ScHoolboy Q Previews Four Songs From His New Album

Photography By: Lauren Gesswein

There are only six days left until ScHoolboy Q’s Oxymoron hits stores. The TDE rapper is currently in New York City promoting his major label debut with scheduled live performances and interviews later in the week. Last night, Q kicked off his Oxymoron campaign with a pop-up event at the Beats By Dre store in SoHo, where he performed selections off the album.

The in-store, which was the first performance for “Beats Music Presents …”, was tailor-made for the fans. They waited in the chilly East Coast weather to see Q, and the man of the hour was grateful that they did. Upon his arrival, he cracked a few jokes at his fans for freezing their asses off, but proceeded to give everyone daps and high-fives while on stage. Considered the most laid-back member out of TDE, he was smiling and ready to rock the intimate audience.

Q had little to say about Oxymoron. He wanted to let the music speak for itself. He first played “Fuck LA,” a murky boom-bap record with a hook that best represents where he’s from. “Pussy lips, contraband’s for chips, sold all kinds of shit / Hoover Crip, guns on fingertips, shot all kinda clips / 50 raised, since my county days, brought all kinds of fades / Renegade, fuck what rappers say, bitch I am LA.” Next came his Raekwon collaboration “Blind Threats.” As a precursor, he talked about his financial struggles of taking care of his daughter four years ago, before playing the personal track. “We will never make it out alive, shit we livin’ to die, Oxymoron,” he raps.

In the past, he has described Oxymoron as an album with a dark theme. However, you can also expect it to be very broad and diverse. Q had a lot of praise for 2 Chainz (“I don’t care what y’all say, I fuck with 2 Chainz!”) that set up “What They Want” perfectly. The gritty cut has the potential to light up the clubs with lyrics that you’ll definitely want to dance to. In his last preview, “The Purge,” we find Q alongside Tyler, The Creator, who spits a rapping hook, and Kurupt reviving the G-Funk era with a crisper twist.

Q concluded his listening session by performing “Collard Greens” and “Man Of The Year” live. True to his humorous personality, he threatened to throw the mic at anyone who wasn’t turning up to his songs. So, of course, everyone was jumping and reciting his rhymes. Bounce.

Check out our photo recap of the event above. Oxymoron releases on Feb. 25.

Previously:

XXL’s New Issue Features Eminem, Dr. Dre And Jimmy Iovine On The Cover
Isaiah Rashad Is “Learning To Shut Up” As Part Of TDE
30 Songs That Show TDE Is Rap’s Illest Crew