Schoolboy Q Speaks Out: TDE Albums Delay – Who’s Really to Blame?
ScHoolboy Q recently addressed the rumors circulating around the TDE camp regarding the delayed album releases of Kendrick Lamar and SZA. He dismissed claims that TDE boss Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith is to blame for the long gaps between albums from the artists. During a conversation on YG’s 4HUNNID Podcast, Q made it clear that the responsibility lies with himself and his labelmates rather than Top Dawg intentionally holding back their music.
Q emphasized, “Muthafuckas gotta stop that. They be giving Top [Dawg] and them hell. I’ma be honest, that’s us. You think Top is telling Kendrick and SZA you can only drop one album in five years? He ain’t gonna get no chicken!” Q highlighted the similarities among TDE artists, pointing out that artists like Isaiah Rashad, Jay Rock, and SZA have also experienced lengthy breaks between album releases.
The rapper humorously referred to the TDE artists as having a “mental illness,” attributing their perfectionist tendencies as a significant factor in the delay of their music output. Q emphasized that Top Dawg, whom he views as a father figure, would not be deliberately prolonging the album release timeline, and that any delays were more likely due to the artists’ own rigorous standards.
Addressing another hot topic within the TDE community, ScHoolboy Q also touched on the rumored Black Hippy album, featuring himself, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul. He revealed on Danny Brown’s podcast that he does not have any plans to work on a Black Hippy project in the near future. Q expressed that all the members of Black Hippy are currently focused on individual endeavors and pursuing separate paths within their careers.
With Kendrick Lamar working on pgLang, ScHoolboy Q curating new artists, and Ab-Soul and Jay Rock fully engaged in their own projects, the prospects of a Black Hippy album coming together seem uncertain. Despite the collective’s fan base eagerly anticipating a joint project, the quartet has not collaborated on a track together in almost ten years, with their last joint effort dating back to 2015’s “Vice City.”
ScHoolboy Q has openly acknowledged the challenges of coordinating the Black Hippy album, citing scheduling conflicts as a significant hurdle in bringing the project to fruition. He expressed a desire to work on the album in the past but acknowledged that conflicting commitments and the artists’ individual creative directions have made it increasingly difficult to synchronize their efforts.
The future of a Black Hippy project remains uncertain as each member of the group continues to forge ahead on their respective paths, leaving fans hopeful but recognizing the complexities involved in uniting the talents of the iconic West Coast quartet.
