Schoolboy Q Made Blank Face Into a Cinematic Experience
Lord Have Mercy
The TDE collective consists of talented artists who are formidable in their own right as each member turns out consistently good albums. Each project draws the listener in by sharing components of the artists individual experiences in a cinematic way. There’s the passive onlooker documenting his experiences from up close but afar, there’s the introspective symbolism, the detailing of gang life and then there’s the R&B section which sounds like a beautiful harmony all together. A standout performer on the TDE roster is undeniably Schoolboy Q as he has endeared his audience with his aggressive and relaxed flow, detailing his upbringing in Los Angeles. His 2016 album of Blank Face perfects his vision as it is a cinematic experience that draws the listener into his complex world with the impeccable amount of detail infused in his songs.
THE Cover
Album covers are a lot like movie posters in that they’re shrouded in mystery but if done correctly, they provoke a certain emotion while giving the audience an indication as to what the project is going to be about. Like a Stanley Kubrik film, Blank Face is a frightening yet beautiful musical experience thanks in large part to the detail that Schoolboy Q puts into the album; beginning with the album cover. The cover shows a Mike Myers-esque figure with a mask covering the face wearing sunglasses, that is standing behind tree branches with puffy clouds setting the background all while being imbued with varying shades of orange and black. The combination of all those elements put any potential listener on edge before having a listen as he is priming them for what to expect. The mystery surrounding this ominous cover comes off as frightening but is nonetheless intriguing as to how this story will play out. He’s masterfully setting the tone for the album and as he does, he pulls the listener in close..
INSTRUMENTATION
The album’s first track TorcH is like the opening credits of a movie. You hear a bass guitar accompanied by voices inaudibly talking over each other, then everything cuts out and you hear the voice of Anderson .Paak sing, “I’d trade the noise for a piece of the divine.” That signals the start of the story and song as the protagonist of his story, Schoolboy Q, comes in with his menacing vocals. The listener then gets propelled into his world with the sound of an electric guitar accompanied by a bass guitar, with your typical hip-hop drums and hi hats. It’s an abrasive and powerful opening track that reinforces the album covers’ underlying meaning of mystery and fright. The rest of the songs follow a similar format with the sounds of an electric and bass guitar spearheading the soundscape giving the listener a punk rock vibe as the sound is aggressive, abrasive, and raw. The album is also guided by the sound of LA G-Funk with its groovy, synthy, laid back sound paying homage to his roots and the sound that defines the area.
Vocals
Any great movie pulls on the strengths of its actors to make the movie better and as such, Schoolboy Q reinforces the albums theme by using his menacing voice to amplify the mood of the record. With his voice being one of his strengths throughout his career, he manipulates it on Blank Face using different tones, seamlessly switching from aggressive to calm and sometimes even switching throughout the song as you hear on Groovy Tony/Eddie Kane, Ride Out, and Str8 Ballin. The menacing soundscape is reverberated throughout the album with layering the vocals on certain songs for an added effect of terror, then to add to the chaos he uses heavy ad-libs and echoes.
Lyrics
While most of the album deals with fright, this is Q’s most honest album, similar to an autobiography as he takes the listener through an in-depth account of his past and present lifestyle. The lyrics are entangled with a man who is well aware of his wrongdoings but is stuck as he details on Lord Have Mercy, “Running from Gods creations, shaking these broken hands, and meeting with blank faces, snake eyes keeping my back aching.” You can hear similar sentiments echoed on songs like Kno Ya Wrong, Neva Change, Blank Face and Black THougHts. The detail he uses to describe his circumstances throughout the songs are plentiful which is what makes this album such an intriguing experience. The experience is furthered as it sounds as if he’s giving a lesson with the plethora of street slang that he incorporates into his songs making the listener listen intently.
BLANK FACE
The detail Schoolboy Q uses in this album makes it seem like he is directing and acting in his own autobiographical film. From the first song to the last, it’s a complete body of work that skips nothing but goes into detail about everything. As a leading member of TDE, he made sure to lead by example by putting out a classic body of work. It’s clear that he always envisioned this for himself as Anderson .Paak sings on the albums first track Torch, “My picture was in full frame, but my vision had the scope.”
Stream Schoolboy Q’s Blank Face below: