The LA rapper’s long-awaited sixth solo album not often misses.
Schoolboy Q
Courtesy of Bleacher Report
ScHoolboy is true, Blue Lips is his finest album.
Over the weekend, the South Central rapper ranked his albums and broke down every selection, along with his most up-to-date effort being his high decide.
He defined why on X:
Certainly, these are bizarre instances we’re dwelling in. Tendencies and numbers are being chased greater than ever because the algorithm reigns supreme. Q talked about on X how CrasH Speak would possibly’ve been disappointing to some as a result of he “was chasing the primary week numbers.” Nonetheless, as soon as he began rolling out this undertaking a month in the past, it was clear Blue Lips was going to be totally different. The melancholy “Bluesides” video gave us a glimpse into the path he was going. With Kendrick’s departure and SZA’s ascension to critically acclaimed celebrity, the stress was on for his sixth solo effort to usher in a brand new period at TDE on the rap facet of issues. And he did simply that. Blue Lips is his most full physique of labor so far. He’s trustworthy, he’s weak, he’s extra mature, he’s simply higher.
This was a tall job, however we ranked every music from the album under.
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“Humorous Man”
The intro provides nothing away in regards to the journey we’re about to go on. “Deliver the dope, deliver the hoes, deliver the moneybags in,” he chants all through. You assume you already know the place he’s going with this album after which, increase! “Pop” comes on and hits you upside your head.
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“Smile”
Excellent comedown observe for an outro. “Smile” retains you on maintain because the beat performs and Q takes a while to begin doing his factor. Hopefully, we received’t have to attend one other 5 years for his subsequent album.
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“Nunu”
That is just like the interlude earlier than we need to flip the tape to Facet B. A fast smoke break earlier than we head to the end line. Over a glowing Infantile Main and DJ Khalil beat, ScHoolboy Q raps about how people doubted him early on in his profession, and now he’s an authorized rap celebrity. It looks as if he’s lastly beginning to embrace that this life is actual and he’s going all in.
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“First”
Because the saying goes: “When you’re not first, you’re final.” Q makes use of nearly all of observe 11 to stunt and goes via a listing issues he was first to—quite a lot of which aren’t protected for work. Nonetheless, the stunting flip into reflection in direction of the tip as Q involves grips with the truth that the cash and fame include a false sense of safety. “I’m stuffed with myself, mirror in entrance simply to even the size,” he raps on the finish of the final verse. Life is about steadiness and self reflection.
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“Love Birds” (feat. Devin Malik & Lance Skiiiwalker)
This joint begins off promising, particularly as we come down from the abrasiveness of “Yeern 101,” however the change up is a bit jarring. I want the video model was on the album as an alternative as a result of it permits Lance Skiiiwalker’s refrain and the “Can I Name You Rose?” pattern to breathe extra. I ponder how Q and Devin’s verses work with out the beat change as properly. They’d in all probability have to vary up the cadence, however nonetheless. I’m torn each time I hit play on this and that’s form of how I really feel when beat modifications.
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“Pig toes” (feat. Infantile Main)
One other banger with some social commentary blended in as Q raps about beefing with the cops. Infantile Main brings the vitality on the hook, making this observe good for moshing at stay reveals.
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“Germany 86’”
Like on “Blueslides,” Q will get deep as he reminisces on the sacrifices his mom and mates made that allowed him to claw his strategy to the spot he now finds himself in. He touches on how he was born in Germany in 1986 whereas his mom served within the army and the way, like many veterans, she got here again to the States to stay in poverty the place loss of life and destruction had been the norm. Q and his mothers can lastly relaxation simple, although, as his rap profession has since taken off. Coping with love and ache appear to be a recurring theme for him on this undertaking.
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“Foux”
One other excessive vitality observe from Q as he and his Black Hippy comrade hit us with that machine gun stream that calls again to their 2012 collab “Druggys Wit Hoes Once more.” The chaotic manufacturing suits proper in with the current pattern of rappers blacking out over digital music. We’d like extra Black Hippy music like we want air.
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“Time killers”
Among the finest raps are the braggadocious ones that additionally drop jewels. ScHoolboy reveals off his evolution as a lyricist as he weaves between shit speaking and givin’ cats knowledge. “Black artificial it the arduous manner, he assume he Hov/So mad taking a look at my shit, it could possibly be yours/911 fuck a black folks, I received the Porsche/Two-time felon, behind the gates it’s a resort/Gotta look ahead to these devils that steal your shit and get management,” is an train in that very factor.
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“Cooties”
Over a pensive piano riff, Q raps about catching cooties from the unloyal, jealous, envious sorts—you already know, losers. He appears to be content material with the life he constructed for himself and his household, however nonetheless needs to be cautious with the the aforementioned group bringing him down. He additionally touches on the paranoia mass shootings give him when sending his children to highschool making this album really feel as private as ever.
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“Film” (feat. Az Chike)
This must be performed with the highest down coming down Pico with Fredrico. Shouts to Az Chike and the manufacturing crew on this joint for delivering the true West Coast vibes. This music appears like hittin’ switches in an Impala. We’d like this added to GTA 5 on-line instantly. Someone ship this to Rockstar.
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“oHio” (feat. Freddie Gibbs)
The viewers within the background cheering and applauding provides to the general expertise of this document. It’s as if Q and Freddie are performing in a small smokey lounge opening up for the 5 Heartbeats. Seems like he crammed two or three songs inside this four-minute, 51-second observe, however every transition works. We get ScHoolboy going via peaks and valleys along with his cadence and Freddie Gibbs flowing over a Coltrane pattern. Can’t ask for far more than that. Effectively, besides perhaps with the ability to “stack our Os like Ohio” on this depraved financial system.
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“Pop” (feat. Rico Nasty)
That is the vitality we anticipate from the TDE veteran. I’m trying ahead to seeing the chaos this creates when carried out stay. I have to see individuals moshing and hanging from the rafters as soon as the beat drops, particularly when he’s screaming, “Get buck, get buck, get buck, get buck!” And shouts to the extremely underrated Rico Nasty. She jumped on the observe just like the true rock star she is with the vitality of a Puerto Rican mom prepared to scrub the crib on a Saturday morning. This tracks units issues off properly for what follows.
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“Again n Love” (feat. Devin Malik)
Who else peeped that “Look At Wrist” name again initially? There’s even a pattern of it sprinkled in there. Completely happy to see Father, ILoveMakonnen, and Key! get their flowers. Q and Devin Malik have dope chemistry and it shines via right here with each of their verses sounding nice over the rumbling manufacturing. ScHoolboy sounds refreshed and assured as ever in his skills at this level on this profession. In reality, it’s truthful to say that he’s “again in love with this shit.”
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“Misplaced Instances” (feat. Jozzy)
Jozzy is the star of the present right here. That’s to not say ScHoolboy didn’t kill it, however her hook reveals why she’s been tapped to put in writing songs for a few of your favourite artists. Uncle Alchemist supplies his experience as properly with a soulful Kiyoshi Hasegawa pattern. That is the right music for twisting one and placing it within the air for the misplaced instances.
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“Yeern 101”
Following up “Blueslides” with this hits like a Tank Davis physique shot. Q’s at all times good for a pair bangers and he’s delivered three of them thangs already. Cardo and firm went bonkers on manufacturing, with the video actually bringing this joint to life. This was a wonderful selection for the lead single to set issues off as Q lastly settles into being TDE’s rap celebrity.
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“THank god 4 me”
ScHoolboy has one other anthem on his palms. With a loopy infectious hook, Q reveals off the flexibility of his stream over an beautiful Kal Banx, J.LBS, and Fu beat. The best way the manufacturing swerves out and in of various samples ought to be studied in universities. It is a textbook ScHoolboy observe, upbeat and clean—simply what one would anticipate from quintessential West Coast rap. Lastly, the streets get a correct use of Mission Pat’s traditional “Chickenhead” document and we thank God for that.
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“Blueslides”
Q tweeted that this music ought to be within the Songwriting Corridor of Fame and, as soon as once more, he’s proper. That is simply among the finest songs he’s ever written. He touches on nervousness, loneliness, loss of life, stress from family and friends, and feeling like an absent father when he must hit the highway and earn a living. “Lord, please forgive me for the day I lastly collapse,” he says within the final verse. I can’t bear in mind the final time we heard Q sound this weak. That is a type of songs that make an album particular.