The Midnight Life

After more than 25 years of making records, DJ Quik remains relevant because he adheres to a timeless template of West Coast hip-hop and because he always finds new ways to put a twist on that classic sound. In comparison to *The Midnight Life*, many contemporary rap albums sound belabored and hackneyed. With “Back That S\*\*t Up,” “Broken Down,” and “Life Jacket,” Quik exhibits an unparalleled attention to sonic detail while retaining a rap style that\'s casual and uplifting but never dumbed-down. The album is full of little surprises, but nothing is more pleasurable than the smoother-than-smooth “Pet Semetary.”

DJ Quik's new album is sharper and more brittle-sounding than his last album, 2011's The Book of David. The Midnight Life is a reminder that 25 years into Quik's career, he is still discovering how two or three sounds can make you momentarily forget how rap songs usually go, the directions they head in.

Legendary Compton-born rapper/producer DJ Quik returned with ninth studio album The Midnight Life three years after 2011's The Book of David.

David Blake is how you age gracefully in rap. The 44-year-old DJ Quik — a producer first and emcee second — doesn't flood the In...