DJ Quik

If nothing else, DJ Quik is responsible for "Safe + Sound," the greatest, most emblematic gangsta-rap chorus of all time: "Some believe in Jesus/And some believe in Allah/But niggas like me/Believe in makin' dollaz." But if you think that's all he has to say, the rest of this collection -- compiled by Quik himself -- is here to tell you different.

Da Finale cribs from each of his six albums, and it's the perfect way to hear his style subtly shift from the energetic G-funk bounce of early hits such as "Tonite" to slower recent tracks such as "Streetz Iz Callin'" and "Trouble." But what really stands out about Quik -- especially in comparison with many of his peers -- is how genuinely funny he is, from his incredulous shout of "Denver!" in "Jus Lyke Compton" (about how the sticks have adopted the bad habits of the place he boasts of being born and raised in) to his battle disses of MC Eiht ("You left the G out/'Cause there ain't none in you") in "Dollaz + Sense." Get this set and join Quik as he laughs all the way to the bank.