ScHoolboy Q – Blue Lips

Perhaps it was the five-year hiatus during which Q pursued a semi-professional golf career or cheered on his daughter from the sidelines as a ‘football dad’. But rarely has ScHoolboy Q sounded as free as he does on “Blue Lips”. Compared to the uninspired previous album (“CrasH Talk”), the sound is much more layered, sometimes collage-like. Aggressive trap rollercoasters are followed by tracks with soft soul and jazz influences. This is incredibly captivating and keeps the listener glued to Q’s blue lips, especially on haunting key tracks like “Blueslides” or “Cooties”.