The Midnight Life

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For the 2007 unreleased DJ Quik and AMG album, see Midnight Life.
The Midnight Life
Studio album by
DJ Quik
ReleasedOctober 14, 2014 (2014-10-14)
RecordedJuly 2013–July 2014
GenreHip hop
Length59:15
Label
Producer
DJ Quik chronology
The Book of David
(2011) 		The Midnight Life
(2014) 		Rosecrans
(2017)
Singles from The Midnight Life
  1. "Life Jacket"
    Released: September 24, 2014
  2. "Pet Semetery"
    Released: September 30, 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 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[edit]

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 his intention to channel the DJ Quik from 1989.[3] The album title and release date were confirmed on September 17, 2014 in a press release from DJ Quik.[4]

Singles[edit]

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[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Complex[9]
Exclaim!8/10[10]
HipHopDX[11]
Pitchfork Media(8.2/10)[12]
The Smoking Section[13]
XXL3/5 (XL)[14]

The Midnight Life received generally positive reviews from music critics. Fred Thomas of AllMusic said, "The album ... is a fun-loving affair, frequently switching styles from jazzy, sophisticated R&B workouts like "Pet Cemetery" to heavier trap and gangsta rap beats."[8] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork Media stated, "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."[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. However, he fails to adjust his style to the newer generation."[14]

Commercial performance[edit]

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

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"David BlakeDJ Quik1:45
2."That Nigga'z Crazy"BlakeDJ Quik3:54
3."Back That Shit Up" (featuring Tay F 3rd & David Blake II)
  • Blake
  • Blake, Jr.
  • D. Kim
DJ Quik3:55
4."Trapped on the Tracks" (featuring Bishop Lamont & David Blake II)
DJ Quik4:51
5."El's Interlude 2" (featuring El DeBarge)
DJ Quik0:41
6."Puffin' the Dragon"BlakeDJ Quik3:43
7."Pet Semetery"BlakeDJ Quik4:06
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 Quik4:56
10."The Conduct" (featuring Mack 10)
DJ Quik3:38
11."Shine" (featuring David Blake II)
  • Blake
  • Blake, Jr.
DJ Quik3:13
12."Bacon's Groove" (featuring Rob "Fonksta" Bacon)
  • Blake
  • Robert Bacon, Jr.
DJ Quik5:14
13."Broken Down" (featuring Suga Free & Tweed Cadillac)
  • Blake
  • Brown
  • Walker
DJ Quik4:15
14."Why'd You Have to Lie" (featuring Joi)
  • Blake
  • Gilliam
DJ Quik3:37
15."Fuck All Night"BlakeDJ Quik3:48
16."Quik's Groove 9"BlakeDJ Quik3:12
Total length:59:15

Personnel[edit]

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

Charts[edit]

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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ Baker, Soren (2014-10-10). "DJ Quik "The Midnight Life" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Stream". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  18. ^ "DJ Quik Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  19. ^ "DJ Quik Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  20. ^ "DJ Quik Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  21. ^ "DJ Quik Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  22. ^ "iTunes – Music – The Midnight Life – Album by DJ Quik". iTunes Store. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
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