[Video] Schoolboy Q Performs Everywhere In Support of "Oxymoron"
If you haven't heard already, the second wave of TDE just crested and is currently flooding the country with smooth, introspective new-age west coast gangsta rap, courtesy of the bucket-hatted Schoolboy Q. As casual as one can be stepping into the bright lights at the top of the rap world, Q has handled it gracefully thus far, and has been on a marathon pace of performing as of late. The 27-year-old father made recent stops on Conan, where he performed "Studio" with BJ The Chicago Kid, at Arsenio Hall where he killed "Man of the Year" and then, the other night, in a parking lot outside a Hooters from the top of a tour bus with Mac Miller he did "Yay Yay" at a pop-up concert across the street from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. All that on top of the release of Oxymoron isn't bad for a week's work. The live backing band is on point in both late night show performances and the energy at the pop-up show is just an inkling of the power hold TDE has over the genre of hip-hop today. Schoolboy Q hits the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, MA on March 2 to kick off the "Oxymoron World Tour". Check out the videos below.
"Man of the Year" on Arsenio Hall
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"Studio" on Conan
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"Yay Yay" in a Hooters parking lot with Mac Miller
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[Album Stream] Schoolboy Q: "Oxymoron"
All the hype has finally led to this: the highly-anticipated and talked about major debut for Schoolboy Q. With the release of his album, Oxymoron, tomorrow, Q follows a tough act from fellow TDE-signee Kendrick Lamar who set the bar with 2012's Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. It's also the first substantial release we've had from him since 2011's lauded Habits & Contradictions. In the lead-up to the release, the L.A. native also dropped a visual for he song "Break The Bank" which features his four-year-old daughter Joy, who also helped him announce the release dates late last year. The soulful, piano-infused track sets the tone for that should prove to be one of the better hip-hop releases to reach the public in recent memory. Kendrick Lamar took over the rap game with his proper debut, it will be interesting to see if the public connects with Schoolboy Q the same way. Pick up the full project and listen to it streaming via iTunes
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[Mixtape] Isaiah Rashad: "Cilvia"
Among one of the most talked about young artists in the game right now, TDE's latest signee, Isaiah Rashad, offered up his latest project, Cilvia today with a free stream on Spotify. The project comes as the hip-hop world anxiously awaits label-mate Schoolboy Q's upcoming Oxymoron project, and closely follows a disappointing Grammy Awards for TDE flagship artist Kendrick Lamar. Cilvia, which hit the net today, is the first full project we've heard from Rashad since joining the TDE imprint and continues to showcase the immense talent that the collective has been able to garner and develop over the past few years en route to being one of the premier labels in the game. The project has a healthy dose of fellow recent TDE appointee SZA, as well as a rousing performance from Chicago-bred newcomer Jean Deaux, who has quietly been establishing herself on the west coast. Jay Rock and Schoolboy also hop on the ride out track, "Shot You Down". With Ab-Soul also preparing his full-length, expect TDE to continue its hip-hop reign, on every level of the rap spectrum. Cilvia, streaming below.
[Video] Isaiah Rashad: "Ronnie Drake"
In case you haven't noticed, TDE is a pretty big deal these days. The latest from Top Dawg Entertainment comes from the pair of recent signees, Isaiah Rashad and SZA. The newbies show they can certainly hold their own, proving why they were tapped by Kendrick, Schoolboy, Ab and Jay Rock to join the team. The video here is directed by Fredo Tovar and Scott Fleishman and eschews stereotypical hip-hop motifs for a more organic, grassroots approach that accentuates Rashad's lyrical ability.Keep an eye out for his upcoming release, Cilvia, due out soon and check the video out below.
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Schoolboy Q: "Man of the Year"
If you haven't already heard, Kendrick Lamar was named 'Man of the Year' by GQ Magazine recently. While TDE's owner, Anthony Tiffith, took issue with the cover story written in honor of the recognition, Schoolboy Q struck a different tone by releasing this single, "Man of the Year" today. The celebratory track is an ode to how tight the TDE crew is and is an appropriate ode to the year Kendrick has had and the positioning Tiffith and TDE have done to place themselves firmly in the center of anything that happens in hip-hop today.
"It’s a party over here/Shake it for the man of the year/Uh ma-man of the year/Ma-man of the bounce" (RapGenius)
[Video] Aaron Cohen: "Nickvanexelrose"
Seattle's own Aaron Cohen is back with a new video for his track titled "Nickvanexelrose". One of my favorite up and coming artists out right now, Cohen dropped the video via SPIN today in the lead up to his next full project release, Potential Fans, due out November 11. For now, enjoy the video below, inspired by one of the best NBA Live players to ever live, Nick Van Exel.
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[Video] Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: "Life Is Hard"
Your favorite musical cult-like experience is back with a new video from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. The LA-based super group (the band regularly has a revolving door of 12 or so musicians) led by Alex Ebert dropped the video for their track "Life Is Hard". The video is of an acoustic version of the song, recorded live at WVUF in New York and set over World Press Photo Contest winners of 2013. It's different, but so is ES&TMZ. Check it all out for yourself:
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[RH First Glance] Paris Jones: “Okay” (Feat. Angel Haze)
The latest from Palmdale, California artist Paris Jones is "Okay" featuring Angel Haze. His verse a cadence brings to mind early 2000s southwest hip hop while his production takes center stage with a clever sampling of "Hanging On" by Active Child. Jones is currently preparing for the release of his "You're Invited (to the Assassination of Patrick Campbell)" project, due out in October.