Hawthorne police said Monday that rap singer DJ Quik, whose real name is David M. Blake, was the driver of a car that killed a 5-year-old boy Saturday afternoon.

Sgt. Steven Baker said the child, a resident of Inglewood, died of head injuries after he was struck by the rappers’ Lexus about 3:40 p.m. Saturday. Police held Blake, 24, for about three hours for questioning, then released him on his own recognizance.

Baker said he expects the department to decide by Wednesday if charges will be filed in the case. Baker also said that Blake did not try to flee the scene once he realized he had hit the child.

Blake has a hit single, “Safe and Sound,” from his new album of the same name and has released two previous albums, according to the national marketing manager of his record company, Profile Records. In the rap world, he is known for his shoulder-length, relaxed hair and for his odes to his hometown of Compton. His first hit single, “Born and Raised in Compton,” sparked his career in 1991.


He also has a song on rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg’s platinum album, “Murder Was the Case.”

Beverly McCoy, mother of the child, whose name was not released, said she will file a lawsuit against the rapper. Blake was unavailable for comment.