From the masked album cover to his super-aggro attitude, Schoolboy Q's brand of thug-rap is an intimidating proposition.
"I can see for miles with this scope," he threatens over the menacing thud of What They Want, one of several tracks which sees the German-born rapper spend entire verses detailing his
gangsta credentials.
It can get tiring across his major label debut's 15 tracks: Break the Bank huffs and puffs but never really lands a blow, F*** LA's over-the-top boasts come across as empty threats, and opener Gangsta is full of cliched drug-rap bluster, and rips off Dr Dre so often it could be a Lonely Island rap pisstake.
Schoolboy is much better when he adds club-friendly vibes to his gruff grind. It's a trick he nails several times, like the synth-heavy party starter Los Awesome, Hell of a Night's spooky trap-infused lope, the soul-laced stunner Studio, and The Purge - a Tyler the Creator-helmed standout - is slurred stoner-rap perfection.
Best of all is the relentless dubby thud of Collard Greens, which comes with another near-perfect guest spot from Kendrick Lamar. Oxymoron? Turns out Schoolboy Q's debut is a perfectly titled mixed bag.
