Historically, West Coast rap is the homeland of gangsta rap. From cop killing to drug dealing, every horrifically real element of life in the hood has made it into song, for better or worse.
While the game hasn't changed much since its earliest pioneers, the message and the messenger has. And at the center of West Coast rap's rebranding is the Black Hippy crew, particularly Schoolboy Q.
With gang ties, a drug-dealing past, and a short stint in jail, Q could've easily chosen the street hustle over the record business. But with a natural, honest flow, tackling the music industry proved to be a much wiser decision.
Earlier this year, Schoolboy Q dropped Habits & Contradictions, the rapper's second LP and follow-up to 2011's critically acclaimed Setbacks.
At its core, the record is an hour-plus journey through the struggle of street life. But rather than approaching it from the perspective of the community, Q tells his own story.
Whether he's rapping about slanging oxycontin, getting ratted out by a friend, and feeling hurt on "2 Raw" or spending more time chasing "pussy" than going to church on "Nightmare on Fig St.," Q's ability to engage his fans on an emotional, human level is what makes him one of West Coast rap's brightest standout talents.
Schoolboy Q. Thursday, June 21. Grand Central, 697 N. Miami Ave., Miami. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets cost $15 to $30 via ticketweb.com. Call 305-377-2277 or visit grandcentralmiami.com. .
Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.
