DJ Quik Reveals Why Modern Music Lost Its Sound | Trevbeats Show

Sun, 24 May 2026 18:42:25 +0000

In this episode of The TrevBeats Show, DJ Quik breaks down why classic records still sound better today, the lost art of analog recording, mixing on tape, West Coast music history, studio discipline, and what separates real producers from everybody else.

This isn’t just a music interview — it’s a masterclass from a legend.

We talk:
• Analog tape vs digital recording
• Why modern music lost depth
• The secret behind classic West Coast sound
• Production techniques nobody uses anymore
• Engineering, mixing, and sonic detail
• Death Row era stories and industry insight
• Why Quik still records differently than everyone else

If you care about music production, hip-hop history, engineering, or timeless sound design, this episode is essential viewing.

CHAPTERS
00:00 DJ Quik Still Records to Tape — And Here’s Why
00:51 Welcome to The TrevBeats Show
01:15 DJ Quik’s Legacy in West Coast Hip-Hop
02:24 How Soul Train Sparked Quik’s Love for Music
03:57 Drum Machines, Turntables & the Birth of a Producer
06:49 How DJ Quik Became a Real Engineer
09:14 Tone, Color & the Art of Overdubbing
10:10 Why Live Percussion Changed the West Coast Sound
12:43 What Music Lost When Recording Went Digital
13:13 The Tape Machine “Glue” Modern Records Are Missing
16:20 Why Tape Captures Energy Differently Than Pro Tools
18:17 “This Is What Separates Me From Everybody Else”
19:03 Quik Challenges Young Engineers to Try Tape
20:16 SMPTE, Tape Machines & Flying Hooks
22:00 Did Pro Tools Make Artists Lazy?
23:14 DJ Quik on AI, Creativity & Cheating the Process
25:58 How Quik Uses AI the Right Way
28:16 Why AI-Made Songs Shouldn’t Replace Musicianship
28:57 DJ Quik, Stevie Wonder & Being the Voice and Producer
31:35 Why Quik Refuses to Use Stock Sounds
33:22 Microwave Music vs. Home-Cooked Records
35:30 DJ Quik on Working with Tupac
36:29 Pac’s Work Ethic in the Studio
37:25 Why Quik Turned Tupac’s Vocals Down
38:39 All Eyez on Me, The Grammy Hall of Fame & Pac’s Intensity
41:17 Digital Underground, Philly, Oakland & Hidden Music History
42:54 The Evolution of LA and West Coast Music
43:31 New West Coast Artists Catching Quik’s Ear
46:31 Balance and Options: Quik’s Philosophy on Life and Music
47:38 Why Studio Energy Matters
50:26 DJ Quik’s Return to Tape
51:48 Art, Authenticity & Getting His Copyrights Back
52:36 The Sound of a Tape Machine Button
53:21 DJ Quik’s Historic Firsts and Final Words
54:08 Thanks for Watching The TrevBeats Show

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