Schoolboy Q

‏Over the past year, the members of the Black Hippy Collective have taken off. And while Kendrick Lamar may be the most talked-about member of the crew, fellow Californian Schoolboy Q is right up there with him. With a solid debut release (January’s Habits & Contradictions) under his belt and having just come off a tour alongside fellow Collective member Ab-Soul, it’s fair to say that Schoolboy Q is making a name for himself in a different realm than that of his labelmate. Where Lamar makes headlines for his easy flow and cerebral lyrical stylings, Q’s aesthetic is more aggressive. Where Lamar sweet talks, Q spits hard. Growing up on the streets as a member of the 52 Hoover Crips, Q spent his teenage years dealing crack and only came to hip-hop as a form of emotional release. Raw, deep and a little rough around the edges, Q is here to stay. (Saturday, 5:45-6:45, Blue Stage) –text: Christi Warren