But let me run it back (word to Slum Village, ha) before I get into it. Quincy "ScHoolboy Q" Hanley grew up in South Central LA, and joined the Hoover Crips at a young age. Around this time, he was gangbanging, and selling drugs. It was at 16 he wrote his first verse, but never took music seriously till he was around 21. He started working with Top Dawg Ent in 2006, working with their artists including Jay Rock & Ab-Soul. Two years later, he released his debut mixtape ScHoolboy Turned Hustla. He signed a deal with TDE later in 2009, releasing his second tape Gangsta & Soul. He'd later form Black Hippy with his labelmates Kendrick, Jay & Soul. The next year saw him touring and recording music with them. He was also recording his independent debut album Setbacks for most of 2010. It was January 2011 that the album would be released.
Setbacks was ScHoolboy Q's long awaited debut, released independently under TDE and digitally on iTunes at the start of 2011. The album was named after the limitations Q had experienced and endured before the release, and in a 2012 Complex interview, he speaks on how he's doing all this "dumb shit" that stops him for accomplishing what he wants to. Loaded with 15 tracks, Setbacks featured guest appearances from Black Hippy (which includes Q, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock & Ab-Soul), the late Alori Joh, Jhené Aiko, BJ the Chicago Kid and Punch; along with production from Digi+Phonics, Focus..., DAE ONE, Rahki and more.
The album debuted at #100 on the Billboard 200, and as of February 2014, sold 17k copies. Two weeks later, Q released a free version of the project, omitting "LigHt Years AHead (Sky HigH)" with Kendrick Lamar, and replacing it with two bonuses: "Live Again" with Kendrick & CurT@in$, and "F*** Ya Hip-Hop" with Rapper Big Pooh & Murs.
I personally see this as Q's most underrated body of work and you'll see why as I read through this...
1. Figg Get da Money
Q starts off the album with a laidback but aggressive track as Lord Quest provides a dozy instrumental that can put the average listener to sleep, ha. The sample is basically elevator music. But Q comes through with 3 great verses with impeccable flow and lyrics, touching on the ways people have been hustling and grinding in the streets where he lives, legally and illegally. I loved this song for almost 5 years, and it gets better with every listen. Q floats over the beat so well, and I enjoy it so much. A fire opener!
2. Kamikaze
Such a hardhitting tune! Here, Q goes all out, rapping about his gangsta lifestyle, and according to himself, the song was like he wasn't tryna rap - "just going broke". Unlike the previous track, which is pretty laidback, this would've been the best way to introduce the album. Not saying "Figg Get da Money" is shit, it's a fire opener. But this bumps so hard. I love the beat so much and Q's flow is on point here. Just gets my head bumping.
3. LigHt Years AHead (Sky HigH) [feat. Kendrick Lamar]
Kendrick is the first guest appearance on the album for a pretty decent collab as Focus... provides an interesting soundscape for the song. Q's verses are aight, but Kenny came through with such an energetic flow. While it wasn't a renegade, he did his thing and out rapped Q like it was nothing. A solid cut on the album. On to the next one...
4. WHat's tHa Word (feat. Jay Rock)
That hardcore Gangsta shit. I used to not like this song, but this bangs! With such a West Coast sound backing the song, Q links up with the mighty Jay Rock for an aggressive track, where both rappers really do their thing. Rock had the upper hand, as usual. He never disappoints when it comes to features. Ab-Soul's uncredited hook is, er... something, I guess. It's kinda shit, but it's whatever. Hooks aren't for everybody, ha! Overall, this song is heat.
5. #BETiGOTSUMWEED
I remember when I first listened to this album, this was one of the songs I used to bang out HARD! Year 7 days, man... this song was so smooth and soulful. #BETiGOTSUMWEED is one of the cooler moments on Setbacks, where Q explores his love for... you guessed it, weed! He also goes through his lifestyle of screwing bitches, riding out and wanting to chill. No matter what, Q always has some weed to make the day right. It's a nice song, and Q is floating so effortlessly on the beat. The sample is on another level as well, Tae Beast chopped that so well. Love this song.
6. Druggys wit Hoes (feat. Ab-Soul)
After Q gives a shoutout to Soulo on the "#BETiGOTSUMWEED" outro, it's only right for the two to link up for the first of a (probably unfinished) series where they both rap about drugging around. It's another example of one of the "setbacks" on the album, as it stops Q from accomplishing what he wants to. Everybody loves to talk about how Q's chemistry with A$AP Rocky but his chemistry with Ab is underrated. They really go well together, and hardly disappoint whenever they link up. Q does well on this one, and he floats over the soulful instrumental like it's nothing. But this song is one of the moments where we see Soul on such an aggressive and loud flow, and he was snapping. I was impressed! They flowed so well on this joint, and there was no bad verses or lines at all.
7. Cycle
One of the more serious songs, and, in fact, a standout on the album, as Q takes some time to go in-depth about growing up in urban LA; with the gang culture and the cycles of violence that go on over a pretty interesting soundscape from DJ Wes. The sample kinda reminds me of some 70s infomercial music, and Wes flipped it hard AF (PAUSE! Word to Dashie, hehe). It's a pretty interesting track, with such intriguing storytelling and content. Probably the best song on the album.
8. To tHa Beat (F'd Up)
Always thought this song was shit, to be honest. The instrumental isn't my cup of tea and I didn't like Q on it. It was obviously an attempt at a club-friendly/party jam about drugs and shit, but nah, it's a no for me, man... NEXT!
9. Crazy
Probably the most underrated song on the album, as Q provides some solid bars over a guitar-driven headbanger from Sounwave. It's your typical hardcore street song from Q and it delivers pretty well. Doesn't bore me one bit, I'm messing with it.
10. PHenomenon (feat. Alori Joh)
The late Alori Joh provides some soft crooning vocals on one of my favourite songs from the album: a celebratory track about finally being successful and famous. Q feels great about this as fame gets to his head, reflecting on his gangbanging lifestyle, drugs and what he used to do to get money. Alori does her thing, and I love her vocals. Q's verses are pretty impressive and the introspection on the song is great. Phonix's instrumental bangs so hard, and I'm not sure which song had the better sample chop: This song or Jeezy's "Mr. 17.5"? But I digress; nevertheless, this song is fire!
11. Situations
For somewhat reason, the beat reminds me of G-Unit. 50 would sound at home on this beat. Then again, Q did say 50 was one of his main influences. This song is just alright, kinda forgettable tho, compared to the rest of the good songs on here. At least it's better than "To tHa Beat (F'd Up)", lol!
12. Fantasy (feat. Jhené Aiko)
Another one of the TDE/Jhené Aiko collabs, from when Jhené was trying to revive her career after album delays and the B2K breakup. Here, Q gets on some love shit, which doesn't really impress me too much. The hook is freakin' shite, and Jhené's soft ass voice doesn't even save it AT ALL. It was the instrumental that saved the song, to be honest.
13. I'm Good (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid & Punch)
A personal and introspective cut, in which Q raps about his trials and tribulations, along with the decisions he has made throughout his life; reminiscing about his early years and the birth of his daughter. BJ the Chicago Kid comes through on hook duties, and he does pretty good. TDE co-president Punch provides a guest verse, which is pretty impressive, rapping about the stuff he observes in his streets. I love the vibe, considering the sample being used very appropriately, and all 3 contribute so much to this song.
14. Birds and tHe Beez (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
K-Dot returns for another track with Q, and it's a more relaxing cut on the album, that is also introspective. Here, Q raps about the crazy stuff that goes on in the hood, and also about trying to provide for themselves and their family. Kendrick's verse is almost like a motivating reply to Q's two verses, as he wants him to prosper and get out the hood. He also ends it by hoping for Q's daughter to not live life without a father. It's a very heartfelt verse and Kendrick performs far better on here than before. The beat can be boring to the average person but I don't mind it, and Q's use of the Spaceship flow during the hook is very suiting. A pretty solid conclusion to the album.
The following is a bonus track:
15. Rolling Stone [performed by Black Hippy]
It isn't a 2011 TDE album without a Black Hippy song... wait, scratch that, Section.80 didn't have a Black Hippy song. Anyway, Q gets the rest of his (original) TDE crew on this song, as Sounwave samples the classic Zombies tune "Time of the Season" for an unexpected banger. Everybody on this track deliver solid performances, as they all trade bars. But I was a lot more impressed with Jay Rock & Q's bar trade, they snapped! Kendrick only had a couple bars and a hook, but he did alright. Jay even traded bars with Ab-Soul, although Jay took over most of the verse. But yeah, this song is a solid one, and all 4 do their thing.
Two weeks after the album's digital release, ScHoolboy Q released a free version of Setbacks. Although the third track "LigHt Years AHead (Sky HigH)" was omitted, Q added two more tracks. These are the following:
Live Again (with Kendrick Lamar & CurT@in$)
Another track where Q links up with Kenny (and also CurT@in$), and it's a better replacement of the mid "LigHt Years AHead" cut. All 3 recall memories of their life, telling interesting street tales over the sombre instrumental from Tae Beast. Kendrick starts off the song nicely, and as usual, he kills it. CurT@in$ also comes through with a verse, and he does a decent job. Q finally comes through, and he was in such a zone spitting that shit. I think he had the best verse out of the 3, and it's one of the moments where he slightly outshines Kendrick. This is such a good song, and it really should've made the original retail version.
F*** Ya Hip-Hop (feat. Rapper Big Pooh & Murs)
A more funky and upbeat West Coast-like jam as Q hooks up with Rapper Big Pooh (formerly of Little Brother) & Murs to come at those that critique or rap when they don't know anything about rap nor support an artist's work. Q's verse was alright, with his braggadocios flow and rhymes. Pooh's verse is slightly more impressive, and while bragging, raps about the haters and trying to provide for himself. Murs, on the other hand, was on another level on this shit, rapping about those who were hating or thought he sold out. He snapped like mad. All 3 did their thing, even Q, but Murs washed everybody! Overall, this song is decent, it goes too quick and isn't the most memorable tune. So while the verses were aight, the overall feeling wasn't there for me. I don't even know why I wrote a paragraph about this... on to my final thoughts!
Final Thoughts
Now at the beginning, I said Setbacks is pretty underrated. And I feel it deserves its props, to be honest. This album is actually solid, going through the shit that pulls him back from his achievements while also having a few bangers and hit attempts. The skills are there, and Q happens to impress me with most of his verses. Already at the start of the album, Q goes OFF on the elevator music ass opening "Figg Get da Money" and aggressive standout "Kamikaze". "Crazy" is a solid headbanger, and while the beat can be annoying, his presence helps to make the song even better. "Birds and tHe Beez" shows off his impeccable flow, as he raps about providing for himself and his family. "F*** Ya Hip-Hop" is one where he knows how to be braggadocios about himself, comparing to others and the haters.
Setbacks has a lot of different vibes, and it can be seen as inconsistent at times. "Cycle" is one of the more serious songs on the album, as Q tells a tale about a boy growing up around gang culture in urban LA. "I'm Good" and "Birds and tHe Beez" shows him at his most introspective and personal on the album, rapping about the trials and tribulations he's been through, and also about trying to provide for himself and make it out the hood. "#BETiGOTSUMWEED" and "Druggys wit Hoes" are both soulful and laidback tunes which sees him (and Soul on the latter) rap about drugs and having a good time. "WHat's tHa Word", "Crazy" and "Situations" are your typical street rap songs from the TDE crewmate. 2 of the songs bang HARD! But the third one is a lot more slower and calmer, reminding me of some G-Unit shit. "To tHa Beat (F'd Up)" is honestly the only song that really could've been omitted. It honestly didn't suit the vibe, making the album slightly inconsistent, and is probably the most forgettable song on the album.
Q gathers a solid number of guests, and most deliver on their performances. Alori Joh provides some nice vocals on "PHenomenon", with such a catchy hook I really enjoy. BJ the Chicago Kid also comes with some smooth crooning on "I'm Good", and Punch's verse was great. It really added onto the sombre vibe, and the sample made the song even better. Rapper Big Pooh & Murs link up with Q to criticise rappers and haters that don't know their shit or support artists on "F*** Ya Hip-Hop". The rest of Black Hippy provided solid performances individually: Kendrick Lamar was the first appearance on Setbacks, and while his contribution on "LigHt Years AHead (Sky HigH)" was forgettable for me, his performances on "Birds and tHe Beez" and "Live Again" were amazing. Oh yeah, and CurT@in$ did well on the latter. Jay Rock came through on his "WHat's tHa Word" verse. Ab-Soul's hook was shit tho, but he had his own standout moment on "Druggys wit Hoes", showing the great chemistry he & Q had. All 4 come together for a great funky joint "Rolling Stone", and they all provided great verses, trading bars with each other. Jay Rock & Q really had some unexpectedly great chemistry on this shit. Jhené Aiko was trash on "Fantasy"; the vocals were there, but the hook was pure shite!
Digi+Phonics delivered some fire production. Sounwave flipped that Zombies sample very well on "Rolling Stone", and made such an aggressive tune with "Crazy". Willie B made such a banger for "Kamikaze" and Q freakin' SNAPPED! Tae Beast was a lot more consistent with it out of the three, providing such smooth beats for "#BETiGOTSUMWEED" and "Druggys wit Hoes"; along with the sombre "I'm Good". The rest of the producers supplied some heat too: I loved DJ Wes' "Cycle" instrumental, it was pretty interesting and he flipped that sample well. DAE ONE did his thing for "Birds and tHe Beez". Phonix Beats provided some nice production, I enjoyed "WHat's tHa Word" and the banging "PHenomenon".
Overall, this is heat, and the replay value is certainly there. An underrated project from Q, and deserves more recognition. The highs are great, and the lows aren't too much of a problem. Not the best TDE album but it's good enough.
Recommended Tracks
Cycle
I'm Good
Kamikaze
Live Again
PHenomenon
Birds and tHe Beez
Druggy's wit Hoes
#BETiGOTSUMWEED
Figg Get da Money
Let's move on, brehs!
The rest of 2011 was a good year for Q & TDE. Setbacks happened to be Q's breakout project, propelling him into the spotlight and gaining a large following from the internet. Not only that, after the release of that album, Q had stopped gangbanging altogether; and in March, headlined his first show in California. The rest of the TDE crew dropped their debut albums later on in the year too: Ab-Soul released Longterm Mentality, a project not part of his Long Term series, but meant to bridge the gap between the second volume (Lifestyles of the Broke and Almost Famous) and the upcoming third volume. Kendrick Lamar released Section.80 at the start of July. And finally, Jay Rock secured a deal with Tech N9ne's Strange Music label and dropped Follow Me Home, by the end of that month; 3 years after its lead single "All My Life (In the Ghetto)" with will.i.am & Lil Wayne.
In September, Q announced his second project, Habits & Contradictions, dropping "Druggy's wit Hoes Again" with Ab-Soul in October. Throughout the next four months, he'd put out a few songs from the album before announcing the release date. January 14 saw the release of H&C, which was described as a prequel to his previous effort Setbacks. Released digitally as an iTunes exclusive, the album features 18 tracks, with guest appearances from his Black Hippy cohorts (Kendrick, Soul & Jay), Dom Kennedy, Curren$y, A$AP Rocky and Jhené Aiko.
Habits & Contradictions debuted at #111 on the Billboard 200, selling 3k copies digitally in its first week. It moved to the iTunes Top 10 Albums chart during the early hours of release. It also scanned 4k units during the two days of retail without any marketing or advertising.
Is this any better than Setbacks? Matter of fact, is it even his best work? Let's find out...
1. Sacrilegious
A sombre and personal opening, that follows the contradictions of a killer seeking salvation. Here, Q reflects on his past life in the streets gangbanging, finding regret as he hopes for God to forgive him. Kendrick provides some background vocals, crooning and humming on the hook as Q begs for God in his life. It's an interesting song, with a nice guitar-driven instrumental from Tabu.
2. THere He Go
A nice Summer banger to vibe out to. It's a celebratory jam where Q flexes about how he's now a lot more known, and is shining. I love the production, and Q floats so well over this joint.
3. Hands on tHe WHeel (feat. A$AP Rocky)
The classic Q/Rocky collab. After Q's appearance on the Live.Love.A$AP banger "Brand New Guy", Rocky returns the favour, being the first guest on the album for such a alcohol and weed-fueled banger. Best Kept Secret came through with the sample flip of that Pursuit of Happiness cover from Lizzie. And this is probably my favourite out of all the collabs both of them have done. It shows their chemistry, and their verses are some of their best. Rocky washed Q here tho, but Q still held his own tho, and I loved it. 5 years later, and it still gets plays.
4. Sex Drive (feat. Jhené Aiko)
Q & Jhené collabs are always something mid, and this is another example. "Fantasy" wasn't that great, and so is this one. Once again, the beat saves it. However, the fact that the hook was way better than the previous one makes me kinda appreciate it. Still not that good of a song tho.
5. Oxy Music
The album starts to get dark and grimy, as Q talks about his experiences selling Oxycontin and heroin in the streets. It's one of the slower and depressing songs on the album and it's certainly an interesting cut in Q's discography.
6. My Hatin' Joint
Q links up with Mike WiLL Made It for such a laidback tune. I remember when Cardo used the same sample on Chevy Woods' "Chi-Town", and I loved that song. And Mike WiLL's sample flip was pretty good tho; in fact, one of my favourite instrumentals from him. Anyway, here, Q bigs himself up as he tries to chat to a girl, downing her cheating boyfriend. It's a funny and smooth ass song, as once again, it's a moment where Q floats over the beat like it's nothing. One of my favourite songs on the album.
7. Tookie Knows (Interlude)
A grimy ass interlude, which I would've loved a lot if it was longer and had a verse from Q. Soul does some nice background adlibs tho.
8. Raymond 1969
Aight, now this one! THIS ONE, I'M DIGGING! Sounwave & Dave Free provides such a gritty banging instrumental for Q to snap, and the Portishead sample flip is amazing. Here, he references a gang's beginning stages in the title, paralleling this as he explores his beginning gangsta stages in his life. Recalling events that involved murder and drugs, it's a standout that explores his life like never before.
9. Sexting
For somewhat reason, the sample reminds me of Nelly Furtado & Timbaland's "Promiscuous". I don't know why tho, ha! But this is nice for what it is, a club banger for the ladies, and DJ Dahi on the boards with the heat. Compared to almost every song, this is mid.
10. Grooveline, Pt. I (feat. Dom Kennedy & Curren$y)
When I first heard this, I didn't know how I feel about it. Then I heard Mick Jenkins' "The Leaves", a remix of this same song with a beat reminiscent of 9th Wonder (it was actually produced by OnGaud). Revisiting this song around 3 years after that was a breeze. I appreciated this song a lot more, plus the fact that Q actually linked up with bloody Spitta! Anyway, this is one of the smoother cuts on the album, sampling Marlena Shaw's "Feel Like Making Love" (also sampled by Ktoven for TUT's "Highs & Lows"). Lex Luger ditches the drums and I love it as all 3 provides some nice verses to seduce their girls. Q starts off nice as usual, Dom was great, but I loved Curren$y on this. You know these type beats are his cup of tea, he was floating! But yeah, this song is wavey as hell, man; on some player shit. Just something to vibe out to in the nighttime and all that.
11. Gangsta in Designer (No Concept)
Aight, so this is one that doesn't really fit the theme as the bracket title suggests, but it's still one of my favourite songs on the album. Taking its drums from Quincy Jones' "The Hot Rock (Main Title)" (like Eminem did for "Like Toy Soldiers"), Q doesn't rap about much, just his bullshit about hoes, weed and clothes. It's your usual topics, but sounds so good with the cocky flow and banging beat. Not even the hook connects with the verses. For something that's all over the place, it sounds pretty good.
12. How We Feeling
A boring ass interlude, basically. Nothing to see here. NEXT!
13. Druggys wit Hoes Again (feat. Ab-Soul)
Originally titled "Extra Pills", Q & Soul are back with a sequel to the Setbacks standout. Unlike the first, this one is more of a club banger revolving around partying rather than chilling and smoking weed. And the chemistry between the two is a lot better here than before, the flow is on point, and the lyrics are way better. Plus, it seems that they've really improved, with more better verses. I'm not even sure who washed who. They were both energetic, with better flows and lyrics. Finally, that bassline! Nez & Rio, man. Another fire song.
14. NigHtmare in Figg St.
Back to the grimy shit, as Q snaps over this A$AP Ty Beats instrumental, giving a dark setting about how things used to go down in Figueroa Street, where he used to live. The hook echoes the Setbacks intro "Figg Get da Money" and I love it. It's not the best song but I appreciate how it adds onto the album's theme.
15. My Homie
I didn't even remember listening to this song the first time. But during my second listen, this ended up being probably the best song on the album. I didn't even know Alchemist produced this shit at first, I had to check Wikipedia as I wrote this. Here, Q reflects on a past friend he grew up with and was close to, but turned into a snitch. It's a pretty intriguing song, and Q flows over this nice, reflecting on his past times with his friend. Al's beat is amazing, as usual, that white boy doesn't disappoint on the boards!
16. Blessed (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Another standout from the album, as Q gets emotional about past events and his friend losing a son. He realises that through all of this, he's still doing well and is blessed with success. Kendrick appears with a verse and he does his thing, it's a fire verse as usual and he murks it! The beat is... something weirdly intriguing, it's been 5 years and I still feel that it's such a dope and interesting ass beat. One of my favourite songs on the album.
17. NiggaHs.Already.Know.Davers.Flow
Q ends this album weirdly with a song that has a rhyme scheme centered off the phrase "Niggas already know". It can get annoying for some, but I enjoy it, being on his cocky shit as the beat bangs out hard!
The following is a bonus track:
18. 2 Raw (feat. Jay Rock)
Probably one of the most memorable songs on this album. I absolutely loved this ever since my first listen. Jay Rock is the final TDE member AND guest appearance on the album, linking up with Q for such a banger. Q did his thing during his two verses, and the hook is fire. But Jay came through and ripped this song into pieces, he was on point with it! The beat is nuts too, props to Tae Beast. Another one of the best songs.
Final Thoughts
Habits & Contradictions is as dark and moody as it gets, but with a more interesting vibe added onto it. Being a prequel to Setbacks, we see a more focused and consistent feel as Q goes through past events, and even bragging about how successful he is now. The content gets intriguing, with a solid balance between gritty street cuts, smooth/radio-friendly bangers and personal songs. The intro "Sacrilegious" shows a lot of introspection in Q, asking for God in his life as he reflects on his gangbanging days. "Raymond 1969" is a grimy joint where he parallels a gang's beginning stages to his own beginning gangsta stages. "Hands on tHe WHeel" is a banger that continues to show off the unmatched chemistry between Q & A$AP Rocky over such a fire beat. "My Homie" is a chill introspective song which explores a childhood friend of Q that snitched on him.
The features come through and do their thing. I loved A$AP Rocky on "Hands on tHe WHeel", he really washed Q like MAUD! Dom Kennedy & Curren$y did their thing on "Grooveline, Pt. I", especially Spitta. Kendrick floated on "Blessed", he was on another level, man! Jay Rock killed "2 Raw", snapping on that banging instrumental. It was just Jhené that was weak. "Sex Drive" was freakin' lackluster, but at least the hook was better than "Fantasy".
Blah blah blah, the production was good. Alchemist killed it, Tae Beast killed it, Mike WiLL did his thing, so did Sounwave, Dave Free, Nez & Rio and Willie B. Man, I feel so repetitive summarising the production and features in my final thoughts. But yeah, this album is pretty good, it's probably his second best album, up there with Blank Face LP. It's clear Q has upped his game on this one, with better lyricism, improved content and production. It's probably Q at some of his best. Hardly any bad songs apart from 1 or 2, and a lot of cohesion throughout.
Recommended Tracks
My Homie
Blessed
Hands on tHe WHeel
2 Raw
Raymond 1969
Gangsta in Designer (No Concept)
THere He Go
My Hatin' Joint
Druggys wit Hoes Again
NigHtmare in Figg St.
(Aight, so the iTunes/streaming version above (^) omits "Blessed", "How We Feeling" and "Raymond 1969". But not to worry, you can still listen on YouTube tho)
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