Since the start of ScHoolboy Q's career, many have claimed that he isn't necessarily the best rapper out, but not one person can deny how raw his music is. In his first album, Setbacks, Q began to establish his uniquely dark sound, which he polished to a tee in his sophomore release, Habits & Contradictions. Q's first major label album, Oxymoron, was a solid release, but we thought it felt like a bit of an incoherent attempt to both stick to his roots, and appeal to a mainstream audience as well. Still, the album debuted at number one and became certified platinum, thus relieving the pressure to be TDE's next big artist after Kendrick Lamar. Now, Q might feel like he has a bit more room to experiment again, because his new Blank Face LP is showing him fully back in his element. Q has always been remarkably versatile, and throughout the new project, we hear him adjust his style aptly through a wide variety of instrumentation. He tends to mimic the sort of sounds that are behind him; when the beat is gritty, he'll match its grittiness, and when it's mellow and jazzy, he'll opt for a smoother flow. As expected, the album focuses on his rough years as a Hoover Crip, so it is by no means a light listen, but the way he vividly depicts his life and his struggle through both production and lyricism is what makes the album as brilliant as it is. Blank Face LP is currently available on all major music services, and you can get a taste of it by streaming a few of our favorite tracks below.
ScHoolboy Q