DJ Quik and Kurupt- Blaqkout Mad Science

West Coast legends DJ Quik and Kurupt take a page from Marley Marl and KRS-1’s playbook and decide to pair up on the uneven-but-entertaining Blaqkout. “This feels like 1995!” exclaims Quik on the infectious title track, and “Ooh” is sly and catchy. But the duo’s reach sometimes exceed their grasp — “Watcha Wan Do” is jittery and the come-ons are a little stale, despite a surprising appearance from Yo-Yo; while “Jupiter’s Critic and The Mind of Mars,” (which seems to mine Lil Wayne-as-alien territory) just does not work. Overall, a sporadically entertaining set. –dusty culpepper