DJ Quik and SugaFree lit up Club Nokia on Saturday sharing the stage for their first live concert together in 10 years.
Hit after hit, the duo had the diverse crowd on their feet. All races, genders, age and sets (or no set at all) nodded, danced and sang along. It was an unlikely lesson in the power of music and the reach of the artists.
Flesh-n-Bone (Bone, Thugs-n-Harmony) performed ‘For the Love of Money’ and introduced Quik and Free.
Quik was working dual turntables and Free was working the mic. In a gesture of appreciation, Free surveyed the crowd and took a mental picture. Quik reminded everyone that he had never won a Grammy or few other awards. He had a good point. His string of platinum selling hits cannot be ignored and have definitely passed the test of time.
He also shared that he had a conversation with a successful East Coast producer who told him that his music was “too sweet.” C’mon, too sweet? Quik and the unnamed producer agreed that East Coast music comes from a dark and grungy place; and West Coast music comes from a place of weed.
Quik laughed as he said that he was too old at 41 to dance on stage. But West Coast rappers rarely do, anyway. He ended the concert with a surprise. Quik announced that he was trying something new and pulled out an electric guitar. It’s always great to see artists stretch – especially when it works.
- Kathy Williamson
