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<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nArtist: ScHoolboy Q
\nAlbum: Oxymoron
\nReleased: February 25, 2014
\nLabel: Interscope Record<\/p>\n
\u201cKendrick left me no choice but to drop a classic.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Those are the words TDE\u2019s ScHoolBoy Q<\/a> expressed to Complex Magazine back in 2013, with regards to his much anticipated upcoming Interscope studio-label debut. But could he have had expectations that are still to early to reach in his career?<\/p>\n ScHoolboy Q<\/strong> brings forth a competent effort with his Interscope\/Top Dawg Entertainment worldwide distributed debut- Oxymoron<\/strong><\/em>. <\/p>\n Oxymoron<\/a> showcases production from some top-notches in the game such as The Alchemist<\/strong>, Mike WiLL<\/strong>, and Pharrell Williams<\/strong>. Among others include DJ Dahi<\/strong>, Gwen Bunn<\/strong>, LordQuest<\/strong>, Nez & Rio<\/strong>, Rocket<\/strong>, Sounwave<\/strong>, Swiff D<\/strong>, Tae Beast<\/strong>, THC<\/strong>, and Tyler, The Creator<\/strong>. Features are kept to a fine minimum with fellow comrades Kendrick Lamar<\/strong> & Jay Rock<\/strong>, as well as 2Chainz<\/strong>, BJ The Chicago Kid<\/strong>, and game vets Kurupt<\/strong>, and Raekwon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The album begins with a Q\u2019s toddler, Joy, exclaiming \u201cHello, Hello! F**k rap, my daddy\u2019s a gangster,\u201d right before breaking into the track “Gangsta”<\/strong><\/em>. You can\u2019t help but to recite along “Gangsta, Gangsta, Gangstaaa!!!” and mean mug anyone in sight while listening to this joint. The track depicts Q\u2019s well known story lines of previous coke selling, gang-banging, strap holding, and turn around exclamation of success.<\/p>\n 2Chainz<\/strong> joins the TDE member on “What They Want”<\/strong><\/em> bringing a gloomy banger produced by Mike Will. Both do what they do best on the track; Q brings the dope selling and money stacking lines, while 2Chainz<\/strong> gives us those absurd simplistic, yet addictive, punchlines: “…all gold where my wrists is. God there\u2019s just no convincing, Just because I got dreads don\u2019t get it twisted\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Raekwon<\/strong> is featured on the grimy Sounwave<\/strong> & Lordquest<\/strong> produced “Blind THreats”<\/em><\/strong> bringing signature story telling rap, making this the best feature on the album in my personal opinion.The track is gloomy, and gives you a chilly feeling when you allow yourself to be completely submerged in the beat. “Blind THreats”<\/strong><\/em> channels something along the lines of Q\u2019s “Sacrilegious”<\/strong><\/em> off his previous release. It seems as though it would be a fitting continuation of the track, as we find Q thinking out loud \u201cBut if God won\u2019t help me, this gun will\u2026I swear I\u2019m gon\u2019 find my way.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Sounwave<\/strong> serves exceptional production, on “Hoover Street”<\/strong><\/em>, giving us that sound we are used to hearing out the TDE talent. Although the beat serves to be dreamlike, the story line within this track is anything but that. Q continues to tell his hood story- can you imagine roaches in your cereal? ScHoolboy<\/strong> spits along the same content on “Fuck LA”<\/em><\/strong> in which he exclaims “Bitch, I AM LA!”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Aside from all the gangbanging and drug talk, Groovy Q<\/strong> makes an appearance with smooth sounding tracks like “Studio”<\/em><\/strong> featuring BJ the Chicago Kid<\/strong> and “Grooveline (Pt.2)”<\/strong><\/em> which features Suga Free<\/strong>. “Studio”<\/strong><\/em> is something for the ladies, Q drops lines of what he wants to do (Mhmmm you know what I\u2019m talking about), while BJ the Chicago Kid<\/strong> brings sweet-seductive vocals about being stuck up in the studio but wanting to be with his girl. “Grooveline (Pt. 2)”<\/strong><\/em> differs from the first \u201cGrooveline\u201d<\/strong><\/em> which featured Dom Kennedy<\/strong> and Curren$y<\/strong> in Habits & Contradictions. The first Grooveline was strictly a ladies joint, talking about what they wanted to do to us ladies, what a real G would provide, it had us craving for that thug passion. Part 2 featuring Suga Free<\/strong> is a complete 360, he\u2019s not talking about loving you up; he\u2019s asking \u201cWill you sell that p**** for me?\u201d<\/strong><\/em>– of course we should\u2019ve predicted that with Suga Free<\/strong> up on this cut. Suga Free<\/strong> continues to pledge that pimpin\u2019 as we find him preaching as only he knows how. Tae Beast<\/strong> provides such a smooth sound to the production, making this track one of my personal favorites.<\/p>\n “Prescription\/Oxymoron”<\/strong><\/em> is a split track. “Prescription”<\/strong><\/em> confesses to an addiction to prescription drugs, both of selling and using. With an illusive instrumental backdrop provided by Sounwave<\/strong> and Willie B<\/strong>, Q finds himself slave to an addictive feeling. “Oxymoron”<\/strong><\/em> may well be the essence of the entire album itself; on this track Q states “I just stopped selling crack today O-X-Y, a moron, O-X-Y, a moron,”<\/strong><\/em> which serves as a complete contradiction. Put this CD on your tongue\u2026 Q bringing that crack music that Kanye once told us about. <\/p>\n Tyler, the Creator<\/strong> provides production and a hook full of testosterone on “The Purge”<\/strong><\/em>, which also features Kurupt<\/strong> of The Dogg Pound<\/strong>. Kurupt\u2019s<\/strong> verse is the highlight of this track, other than that it\u2019s a easy skip. And while we are on the subject of \u201ceasy skips\u201d- the Pharrell<\/strong> produced “Los Awesome”<\/strong><\/em> (feat. Jay Rock<\/strong>), “His & Her Friend”<\/strong><\/em> (feat. Sza<\/strong>), and “Gravy”<\/strong><\/em>, are tracks I believe the album could\u2019ve done without. The first two tracks simply because they just seem too experimental in production and out of element with the album as a whole. \u201cGravy\u201d<\/strong><\/em> is a great track, taken from the BET cypher freestyle. It showcases Q\u2019s raw delivery, but it just sounds so low of quality to be included in this album, I almost feel as though I\u2019m listening to a King of The Dot rap battle YouTube video, without the visuals.<\/p>\n The peak of this album falls within the cuts “Hell of A Night”<\/strong><\/em>, “Break the Bank”<\/a><\/em>, and “Man of the Year”<\/strong><\/em>. The DJ Dahi<\/strong> \u201cHell of A Night\u201d<\/strong><\/em> is the club banger, infused with nothing but heavy bass at the hook. The single \u201cMan of the Year\u201d<\/strong><\/em> produced by Nez & Rio<\/strong>, and again Sounwave<\/strong>, holds the same effect throughout the whole song, making it a \u201cno brainier\u201d as to why it was chosen as a single. The Alchemist<\/strong> blesses with production on \u201cBreak the Bank\u201d<\/strong><\/em>. Although this is not necessarily a instant \u201cbanger\u201d for the masses, I see no reason as to why stations would not give this track major radio play further along in the course of this year. The beat is dark and gloomy, over piano keys and such, yet ScHoolboy\u2019s<\/strong> delivery, word play, and aggressive tone variation qualify this track for repetitive listen. Prevoiusly released hit-singles “Collard Greens”<\/strong><\/em> (feat. Kendrick Lamar<\/strong>) and “Yay Yay”<\/a><\/em> are also included in this project.<\/p>\n I believe there\u2019s more to classifying a album as a classic than what was disclosed within this project. Q is easily one of the most musically likable rappers out the TDE camp. On Oxymoron<\/strong>, Q continues to provide an example of being able to keep a fine line between street and radio\/club music. Music and society has evolved to a point in which we probably will never hear that gangsta-rap sound, or even come close to, what mainstream appealing artists like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Game brought out in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. But today, Q is westcoast gangsta rap. He\u2019s managing to reach the streets and the masses just like raps forefathers have. ScHoolboy Q<\/strong> is your modern day gangsta-rapper, period.<\/p>\n ScHoolboy Q<\/strong> has definitely delivered an exceptional album. Does it live up to its hype? Yes. Is it a classic album? No.<\/p>\n (If you are a devotee and student of rap\/hip hop then you understand why I say this. If you don\u2019t, I\u2019m not going to defend my argument, brush up on game.)<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt in my mind this album is going to generate impressive sales, that exceed most critics expectations. If there is one rapper out the TDE camp who is willing and ready to milk the music industry, it is Q. And watch him go straight to the bank with it! <\/p>\n –Stace Fresh<\/a><\/p>\n (Version of album used: Itunes Deluxe Edition<\/a>) <\/p>\n