Watch ScHoolboy Q Discuss His Success And ‘Oxymoron’ In 2013 XXL Freshman Profile

Schoolboy Q doesn’t exactly have a secret to success. “Being me got me to this point,” he says. “I never really thought about anything else, just music and being me.” The Compton MC is looking forward to the release of his new album Oxymoron. “It’s completely different from Habits & Contradictions and it’s completely different from Setbacks. It’s kind of like a combination of the two.” He doesn’t have to look far for inspiration after the huge success of fellow Black Hippy member Kendrick Lamar. “To see him go from where he was at to where he is now, it’s like so much motivation.” At the end of the day, he aims to please, saying: “You having a bad day, you put some Schoolboy Q on and it will fit whatever mood you’re in. You feeling hurt you go play a record, you feeling happy you go play a record, you faded go play a record. My shit is for the people.” With Oxymoron, he hopes to reach more of them than ever.—Chris Mench