Quik sets the tone from the intro of Rhythm-al-ism that he’s coming with something different as he wanted to try and distance himself from the heavy gangsta rap themes of his previous album, Safe + Sound. On the first single, “You'z a Ganxta,” Quik even reaches out to his Compton rival MC Eiht—who he lyrically destroyed on “Dollaz + Sense”—in an effort to show his growth. Quik also released the singles “Hand In Hand” with 2nd II None and El DeBarge and “Down, Down, Down” with Suga Free and AMG, helping the album peak at #63 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Aside from El DeBarge and Peter Gunz, Quik enlists his fellow West Coasters Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg to join him and his usual crew of 2nd II None, AMG, Hi-C, Playa Hamm. This album also marked the first appearances of Mausberg and Suga Free on one of Quik’s projects. Quik talked to Vibe about the creation of the album: I really wasn’t in a good place mentally when I was working on this album. My best friend was murdered at my studio at my house. […] I’m a dude that doesn’t really know how to grieve. I thought you should bury yourself in your work. So I just buried myself in the making of Rhythm-al-ism without addressing the seriousness of what had happened. I love Rhythm-al-ism. I worked through adversity to get it done. It ended up having the beginning signs of music that I could call my own, which is a good mix of hip-hop, R&B or jazz. It’s a little gutter thing that happens when you add the drum machine because when the tracks are too pretty they are boring. Rhythm-al-ism was an amalgamation of all of my favorite musical styles and influences. I wouldn’t change a thing on Rhythm-al-ism. As a matter of fact, it’s my favorite record out of my catalogue.