Oxymoron (studio album) by Schoolboy Q

This album is alright.

From Skinny 12/31/2014 14:53

This album has actually held up really well over the course of the year. Whilst I enjoyed it from the first listen, it felt like a disappointment following on from Setbacks and Habits & Contradictions, let alone the high standards set by Kendrick, but I've found that - going back to it a few months since I last listened - it's actually held up astonishingly well, not losing any of its momentum or feeling tired/undercooked. In terms of mainstream hip-hop albums, this stands as easily one of the best of the year, starting out strong and never really letting up. The beats are tight, Q's got a fantastic selection of flows, and he's equally as capable of spitting party rhymes about drugs and bitches as he is spitting introspective raps about his chequered past. The replay value of this is pretty high, and the likes of 'Studio', 'Man of the Year', 'Collard Greens', 'Prescription/Oxymoron', 'Break the Bank', 'Hell of a Night', and 'Los Awesome' are among the best rap tracks of the last year (or 18 months, in some cases). It's also probably Q's catchiest full-length to date, though how much of that is down to sheer force of repetition shouldn't be underestimated. But, y'know, the record's dope, and should be much higher on my 2014 chart than it is. Up there with YG's in terms of mainstream hip-hop albums this year.

From alelsupreme 08/18/2014 12:55

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From junodog4 03/26/2014 20:13

Those who compare this to Kendrick will be disappointed. Those who take this on it's own merits will find a flawed, but enjoyable hip-hop album.

Can get a bit daft lyrically at times, and has some annoying hooks, but overall a very strong album with mostly solid production and good turns from several features - Jay Rock, Raekwon, Kendrick. Blind Threats and Break the Bank are the main standouts for me, the latter should be a strong contender for a hip hop track of the year for me.

i might have to listen to it again, but it didn't hit me as hard as Habits & Contradictions. Kendrick might have raised the bar a little high though

From Norman Bates 02/24/2014 11:07

Synthetises West Coast 90s, Eminem, and NYC. Not always on point, but overall really really good. Singles are killers, and ScHoolboy's flow goes well with slow-paced numbers.

Great album, feels a little ignorant at times though.