Thursday, January 19, 2012

ScHoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions (2012) – Review

ScHoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions
The Los Angeles group Black Hippy has produced four very good MCs (chief among them Kendrick Lamar). ScHoolboy Q’s first album Setbacks (released last year) was well received and exhibits a few great tracks. On his sophomore release Habits & Contradictions, Q stays close to his indie roots both in the album’s guests and production. Feature wise, A$AP Rocky, Curren$y and his Black Hippy friends highlight the album. The Digi+Phonics (Sounwave and Tae Beast in particular) produce most of the album and do a great job (I especially like Sounwave’s Menomena sample on There He Go). Q also works with better known producers like Best Kept Secret, Lex Luger and The Alchemist, but to more mixed results. A$AP Ty Beats also gives Q a fun beat on NigHtmare on Figg St., and DJ Dahi creates a catchy and infectious track for Sexting (a song I feel like I should not like, but cannot help but like). Like Setbacks, Habits & Contradictions is a good indie hip hop album and shows off ScHoolboy Q’s skill and quality as an MC. While I do not think he is yet quite on the same level musically as Kendrick Lamar, he certainly offers a lot to the genre and this album is a solid work. 4/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:
1)      There He Go – Produced by Sounwave
2)      Hands on tHe WHeel – Produced by Best Kept Secret, featuring A$AP Rocky
3)      Blessed – Produced by Dave Free, featuring Kendrick Lamar

Available on Digital Download

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