SCHOOLBOY Q レコード& CD

Review: Led by recent single 'Yeern 101', Blue Lips marks Schoolboy Q's sixth studio album, a crowning achievement for a rapper now entering the for-the-ages establishing era of his career. Following up 2019's Crash Talk, it's been a good five years, with Q flexxing his ability to take his time; in the run-up, the rapper commented on this decision to move slowly but surely by clarifying that he does not view releasing music as a sport. Despite this claim, Q still flaunts a lavish lifestyle here, yet still manages to spare no sense of humility, chopping and changing between flows while appearing to critique said stereotyped lifestyle from the inside. Instrumentally, it's dark and tinged in a navy-dyed smoke, taking production risks (the slow muted soul of 'Blueslides' is as tender as Q has ever sounded) and stylistic meanders across Mustardy ratchet, dusty crate-dug flips, and even jungle (!) on 'Foux'.