2013 was arguably the year of West Coast hip-hop. The undeniable superstardom of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis out of Seattle and Kendrick Lamar out of Los Angeles brought about questions about the future of hip-hop and where the genre would progress. Fellow Los Angeles rapper (and member of the Black Hippy crew with Lamar) Schoolboy Q, won’t be breaking any ground in terms of subject matter, but his new album “Oxymoron” (TDE/Interscope) to be released on Feb. 25 will definitely bring his signature flow and chill sesh-ready vibes to the masses.
Schoolboy Q does not stray away from the subject matter that helped him gain fans; it’s all about sex, drugs and money. However, there are several instances on “Oxymoron” that frame these subjects in a different light, adding depth to songs that would otherwise be appreciated solely on the surface level.
Tracks five, six and seven of the album get to the crux of Schoolboy’s potential. “Hoover Street” is reminiscent of Lamar’s full album — a nearly seven minute long song detailing his rough, poor childhood on Hoover Street in south central Los Angeles. “Studio” has a sexy early 2000s R&B vibe and is the closest thing to a love song that Schoolboy has released.
The album’s title track “Prescription/Oxymoron” details a real struggle between hiding prescription drug use from the ones he loves, namely his daughter, and living a life of luxury as a drug dealer. It’s apparent that Schoolboy Q has lived and learned a lot and can only write lyrics that resonate with his personal life — not something that every up-and-coming rapper can do when there are writers available and commercial money to be made.
A majority of the content on “Oxymoron” is dark and violent, yet Schoolboy’s pure talent forces the listener to appreciate and give another listen. Schoolboy’s flow is impeccable, and his rampant use of onomatopoeia complements the beat of each of his songs. Production features from Odd Future’s Tyler, The Creator and Pharrell make it apparent that Schoolboy has the potential to hit it as big as his friend Kendrick Lamar, possibly in the same short amount of time.
Only one song, “His & Her Friend”, seemed misplaced on “Oxymoron,” but it’s a surprisingly beautiful song nonetheless. Otherwise, “Oxymoron” has a smart structure and quality features, both of which give Schoolboy Q and this album enough leverage to make it a hit.
Listen to “Oxymoron” in full on Spotify, or purchase it via iTunes.
