vinylfanatics.com

ScHoolboy Q's debut studio album arrives like a Molotov cocktail hurled through the window of contemporary hip-hop, shattering preconceptions about what West Coast rap can be in 2012. *Habits & Contradictions* finds Quincy Hanley caught between worlds – the streets that raised him and the studio that might save him – and the tension crackles through every bar.

The Hoover Crip from South Central Los Angeles had already been turning heads as part of Black Hippy, the formidable collective that includes Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock. But where his TDE labelmates often favoured cerebral wordplay, Q's approach was more visceral, more immediate. His 2011 mixtape *Setbacks* had established him as the crew's resident wild card, the one most likely to rap about cooking crack with the same casual intensity he'd discuss his daughter's bedtime routine. *Habits & Contradictions* expands that duality into a full-length statement of intent.

Musically, the album exists in hip-hop's grey areas, refusing to be pinned down by regional expectations or generic boundaries. Producer Tae Beast provides much of the sonic backbone, crafting beats that feel simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic. The production draws from G-funk's melodic sensibilities while incorporating trap's aggressive percussion and cloud rap's atmospheric textures. It's West Coast rap for the post-regional era, when artists could cherry-pick influences from across the map without losing their essential identity.

Q's flow shifts like quicksand throughout the record, from the menacing drawl of "Hands on the Wheel" to the rapid-fire delivery of "There He Go." His voice carries the weight of lived experience – this isn't poverty tourism or gangster cosplay, but autobiography set to beats. The contradictions referenced in the title aren't just lyrical conceits; they're the fundamental tensions that define modern urban existence.

"Hands on the Wheel" stands as the album's undisputed masterpiece, a collaboration with A$AP Rocky that perfectly captures Q's ability to balance street credibility with mainstream appeal. The track's hypnotic guitar loop and Q's memorable hook about "hands on the wheel, fuck how you feel" became an instant classic, while his verses paint vivid pictures of paranoia and survival. It's the sound of someone who's made it out but can't quite shake where he came from.

"There He Go" serves as the album's mission statement, Q announcing his arrival with characteristic bravado over a beat that sounds like it was beamed in from another dimension. The track showcases his gift for memorable ad-libs – those distinctive "yawk yawk yawk" exclamations that would become his signature – while demonstrating his ability to ride unconventional rhythms with apparent ease.

"Blessed" featuring Kendrick Lamar finds Q in reflective mode, contemplating success and its discontents over a gorgeous, melancholy backdrop. The chemistry between the two rappers is undeniable, each pushing the other to new heights. Meanwhile, "Prescription/Oxymoron" offers a harrowing glimpse into Q's struggles with addiction, refusing to glamorise dependency while acknowledging its seductive pull.

The album's genius lies in its refusal to provide easy answers to complex questions. Q doesn't apologise for his past or present a sanitised version of street life for mainstream consumption. Instead, he presents contradiction as a fundamental human condition, particularly for those navigating the impossible choices presented by systemic inequality.

More than a decade later, *Habits & Contradictions* stands as a pivotal moment in West Coast hip-hop's evolution. While Kendrick Lamar would go on to achieve critical acclaim and commercial dominance, Q carved out his own lane as rap's most compelling unreliable narrator. The album's influence can be heard in countless artists who've learned to balance accessibility with authenticity, commercial appeal with artistic integrity.

The record's legacy extends beyond its immediate impact, serving as a bridge between hip-hop's past and future. It proved that regional identity could coexist with global ambition, that street credibility didn't preclude artistic experimentation. In an era of increasing homogenisation, Q's commitment to contradiction feels almost revolutionary.

*Habits & Contradictions* remains a high-water mark for an artist who's never quite received his due. It's a reminder that the most interesting art often emerges from the spaces between certainties, in the grey areas where most people fear to trea