DJ Quik

QUIK FIX: In the world of West Coast hip-hop, few rappers have had an impact as great as DJ Quik. Since bursting onto the scene with Quik Is the Name back in 1991, he’s been certified platinum, scored nods from Rolling Stone and The Source, and recorded with some of the biggest players in the game (2Pac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Suga Free, just to name a few). Despite a decline in record sales throughout the late ’90s and early ’00s, Quik has maintained his reputation as one of hip-hop’s reigning kings by putting in time behind the mixing board and collaborating with production wizards like Teddy Riley.

Most recently, Quik joined forces with fellow SoCal-er Kurupt to pen and release last year’s stellar BlaQKout. Throughout the disk’s 13 tracks, Quik pushes the envelope of creativity to new heights, incorporating everything from dizzy Casio tones (“Ohh!”) to authentic Moroccan samples [“Hey Playa! (Moroccan Blues)”] to spacey, pulsating dance beats (“Jupiter’s Critic and the Mind of Mars”). In between all this ingenuity, Quik manages to save room for Kurupt to shine, further proving that the long-overlooked Dogg Pound member has more to offer lyrically than many ever realized.

This Friday, June 4, at 8 p.m., Sean Healy brings DJ Quik to Velvet Jones (423 State St.) for an extra special performance in support of his soon-to-be-released solo album, The Book of David. For tickets and information, call 965-8676 or visit inticketing.com. The show is 21+.

LOCAL MOTION: Also this week, SOhO (1221 State St.) hosts a smorgasbord of Santa Barbara-bred talent on Sunday, June 6, at 7 p.m. The night-long, all-ages celebration boasts performances from former Ona frontman Omar Cowan, recent S.B. export Idea, the Artist, and newcomers Wetlands, all of whom stand to represent the city’s ever-burgeoning music scene. On the singer-songwriter front, Idea (formerly Ines and Redemption) brings to the table some truly stellar piano-driven pop. (Think Tori Amos meets Regina Spektor.) If you caught Beltranena’s going-away show at SOhO last November, you can attest to her vocal prowess. And with a slew of new material under her belt, I’m betting Sunday’s performance will even trump her last.

On the electro rock front, Wetlands just might be S.B.’s next great triumph. The band’s groovy mix of reggae, jazz, and synth rock begs comparison to New Wave greats like The Police, and their instrumental prowess goes far beyond their mere six-month lifespan.

Rounding out the mix is Cowan, who, at 23 years old, brings with him the most experience of the group. While the young guitarist recently wrapped a whirlwind stint of shows backing chart-toping songstress A Fine Frenzy, Sunday’s performance finds Cowan getting back to his songwriting roots. Without a doubt, the night will be one to catch—if for no other reason than to get in on the ground floor with this group of up-and-coming talent. For tickets and info, call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

TALK IT OUT: And for a taste of rock ‘n’ roll attitude without all that guitar noise, I encourage you to head out and catch Henry Rollins (21361.com) live and in person at SOhO on Wednesday, June 9, at 8 p.m. It’s then that the Black Flag and Rollins Band frontman returns to S.B. with his always entertaining spoken word shtick. In between acting, writing, deejaying, and rocking out, Rollins manages to squeeze in a small number of these chatty evenings a year, and each time he brings with him a dynamic and in-your-face presence that is downright fascinating to watch. Topics range from politics to punk rock, and are always delivered with Rollins’ signature button-pushing enthusiasm. To check Rollins out, call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

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