiter’s Critic And The Mind Of Mars” and “Ohh!” pop haphazardly serving merely as filler. Obviously a project without label restrictions is an artist’s lifetime dream but an unscripted gameplan can lead to an album without any major record to act as its reference point. Such is the case for BlaQKout.

If the goal for Kurupt and Quik was to deviate from anything that was relative to previous material, consider mission accomplished. But despite the unique experience, BlaQKout leaves much to be desired in the wake of its makeshift release, not to mention failing to rival the patent holders of the namesake. Those looking for that classic euphoria will have to do some backlogging but these vets can still teach the youth a thing or two about switching up the game.

3cigs

Previously Posted — DJ Quik & Kurupt – “Do You Know” Video