{"id":1748,"date":"2014-03-19T12:18:28","date_gmt":"2014-03-19T16:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~reviewing\/?page_id=1748"},"modified":"2014-03-19T12:18:28","modified_gmt":"2014-03-19T16:18:28","slug":"oxymoron-presents-heavy-reality","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=1748","title":{"rendered":"‘Oxymoron’ presents heavy reality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted March 19, 2014<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By VICTORIA HERNANDEZ<\/p>\n

ScHoolboy Q\u2019s debut album, \u201cOxymoron\u201d is raw gangster rap.<\/p>\n

\"Oxymoron\"<\/a>

Oxymoron<\/p><\/div>\n

The title comes from the idea that the rapper does his best to provide for his daughter, which means resorting to dealing drugs and stealing. The theme is carried through the entire project effortlessly and draws audiences in with heart-wrenching stories laced with carefree moments to numb the pain.<\/p>\n

ScHoolboyQ\u2019s young daughter, Joy, makes many cameos on the album. The grade-schooler is on the cover of the standard album in her father\u2019s signature bucket hat.<\/p>\n

The project opens with her saying, \u201cMy daddy\u2019s a gangster.” This track, “Gangsta” is the perfect opening to the album because it establishes bravado and utilizes Q’s trademark \u201cYawk.\u201d Joy\u2019s gentle voice also appears on \u201cPrescription\/Oxymoron\u201d and \u201cThe Purge,\u201d which are among the more intense songs on the album.<\/p>\n

Her innocent presence has a complex effect on the tone of the work. She lightens the heavy mood but also contributes to the weight because of the reality that she is a little girl stuck in the hood.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoover Street\u201d is the song with the most storytelling. ScHoolboy Q discusses avoiding cops, finding roaches in his cereal and seeing his uncle as a role model for being a thug. Q grew up in Los Angeles on Figueroa Street, which he represents proudly. He joined the Crips when he was young, a choice that he is \u201cembarrassed\u201d about now. This track reveals the harsh realities that defined his upbringing.<\/p>\n

The following track, \u201cStudio,\u201d is a pleasant surprise. The catchy love song, featuring BJ the Chicago Kid, quickly escapes from the dark world of \u201cHoover Street\u201d and into the fantasies of Q\u2019s head after a long day of work. Keeping true to the gangster rap style, there is no flowery language.<\/p>\n

Q himself raps, \u201cNo metaphors, nothing like that, I\u2019m keeping it straight.\u201d Instead, the song is just a straightforward request to a pretty lady.<\/p>\n

The title track, \u201cPrescription\/Oxymoron\u201d is next and is the epitome of the struggle to do what\u2019s right while fighting the stereotypical street lifestyle. Q describes how he is so deep in addiction that he can’t even answer the phone when his daughter calls. The beat changes from slow and melodic with a touch of violin to a choppy boom-bap and the message quickly jumps from sleepy addiction to the fast life of selling drugs. Q uses his unique nasal voice to show his hubristic attitude about his illegal, but very productive job.<\/p>\n

There are many radio-ready singles on \u201cOxymoron.\u201d Q tried to get some hype with \u201cCollard Greens,\u201d which features fellow Top Dawg member Kendrick Lamar, but it\u2019s a song that takes a few listens to appreciate fully. And, arguably, the guest outshines the host.<\/p>\n

\u201cHell of a Night\u201d is a straight party track. The beat, by DJ Dahi, is fun and the hook goes, \u201cGet up out yo seat, you can have my drink, let me see you dance.\u201d It is very hard to not bob your head to this one. \u201cMan of the Year\u201d has earned some well-deserved radio play. This track, which originally was a teaser at the end of K.Dot\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Kill My Vibe\u201d video, rounds out the album appropriately, celebrating all of Q\u2019s accomplishments, especially his freedom from the Crips and his new-found passion for rap.<\/p>\n

A sad staple of hip-hop music today is the objectification of women. This is evident throughout the album, but especially in \u201cWhat They Want.\u201d It is no surprise that the most ignorant song features 2 Chainz. This track is a combination of \u201cBlurred Lines\u201d the smash hit by Robin Thicke and \u201cSyllables\u201d by Eminem. Q\u2019s song assumes that women will just submit his and 2 Chainz\u2019 will.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it is ironic because a lot of girls will listen and find the track catchy without even knowing what it is saying. Ultimately, this song contributes to the theme of \u201cOxymoron\u201d whether Q means it or not because this is a typical womanizing rap song, but Q is trying to raise his daughter right and probably doesn\u2019t want her to turn out like the women he is portraying.<\/p>\n

Anyway, the production on this album is amazing. The 808s are booming from start to finish. Each beat matches perfectly with the tone of the story Q tells. Pharrell produced \u201cLos Awesome,\u201d which has a frantic pace. Tyler the Creator produced the fight anthem \u201cThe Purge,\u201d with sirens droning in the background. He sets up the hook and Kurupt slays the last verse.<\/p>\n

This project was much anticipated. It has supposedly been done for a few years, but Q wanted to add a few tracks to make it perfect. There was a lot of speculation on the release date and Q addressed his own frustration on fellow Top Dawg member Isaiah Rashad\u2019s \u201cShot You Down Remix,\u201d released in October 2013. In December, ever true to the concept, Q released a YouTube video of his daughter telling the Feb. 25 release date.<\/p>\n

Overall, this album is a lot to listen to. It is explicit, but full of heart. Is \u201cOxymoron\u201d the next \u201cgood kid, m.A.A.d city?\u201d No. Not even close. But it is a solid album that gets better with each listen. It is a humbling reminder that the streets are real.<\/p>\n