Balance & Options

BALANCE & OPTIONS displays DJ Quik at the top of his musical game. Taking a drastic stylistic turn from his previous projects, the new album showcases a growing musical maturity in its warm, soulful, funk-influenced grooves.

The set takes its musical cues from black music's past, running counter to the synthetic productions of much of current hip-hop. From the opening track "Change the Game", with its warm, soul-inflected keyboards, to the Roger Troutman vocoder refrain on "Did Y'all Feel Dat," the mood is clearly rooted in '70s funk. One of the album's highlights is the escapist party anthem "Pitch In on a Party," which evokes the champagne and cocaine decadence of the late '70s disco era. Its subtle grooves and tinkling percussion mimic the toasting of wineglasses, while a wah-wah guitar chugs along the background.