Rapper's son pleads not guilty to murder charge

DOWNEY — The son of rapper DJ Quik pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder charge stemming from the death of a man during a fight at a home in Downey.

David Marvin Blake Jr., 27, is charged with the May 25 killing of Julio Cardoza, who was shot following a dispute in the 13200 block of Carfax Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Blake, who was in a car nearby, allegedly fatally shot Cardoza and then drove away, according to prosecutors.

The 33-year-old victim, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, died that day at a hospital, according to records from the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Blake, who is being held on more than $2 million bail, is due back in court June 27, when a date will be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

Blake is the son of DJ Quik and was a "council liaison" to former Compton City Councilman Isaac Galvan, who is charged along with others with conspiring to commit election fraud during a June 2021 runoff election to ensure Galvan would keep his seat.

In a ruling obtained last month NBC4, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge found that four illegal votes were cast for Galvan and "must be deducted from defendant's tally, leaving contestant (Andre) Spicer with the highest number of legal votes by a margin of 854 to 851" and that the court declared Spicer elected to the Compton City Council.

The 52-year-old DJ Quik, whose real name is also David Marvin Blake, is a rapper, DJ and producer with several studio albums to his credit. He has also collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Kurupt, Erick Sermon and Shaquille O'Neal, among others.