The wait for ScHoolboy Q's follow-up to 2016’s Blank Face LP is almost over. On Thursday of last week, the rapper broke his silence and delivered his first single in nearly three years with “Numb Numb Juice,” the lead offering from his forthcoming yet-to-be-titled album. Although the single was met with a mixed reaction from his fanbase, people are simply happy to know that he has new music coming out.
Although the project was due out last year, the death of Q’s close friend and collaborator, Mac Miller ultimately pushed the album back. “With my n***a Mac gone right now, I just don’t feel right putting out an album,” he said during a concert last fall. “I’ma go back, and I’ma figure out when I’ma put this fucking album out because y’all are going to get this album. I promise that.”
With each project Q’s released, he’s managed to reinvent his sound without having to compromise his own artistry. “Numb Numb Juice” was definitely a teaser, but it's not enough to predict what Q has up his sleeves on his next album. With that in mind, here’s a list of five things we'd love to see from ScHoolboy Q’s forthcoming album.
What's on your list?
Black Hippy Posse Cut
It’s no longer 2013, so the possibility of ScHoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul locking into the studio for a full-length Black Hippy album is incredibly slim. In 2017, the rapper shattered the dreams of TDE fans by saying that Black Hippy doesn’t really have time to work on a joint effort together, nor are they really interested in doing so. But he didn’t shut down any possibility of them getting on the same track. Aside from Q’s “THat Part (Remix),” the last time we heard all four rappers on the same song was on Jay Rock’s “Vice City.” We’re hoping that Q rallies the squad together for one posse cut on his upcoming project.
More Personal Material
When Q doesn’t have an album on the way, he’s typically in the cut. Over the past few years, he’s been giving fans a small glimpse of what’s going on in his life via Instagram, and generally, it involves his daughter and their pets. However, his music has always been an outlet to reveal aspects of his personal life that he doesn't broadcast. On Oxymoron stand-out, “Prescription/Oxymoron,” the rapper opened up about his struggles with addiction.
In a recent interview with DJ Booth, “Numb Numb Juice” producer DJ FU, revealed that Q’s new project will touch on some deeply personal subjects, which is something we'd love to hear more from him on this new body of work.
“He’s really tapping into some personal shit, and he’s giving you vibes. I always tell him it’s ScHoolboy 2.0. He’s transformed. I honestly think that he’s gonna get Album of the Year,” Fu told the publication. “Wait until you hear the other songs that they got.”
Classic Q Street Bangers
While we’re banking on Q to deliver some introspective tracks on his new project, it wouldn’t be a ScHoolboy project without its fair share of certified hard-hitting bangers to ride out to this summer. Oxymoron had “Man Of The Year” and “Hell Of A Night,” Blank Face LP had “That Part” with Kanye, and Habits & Contradictions had “Hands On The Wheel.” With his new project set to arrive soon, we expect the project to include a healthy amount of bangers.
Collaboration With California OG
Although ScHoolboy Q has cited East Coast rappers like Biggie, Nas, and Jay-Z as his biggest influences, he’s also made a concerted effort to pay homage to California legends who paved the way for him. Oxymoron included features from Suga Free and Kurupt while E-40 and Tha Dogg Pound made appearances on Blank Face. On his upcoming project, we’re hoping he carries this tradition and works with another Cali legend. DJ Quik possibly? Snoop Dogg? Xzibit?
Mac Miller collaboration
Mac Miller and ScHoolboy Q’s relationship was far deeper than music. The two had a steady bromance going on that was displayed through their respective social media accounts. The death of Mac Miller had a deep impact on ScHoolboy Q who announced that he was pushing back the release of his project due to his friend’s passing. Although we haven’t heard a collaboration from the two in a few years, we hope that ScHoolboy Q includes some sort of collaboration, whether it be a verse or production from the late Miller.