DJ Quik

This 2005 jewel from the prince of West Coast G-Funk slipped under the radar due to label difficulties, but it nevertheless features the Compton producer's usual blend of thumping club bangers and lounging BBQ funk. Guest Ludacris puts on the shades, shoves off his kicks and flows beautifully over the juicy bassline of "Pacific Coast Remix." The funky wah-wah guitars on "Get Up" brighten up a normally moribund Game. And even Wyclef gets in on the action on "Ladies and Thugs." Nothing here is groundbreaking, but it's another hot release from one of hip-hop's most consistent and prolific figures.