Sure, west coast music has re-emerged thanks to the creative minds of new artists including Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle and Dom Kennedy; however, some of us are quick to forget the pioneers that ignited the west coast sound years back. Guys like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and DJ Quik undoubtedly put on for the west coast unlike no other. So, how does a pioneer like DJ Quik stand the test of time and continue to maintain relevancy on the west coast, let alone hip hop?

We recently caught up with the legendary DJ Quik to discuss his love for music, today’s hip hop and his new LP, The Book of David (The Book of David releases tomorrow, April 20, 2011). Quik also touched on topics regarding the late Nate Dogg, how new technology has effected his craft and what he has coming up in the future.

Check out our in-depth, 1 on 1 with DJ Quik interview below.

Nice Kicks: The pioneers of certain hip hop regions have more or less upstarted the sound in that particular region, but in the west coast, the pioneers are still a very major influence. How does it feel to be one of those pioneers, but still a major influence in the game today?

DJ Quik: I don’t know, because when I take a shower and I’m by myself, I feel insignificant. I don’t know how to take that praise yet. I don’t know how to walk around pompous. I think it stems from me being a humble, shy guy. Like, Dr. Dre is shy as f**k. He’s big as s**t. He has $200,000,000 worth of pectoral muscles, and he’s a shy guy, you know what I mean? I think it stems from humility.

Nice Kicks: If you were to describe the west coast sound to somebody who has never heard west coast hip hop, how would you describe it to them?

DJ Quik: How can you even transfer that from words to auditory? I would tell them the vibe of the west coast is partially the reason the Jackson family moved out here. Michael Jackson is west coast. So, it’s bigger than just hip hop. There’s an energy in California that just works and is comfortable and conducive to making hit records. I’m not saying New York isn’t. Some of the better records in the world were made in New York, but there’s an understanding ‘breezy’ thing happening in LA. It’s comfortable.

Nice Kicks: So, who are some of the young cats in California that you’re feeling right now?

DJ Quik: There’s so many. I’m loving my boy Top Dawg’s camp right now. You know, like Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar. I’m loving Dom Kennedy and Dam Funk. There’s a bunch of hot girls out there too. Wow, I forgot their names. I even put on Aloe Blacc. He came through my show. It’s a lot of cool things happening now. There’s like a regeneration of energy to be an artist in LA. And it’s spreading outside of here. Outside of LA, you have people coming here to perform. I’m seeing my boy Kendrick Lamar’s name on posters here at your shop.

Nice Kicks: During the listening session, you mentioned one of the tracks helped lay the foundation. How do you discover where you’re going to go with your albums?

DJ Quik: Yeah, it was the second song called ‘Do Today’ on the album. You just have to feel it though. It’s about the way it feels to you. We don’t know what a hit record is. We just produce, produce and produce until we get good enough records that are apart of the landscape of blowing up to what a hit record is. We try to get rid of all of the s**t that’s below par. You just have to be current. I still think it’s about being current.

“Michael Jackson is west coast…There’s an energy in California that just works and is comfortable and conducive to making hit records. I’m not saying New York isn’t. Some of the better record in the world were made in New York, but there’s an understanding ‘breezy’ thing happening in LA.” – DJ Quik

Nice Kicks: Do you ever have a sandbox feel where you’re just trying different stuff to see if it inspires you?

DJ Quik: Yeah, and very rarely do you make a hit out of that. Hits are motivating. They’re driven. When you’re random and shooting shots in the dark, you might shoot a thousand bullets and never hit a mother f**kin person, you know what I mean? If you calm down, relax and target your energy, you can make magic. You can build a f**king Eiffel Tower.

Nice Kicks: You stated that motivation was a big factor in you being able to turn this album around so quickly. What motivates you beyond music right now?

DJ Quik: My Pomeranian snowball. I love him, man. I like to see him eat human food and look like he wants to talk. But yeah, my kids, you know what I mean? I want to see them comfortable and leave them something when I’m gone. It’s not about me anymore. I’ve had my fun. I’m in my 40s now.

Nice Kicks: The west coast, as well as all of hip hop, lost someone really important last month (Nate Dogg). What’s your favorite Nate Dogg track?

DJ Quik: (Starts singing) ‘I Got Love’ is one of my favorite ones. I also like ‘Oh No’ with him and Pharoahe Monch. And obviously the hits. What he did to ‘Xxplosive’ to make it hot. What he did to ‘It Ain’t No Fun’ to make it hot. What he did to ‘The Next Episode’. Nate was the go-to guy. He is G-Funk. Long live G-Funk. Long live the king of G-Funk. My left-handed southpaw. Nathaniel Dwayne Hale. I have a story, man. Me and Nate Dogg were at the Source Awards in ’95 when that boy got up there and made the threat. Me and Nate Dogg stood up back to back to each other. I told him I wouldn’t let nobody hit him in the back of the head, if he didn’t let nobody hit me in the back of my head. We thought we had to fight all of New York. We were scared, but we were prepared. Nate Dogg was a strong guy. He was not a coward. He stood up for what he believed in. When he relaxed, he was one of the more fun and funniest guys in the history of the world. There was the show called the Weakest Link that we went on. It was myself, Xzibit, Da Brat, Rev Run, Jermaine Dupri and Young MC. They need to play that s**t because Nate Dogg f**king funny on there.

To read page 2 of the interview click here.