(AllHipHop News) TDE emcee Schoolboy Q is about one month away from the release of his long awaiting album Oxymoron, and the South Central Los Angeles native is already beginning his media run. Q stopped by Hot 97 in New York to chat with Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds about his new music, but he also spoke about his past association with the Crips gang.
[ALSO READ: Schoolboy Q Reveals Details About “Oxymoron” Album In AMA Session]
“When I joined the set it was an accident,” explains Q. “My homie said he was about to do it so I was like I’m going to go too.”
He continues, “I had moments where I was shaking at times. Like ‘I don’t know if I really want to do this type of s**t,’ but then when it hits the fan I turn into a whole different person. Some people fold under pressure. Some people don’t.”
While Q shared his history of gangbanging, he also expressed that he does not want to glorify that time and his appreciation that he does not have to live that lifestyle anymore thanks to his career in music. A career that has had grown during the same time that his fellow Black Hippy member, Kendrick Lamar, has become a Grammy nominated superstar. Schoolboy talks about how K. Dot’s rise has effected his moves in the industry.
“He’s the reason why I took so long on my album. If it was up to Interscope my album would have been out last summer,” said Q. “I wanted to perfect my stuff, because I didn’t think it was wrapped. I always felt like it was missing three records.”
Q is confident in the quality of own LP, even comparing it to Snoop Dogg’s classic debut album Doggystyle, but the “Man of the Year” rapper also admits he analyzed Kendrick’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city album as he crafted his own work.
“Yes, I studied Kendrick, because he is one of the heavy hitters in the game,” adds Schoolboy.
[ALSO CHECK OUT: Schoolboy Q [#BGA] “Break The Bank” Produced by The Alchemist]
Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron is scheduled for release on February 25th. Watch his interview with Hot 97 below.
