Very strong album overall with 8-10 very good songs and the other 4-6 not very good at all...overall very satisfied, however, would have liked to have seen some bigger names featured on the album...surprised they did not get any Snoop, Dr. Dre, or Daz Dillinger featured tracks...Bees to the honey my favorite track and probably a viable radio hit...
DJ Quik and Kurupt's Blaqkout, in a couple of weird ways, is similar to its more inspired New York counterpart Blackout, released by Method Man and Redman. They're both inspired because the two really feel well working together, as DJ Quik and Kurupt both feel comfortable around each other's contrasting flows, with Kurupts aggressive bark and Quiks nasally whine meshing together well. As well, both Blaqkout and Blackout are generally hyped in the media as great albums, but as soon as we see that, that's when the comparisons end.
I'm a huge and long time fan of the Quikster since Born & Raised debuted back in 1990. Quik is the King of the West Coast and in my opinion a much better producer than Dre. Dre is good but Quik is consistent and keeps the West Coast poppin' with music that keeps the lowriders cruising, plus he doesn't wait a decade to maybe put out a cd (Dre - is Detox ever coming out????)
As for this album, I was dissappointed that I couldn't give it 5 stars. The production is tight and there are some banging beats, especially tracks #3 & #5. Quik & Kurupt both laid down some great lyrics BUT the cd is just too short. For two great rappers collaborating together I was expecting longer tracks. A good example is #9 - "9xOutta 10" was good but could have been excellent had Quik actually had a complete verse to give the song a little bit more length. The cd also could have done without track(s) #8 and #13(the song wasn't that good to warrant a remix)
Overall I like the cd for what it is - I collaboration showcasing Kurupt's lyrical abilities and Quik's ever consistent excellent production. It is definitely worth owning. I look forward to Quik putting out another album in the future bringing his crew of 2ndIINone, AMG & Hi-C, James DeBarge - this album seemed a bit weird in their absence.
KURUPT & DJ QUIK
BLAQKOUT
I was extremely excited when this album was first announced because I knew it would be a classic with out a doubt. And of course like I thought this is an instant classic as two of the greatest legends in the rap game come together. One of the greatest lyricists ever Kurupt gets together with one of the greatest producer/rappers ever. With additional production from the great Terrance Martin this is one of the best sounding albums ever. Quik produces the whole album.
1.BLAQKOUT-absolutly one of the best songs ever because this track is so smooth. Quik really did his thing on here with this smooth instrumental and killed the first verse. Kurupt shines over this production with one of his best verses ever. They both open the album really strong.5/5
2.CREAM-this is one of those classic sex type tracks as these two come with another classic track. The beat is excellent and is one of the best on the album with that classic Quik feel. Both come correct with the verses as they speak to the opposite sex, another one of the best tracks on the album.5/5
3.DO YOU KNOW-this track as a video for it on the internet of course so I suppose it is one of the singles. This is kind of a mix between Quik's classic sound and his new style, it sounds kinda old school. Kurupt of course sounds excellent over this track with a great flow and verse. Quik of course knows how to flow over his own sound so he sounds great on this track.5/5
4.WHATCHA WAN DO-another great instrumental for your listening pleasure with that new style Quik has. Quik kills things first with an excellent verse were he shouts out Mausberg, R.I.P.. Kurupt kicks things off next with a great verse followed by one of the female west coast legends YO YO. After she kills it we get Problem and her on the hook, another great track.5/5
5.OHH-absolutly one of my favorite tracks on the album because the sound is just so cool sounding. The beat is excellent and Kurupt's flow sounds great over this track, he does his thing on this classic. Quik of course sounds excellent as well and supplies some great vocals. The hook for this track is absolutely one of the coolest things ever, and it is so simple.5/5
6.YA'LL-this is another great track with another great instrumental for these two to get down on. Kurupt does his thing on this track as does Quik especially on the last verse as they do their thing. One of the better tracks on the album, does that sound familiar yet, for those who don't know this is a diss track to some former friends of Quik.5/5
7.HEY PLAYA [MOROCCAN BLUES]-the first track I heard from this album is out of this world with an excellent sample that gives this one a distinct feel. The hook is very catchy and both of these guys sound great on this track. Quik kicks things off first and kills it followed by a very on point Kurupt. They close out the song great and deliver another classic.5/5
8.EXODUS-this one kinda has an island sound to it with a smooth easy going instrumental, sounds great after the last track. This an interlude track.5/5
9.9X'S OUTTA 10-another one with a video for it and has a very original sound to it, even the flow and hook are original sounding on this one. They flow and transition into the verses so smooth from the hook, excellent track. Kurupt really shines on this track with some great lyrics and Quik sounds great on this epic type track. I love that girl during the track as she makes it sound epic, great track. Kurupt is the star of this track as he dominates most of the song with Quik only dropping a cameo in this one.5/5
10.JUPITER'S, CRITIC, AND THE MIND OF MARS-another crazy track with a futuristic sound to it, very up-tempo. Quik does his thing on this song adding some crazy effects to his vocals to make it sound like an alien or something. This is one of the craziest songs I have ever heard, this is very original.5/5
11.THE APPEAL-we are back to that smooth sound that we are used to from the great DJ Quik, excellent instrumental. This is kind of a reflecting type of track with Kurupt doing his thing over this track dropping some great vocals. Quik of course follows suit with some great lyrics.5/5
12.THE B STANDS FOR BEAUTIFUL-this is an interlude were Problem gives his take on that word, funny stuff.
13.WHATCHA WAN DO -[ALTERNATE VERSION]-on this version Problem destroys the first verse and smashes the beat to pieces easily, can't wait for his album. Then Kurupt comes in and kills the track as if you didn't know that. Quik comes in next and much like the first two destroys the track and kills it.5/5
The next track is a bonus song
14.BEES TO THA HONEY-the production on this track kinda reminds me of Quik's production style on the Fixxers songs. Kurupt does his thing first on this track followed by Quik, this track is all about girls and cash. This is another great track rounding out a classic album.5/5
This is absolutely one of the best albums of all time, I can't wait for them to release some more music.
Classic in the sense that's it's actual music with subject matter and also one of those albums that you don't have to skip thru to find the tracks you like. Just press play and let it roll. Nobody makes timless music and beats that you can't duplicate. Kurupt raps to the fullest and if you like rap music in it's essesnce and not these gimmick rappers then you will be satisfied. Gotta be intelligent and appreciate good quality music to enjoy this.Definite buy!
