The Midnight Life

The Midnight Life
Studio album by DJ Quik
Released October 14, 2014
Recorded 2013–14
Genre Hip hop
Length 59:15
Label
Producer
DJ Quik chronology

  • The Midnight Life
  • (2014)
Singles from The Midnight Life
  1. "Life Jacket"
    Released: September 24, 2014

The Midnight Life is the ninth studio album by American rapper DJ Quik The album was released on October 14, 2014, by Mad Science Recordings and INgrooves Music Group.[1]

The album has so far spawned the singles "Life Jacket" and promo single "That Getter". The Midnight Life features guest appearances from Mack 10, El DeBarge, David Blake II, Bishop Lamont, Joi, Rob "Fonsksta" Bacon, Suga Free, Tay F 3rd Tweed Cadillac & Dom Kennedy. The album's production was handled mainly by DJ Quik himself.[2]

Background

On December 9, 2013 in an interview with The Arsenio Hall Show's Extended Play in Los Angeles, Quik announced he received a budget for his upcoming ninth studio album and revealed he's going to be channelling the DJ Quik from 1989 on the album.[3] The album title and release date we're confirmed on September 17, 2014 in a press release from DJ Quik and he also stated "This album is my ode to having fun in the midnight hour,” “That’s the best time for making music in my opinion. It’s quiet, especially if you’re in a recording studio. You can hear everything and you know everybody’s asleep. You can sneak and do your best work.[4]

Singles

On September 24, 2014, DJ Quik released the album's first single, titled "Life Jacket", featuring frequent collaborator Suga Free and Dom Kennedy.[5] The song was produced by DJ Quik himself.[6] The snippet for the song along with a short music video for "Life Jacket", directed by Jon Casey, was released on June 11, 2013.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [8]
Complex [9]
Exclaim! 8/10[10]
HipHopDX [11]
Pitchfork Media (8.2/10)[12]
The Smoking Section [13]
XXL 3/5 (XL)[14]

The Midnight Life received generally positive reviews from music critics. Fred Thomas of AllMusic said, "The album, produced almost entirely by Quik himself, is a fun-loving affair, frequently switching styles from jazzy, sophisticated R&B workouts like "Pet Cemetery" to heavier trap and gangsta rap beats. In interviews during the album's release, Quik said it was his "ode to having fun in the midnight hour," and the carefree production and moments of humor throughout the album support that statement."[8] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork Media stated, "The Midnight Life is accordingly sharper and more brittle-sounding than The Book of David from 2011, which glowed with warm horns and jazz piano. But the enlivening Quik touch is everywhere: 25 years into his career, he is still discovering how 2 or 3 sounds can make you momentarily forget how rap songs usually go, the directions they head in."[12] Darryl Robertson of XXL said, "The Midnight Life shows that Quik has a passion for making music, even if it necessarily doesn’t bless the ears of today’s hip-hop fans. In a genre where styles and flows change, Quik—including his content–remains the same, which validates his authenticity. If you need reminders, just listen to “Why Did You Have to Lie” featuring Joi and “Quik’s Groove 9.” However, he fails to adjust his style to the newer generation, who, for the most part, define what’s popping in hip-hop. While DJ Quik doesn’t quite connect with them as he did in the past, his dedication for creating music and catering to his diehard fans validates why he’s a living legend."[14]

Commercial Performance

The album debuted at number 63 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 5,097 copies in the United States.[15]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro"  David BlakeDJ Quik 1:45
2. "That Nigga'z Crazy"  BlakeDJ Quik 3:54
3. "Back That Shit Up" (featuring Tay F 3rd & David Blake II)
  • Blake
  • Blake, Jr.
  • D. Kim
DJ Quik 3:55
4. "Trapped on the Tracks" (featuring Bishop Lamont & David Blake II)
DJ Quik 4:51
5. "El's Interlude 2" (featuring El DeBarge)
DJ Quik 0:41
6. "Puffin' the Dragon"  BlakeDJ Quik 3:43
7. "Pet Semetery"  BlakeDJ Quik 4:06
8. "Life Jacket" (featuring Suga Free & Dom Kennedy)
  • DJ Quik
  • David Balfour
 4:26
9. "That Getter" (featuring David Blake II)Blake, Blake, Jr.DJ Quik 4:56
10. "The Conduct" (featuring Mack 10)
DJ Quik 3:38
11. "Shine" (featuring David Blake II)
  • Blake
  • Blake, Jr.
DJ Quik 3:13
12. "Bacon's Groove" (featuring Rob "Fonksta" Bacon)
  • Blake
  • Robert Bacon, Jr.
DJ Quik 5:14
13. "Broken Down" (featuring Suga Free & Tweed Cadillac)
  • Blake
  • Brown
  • Walker
DJ Quik 4:15
14. "Why'd You Have to Lie" (featuring Joi)
  • Blake
  • Gilliam
DJ Quik 3:37
15. "Fuck All Night"  BlakeDJ Quik 3:48
16. "Quik's Groove 9"  BlakeDJ Quik 3:12
Total length:
 59:15

Personnel

Credits for The Midnight Life adapted from Allmusic.[16]

  • Richie Abbott - Project Manager, Publicity
  • Jason Allen - Keyboards
  • Rob "Fonksta" Bacon - Bass, Composer, Featured Artist, Guitar, Moog Synthesizer
  • David "Preach" Bal4 - Keyboards, Piano, Producer
  • David Blake II - Drum Programming, Featured Artist, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals
  • Tweed Cadillac - Vocals
  • El DeBarge - Composer, Featured Artist, Keyboards
  • DJ Quik - Bass, Drum Programming, Drums, Horn, Instrumentation, Keyboards, Primary Artist, Producer
  • David Foreman - Bass, Guitar
  • Eboni Foster - Vocals
  • Kenya Frank - Photography
  • Brian Gardner - Mastering
  • Joi - Vocals
  • Dom Kennedy - Vocals
  • Bishop Lamont - Vocals
  • Mack 10 - Vocals
  • Marco Olivia - Design, Packaging
  • Rillah - Photography
  • Courtney Robertson - Guitar
  • Keith Ross - Bass, Composer
  • Stephen Sletten - Engineer
  • Keisha Smith - Vocals
  • Suga Free - Vocals
  • Tayf3rd - Vocals
  • D-Loc Walker - Drums

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 63
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 11
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[19] 7
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] 11
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[21] 9

Release history

Regions Dates Label(s) Ref.
United States October 14, 2014 Mad Science, INgrooves [22]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30692/title.dj-quik-the-midnight-life-release-date-cover-art-tracklist
  2. ↑ "Official DJ Quik Announces “The Midnight Life” Album.". ballerstatus.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "DJ Quik confirms new album plans.". dubcnn.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "Official DJ Quik “The Midnight Life” Press Release.". dubcnn.com. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Life Jacket feat Suga Free & Dom Kennedy.". soundcloud.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "DJ Quik f. Sugar Free & Dom Kennedy "Life Jacket".". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "DJ Quik Returns With New Video “Life Jacket”.". dubcnn.com. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "DJ Quik – The Midnight Life". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "DJ Quik Ages to Perfection on "The Midnight Life"". Complex. October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "DJ Quik The Midnight Life". Exclaim!. October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ "DJ Quik The Midnight Life". HipHopDX. October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "DJ Quik: The Midnight Life". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "‘The Conduct’ – Review Of DJ Quik’s ‘The Midnight Life’". The Smoking Section. October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "DJ Quik Delivers Another Consistent Effort On ‘The Midnight Life’ - XXL". XXL. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-10-11). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Game, Hoodie Allen, Chris Brown". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  16. ↑ "The Midnight Life - DJ Quik". AllMusic. October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ "DJ Quik Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for DJ Quik. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  18. ↑ "DJ Quik Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for DJ Quik. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ "DJ Quik Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rap Albums for DJ Quik. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  20. ↑ "DJ Quik Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Independent Albums for DJ Quik. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  21. ↑ "DJ Quik Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for DJ Quik. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  22. ↑ "iTunes - Music - The Midnight Life - Album by DJ Quik". iTunes Store. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.