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Blank Face LP
Blank Face LP
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Blank Face LP
Studio album by
Schoolboy Q
ReleasedJuly 8, 2016 (2016-07-08)
RecordedJuly 2014 – April 2016
Studio
Genre
Length72:27
Label
Producer
Schoolboy Q chronology
Oxymoron
(2014) 		Blank Face LP
(2016) 		Crash Talk
(2019)
Singles from Blank Face LP
  1. "Groovy Tony"
    Released: April 5, 2016
  2. "That Part"
    Released: May 13, 2016
  3. "Overtime"
    Released: September 12, 2016

Blank Face LP is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Schoolboy Q. It was released on July 8, 2016, through Top Dawg Entertainment and distributed by Interscope Records. SchoolBoy Q began work on the album in July 2014, months after the release of his major label debut Oxymoron. After briefly considering retirement from rap music to spend more time with his family, he set up a home studio and resumed working on the album in the summer of 2015; it was completed in April 2016. The album's production was primarily handled TDE's in-house production team, Digi+Phonics, alongside older and newer collaborators including Swizz Beatz, Metro Boomin, Southside, Nez & Rio, DJ Dahi, The Alchemist, and Tyler, the Creator. It also features guest appearances from Kanye West, Jadakiss, E-40, Tha Dogg Pound, Miguel and Anderson .Paak, among others.

Blank Face LP was supported by three singles, "Groovy Tony", "That Part" and "Overtime", and several music videos, including a trilogy of short films. Schoolboy Q also made appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live! and embarked on the Groovy Tony Pit Stops concert tour in July 2016, followed by the Blank Face World Tour, which saw the rapper tour North America, Oceania and Europe with Joey Badass between August to December 2016.

Blank Face LP received widespread acclaim from critics and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 74,000 units in its first week. In 2018, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "That Part" also reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and was certified double-platinum by the RIAA. At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017, the album received a nomination for Best Rap Album, while "That Part" was nominated for Best Rap Performance. In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 164 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time".

Background and recording

[edit]

In March 2012, Schoolboy Q was signed to major record label Interscope Records as part of a distribution deal with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) involving his group Black Hippy, featuring labelmate Kendrick Lamar, who signed a separate deal with Aftermath/Interscope.[1] In February 2014, he released his Interscope debut, Oxymoron, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned the top 40 hit single "Studio", featuring BJ the Chicago Kid.[2] SchoolBoy Q toured in support of the album for a year and a half, and it was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[2][3] In a July 2014 interview with Billboard, Schoolboy Q revealed he was in the "beginning stages" of recording his follow-up to the album.[4] On September 9, 2014, he told HotNewHipHop that he had begun recording the album but was still unsure of its direction.[5][6]

SchoolBoy Q initially considered retiring from rap music after touring in support of Oxymoron to spend more time with his family and his daughter Joy; he regretted the long periods he spent away from them promoting the album.[2][7] "When I came back [from touring], [Joy] was doing different things, talking different", he told he told MTV News in 2016. "I'm at the crucial years of her life—she's only seven years old, so every time I'm gone for a certain amount of time, I come back, she's doing something new. I got kind of tired of missing that."[8] Neither TDE nor Interscope were rushing him to record a new album, and he did not plan on informing them of his retirement: "It was just a thing where it was just like I'm never gonna give 'em my album so they'll get the point."[9] After almost a year away, he decided to end his retirement and resumed recording in the summer of 2015.[2][9] He set up a home recording studio to work on the album, allowing him to focus on being a father and reduce his press commitments.[2][8] In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Schoolboy Q revealed that his initial recording sessions for Blank Face LP resulted in "depressed rap"; nothing from those sessions made it on to the album.[2] The album was largely finished by December 2015;[9] on April 28, 2016, Schoolboy Q announced that it had been completed, and turned in for mixing.[10]

Blank Face LP was primarily produced by TDE's in-house production team Digi+Phonics, composed of Tae Beast, Willie B. and Sounwave.[11][12] Its production saw the return of Nez & Rio, DJ Dahi, The Alchemist, and Tyler, the Creator, whom appeared on SchoolBoy Q's previous albums, alongside new collaborators such as Swizz Beatz, Metro Boomin and Southside.[13] Kanye West contributed a verse and handled the production on the second single, "That Part", alongside Cardo, Yung Exclusive and Cubeatz.[14] In a June 2016 Twitter Q&A with his fans, Schoolboy Q revealed that frequent collaborator ASAP Rocky, with whom he has recorded several songs, such as "Brand New Guy", "Hands on the Wheel", "Electric Body" and "Californication", was scheduled to appear on the album but producer Pharrell Williams had given the instrumental of the song they worked on to another artist.[15]

The instrumental for "By Any Means" was an unused Kendrick Lamar beat that SchoolBoy Q found while looking through his computer.[9] SchoolBoy Q said that he had attempted to work with Lamar on "Overtime", but that he rejected it after an attempt at recording vocals. TDE founder Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith heard the song and wanted it to be included on the album, but Q did not want his singing part to be used and subsequently requested Miguel's presence on the track. He then recruited Justine Skye after asking then-TDE president Dave Free for suggestions. "I didn't know much about Justine. I heard her voice I looked, she's beautiful and she sings good. I need her on this record. There you go, you have the record."[9] Prior to the album's release, rumors circulated that Lamar had produced "Overtime", which SchoolBoy Q addressed during an interview with Hot 97; "I wasn't there to see him produce it but I remember seeing Cardo produce it. I mean I think Kendrick got some background vocals. He's done a lot of background vocals for me."[16]

Release and promotion

[edit]

On January 26, 2016, SchoolBoy Q posted a teaser video for "Groovy Tony" on Instagram.[17] On February 24, 2016, Tiffith announced that Schoolboy Q would release the follow-up to Oxymoron before the summer.[18] After some delays, he confirmed on June 2, 2016, that it would be released on July 8.[19] On June 14, he unveiled the album's title as Blank Face LP, while also unveiling what was thought to be the album's cover art.[20] The album was originally titled Ghost Face, after Ghostface Killah, but Schoolboy Q later changed it to Blank Face as he thought it was "too corny to name it right after a rapper".[9] The initial artwork made use of the notorious Crying Jordan meme, with his face blurred out.[21][22] On June 16, Schoolboy Q released what was thought to be the cover art for the deluxe edition of the album, which features 2016 US presidential candidate Donald Trump, with his face blurred out as well.[23][24] However, a few days later, in an interview with TMZ, Schoolboy Q revealed that he was "trolling" his fans and later unveiled the official album cover.[25][26] On June 18, 2016, Schoolboy Q released a trailer for Blank Face LP, which previewed a new song.[27][28][29] On June 21, he released the second trailer as promotion for the short film, which was co-directed by Kendrick Lamar and the Lil Homies (a.k.a. Lamar and Dave Free).[30][31] On June 23, Schoolboy Q revealed the track listing for Blank Face LP.[32] The following day, the album's production credits were revealed.[33]

"Groovy Tony" was released as the lead single from Blank Face LP on April 5, 2016, alongside a music video directed by Jack Begert and the Little Homies.[34] On May 13, 2016, Interscope began promoting "That Part" via urban and rhythmic radio formats in North America, as the album's second single.[35] The single debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100;[36] according to Tiffith, it sold 26,000 copies in its first week.[19] The song was certified double platinum by the RIAA in 2018.[37] Its music video, directed by Colin Tilley, was released on June 2, 2016.[38][39] Between June 25 and July 11, 2016,[40][41] a trilogy of three short films/music videos, directed by Begert and Free, were released for "By Any Means", "Tookie Knows II" and "Black Thoughts".[42][43] According to Pitchfork's Jazz Monroe, the trilogy centered on "tense interactions with the cops before and after a pawn shop robbery".[43] On the day of the album's release, the video trilogy was screened at the Downtown Independent Theater in Los Angeles over a 24-hour period,[44] and a remix of "That Part", featuring new verses from Schoolboy Q's Black Hippy cohorts Lamar, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul, was released.[45] Following this, a music video for "John Muir", directed by APlusFilmz was released on July 21, 2016.[46] "Overtime" was serviced to urban and rhythmic radio in North America, on September 12, 2016, as the album's third and final single;[47] a music video for the song was released the same day.[48]

On June 29, 2016, Schoolboy Q held a listening session for Blank Face LP in New York City, which was hosted by Hot 97 radio personality, Peter Rosenberg.[49][50][51] During the session, Q confirmed that he would not be releasing a deluxe edition of the album.[51] Various blogs reporting on the session said that Schoolboy Q had said that Interscope Records lobbied to have Miguel and Skye on "Overtime" in the hopes of recreating the success of "Studio", which he ultimately agreed to.[9][52][53] Q said that his comments about "Overtime" had been misunderstood;[2] in an interview with Real 92.3, Q clarified that TDE had suggested the song's inclusion instead of Interscope and criticized blogs for getting the information wrong, though he conceded that he "should've worded it way better". He also said he had apologized to Miguel.[9] On June 30, he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he performed a live rendition of "Groovy Tony" and "That Part".[54][55] Schoolboy Q embarked on a twelve-show concert tour of North America, Groovy Tony Pit Stops, in support of Blank Face LP.[56] The tour began in San Francisco on July 9, and concluded on July 17, in Houston.[57] He then performed at the Panorama Music Festival in New York between July 22 to 24, 2016.[58] From August 30 to December 15, 2016, SchoolBoy Q embarked on the Blank Face World Tour of North America, Oceania and Europe, taking Joey Badass as support.[58] Midway through the tour, he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with E-40, performing "Dope Dealer" on September 14, 2016.[59]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Blank Face LP debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, with 74,000 album-equivalent units with 52,000 copies coming from pure album sales in its first week.[60] It was the highest selling album in its debut week.[61][62] Blank Face LP is Schoolboy Q's second top five album on the Billboard 200, and follows his number one debuting Oxymoron effort in 2014 which sold 139,000 copies in its first week.[61] In its second week, the album dropped to number 10 on the Billboard 200, earning 28,000 album-equivalent units that week.[63] On June 8, 2018, the album was certified gold by the RIAA for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[64]

Critical reception

[edit]

Contemporary reviews

[edit]
Blank Face LP ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[65]
Metacritic81/100[66]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[67]
ConsequenceA−[68]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[69]
Exclaim!7/10[70]
Financial TimesStarStarStarStar[71]
The Irish TimesStarStarStarStar[72]
Pitchfork8.3/10[73]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[11]
Spin8/10[74]
XXL4/5[75]

Blank Face LP received widespread critical acclaim. On review aggregator website Metacritic, the album holds a score of 81 out of 100, based on reviews from eighteen critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[66] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[65]

David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "This sprawling, cumbersome, and often psychedelic effort feels like a glorious clearing house for the diverse and deep rapper, offering giant, cinematic, and challenging efforts."[67] Michael Madden of Consequence said, "It's hard and sinister like a gangster rap album, but it's also sprawling and even psychedelic at times. Nothing else sounds like it, and that's a joy to behold."[68] Eric Renner Brown of Entertainment Weekly said, "At 72 minutes, Blank Face does sometimes sag under its own ambition. ... But with an impressive range of sonic and lyrical styles and numerous highlights, Blank Face LP stands as one of 2016's most engaging rap projects."[69] Writing for Exclaim! A. Harmony praised the album's "heterogeneous collection of styles".[70] Jonah Bromwich of Pitchfork said, "Blank Face turns away from the ambitious fusion of To Pimp a Butterfly, instead doubling down on a smoked-out atmosphere that points the listener's focus toward rapping. That puts the onus on Q to hold attention for the duration of the record's hour-plus running time, and he does so."[73] Keith Harris of Rolling Stone, praised the production and guest appearances, writing: "Digi+Phonics, Black Hippy's go-to production crew, handle most of the beats, which are plush with sumptuous, weed-hazy pleasures but steeped in a dank, justifiable paranoia. Nearly every element of the sound – the mean breakbeat from an old Christine McVie tune that Tae Beast loops beneath lead single "Groovy Tony", R&B visionary Anderson .Paak sweetening the mood without lightening it, guest rhymes from Kanye and Jadakiss and Vince Staples – adds an ominous undertone."[11]

Kris Ex of Spin said, "It's not easy to homogenize the opposing forces at play, but everything here feels like a genuine rumble through a mind scarred and inebriated by the reality of gang life and chasing the American dream while the room spins."[74] Chris Gibbons of XXL, concluded with: "Blank Face LP isn't Schoolboy Q's first great album, but it's the first one where he lives up to his utmost potential. He can be smooth, he can be hard as nails, but whatever he is, the MC does it with greatness. Q can talk about his violent, drug-dealing past and almost celebrate it in one moment and decry the ever-present dangers of hood life in the next. Blank Face is the album an artist like Schoolboy Q was born to make."[75] In a mixed review, Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine said, "Blank Face LP is ultimately an unfocused album, one caught between reportage and repugnant opportunism."[76] In another mixed review, Jessica Ankomah of Now said, "Q might appear masked on the album cover, but his explicit tales of hardship, prosperity and loss hide nothing."[77]

Retrospective reviews

[edit]

Reflecting on the album a year after its release in 2017, Corbin Reiff of Uproxx called Blank Face LP SchoolBoy Q's best and "an indisputable classic", as well as the second-greatest TDE release behind To Pimp a Butterfly.[78] In 2019, Highsnobiety ranked the album third on their list of the "25 Most Underrated Rap Releases of the 2010s".[79] BrooklynVegan ranked the album at number 37 on their list of the "100 Best Rap and R&B Albums of the 2010s".[80] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 164 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time", with writer Christopher R. Weingarten calling it a "contemporary gangsta rap classic".[81] Similarly, Robert Blair of HotNewHipHop hailed the album as" ScHoolboy's ultimate gangsta rap symphony, and could easily stand alongside the best albums the sub-genre has ever produced", placing it first in a 2019 ranking of his studio albums.[82] In 2024, Sam Moore of HipHopDX ranked the album as the fifth best TDE album, stating that it "remains a scorching, ominous and often psychedelic masterpiece.[83]

In a 2019 interview with Vulture, Schoolboy Q expressed his dissatisfaction with the content of Blank Face LP, feeling that the album was too dark and introspective; "I want balance in my music. I'm not a guy that's just about to give you one sound. That's so boring and lame to me. That's my biggest regret with Blank Face. Besides a couple songs, I just made the whole album pretty dark." He also believed the album did not perform as well as Oxymoron because it was a "one-listen album".[84] However, in March 2024, he ranked the album as his second-best, behind his recently released Blue Lips (2024). He said although he "didn't like it at first [because] ppl kinda told me da whole way this ain't it [sic]", he believed it was "one of the most creative gangsta rap albums ever" and said that its gold certification "felt better den [Oxymoron]'s Platinum [sic]."[85] In July 2024, he selected "Groovy Tony", "Know Ya Wrong", "By Any Means", "John Muir" and "Tookie Knows II" as his favorite tracks from the album.[86]

Accolades

[edit]

Rankings

[edit]
Select rankings of Blank Face LP
Publication List Rank Ref.
2DOPEBOYZ Best Hip Hop Albums of 2016
4
[87]
BrooklynVegan 100 Best Rap and R&B Albums of the 2010s
37
[80]
Complex The 50 Best Albums of 2016
9
[88]
Consequence Top 50 Albums of 2016
15
[89]
Highsnobiety The 25 Most Underrated Rap Releases of the 2010s
3
[79]
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2016
38
[90]
Rolling Stone The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time
164
[81]
Rough Trade Albums of the Year
50
[91]
Spin The 50 Best Albums of 2016
26
[92]
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2016
14
[93]

Industry awards

[edit]
Awards and nominations for Blank Face LP
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2017 Grammy Awards Best Rap Album Nominated
[94]

Track listing

[edit]
Blank Face LP track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Torch"
Nez & Rio5:34
2."Lord Have Mercy"
Swizz Beatz1:44
3."That Part" (featuring Kanye West)
5:13
4."Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane" (featuring Jadakiss)
6:19
5."Kno Ya Wrong" (featuring Lance Skiiiwalker)
5:25
6."Ride Out" (featuring Vince Staples)
Sounwave4:47
7."Whateva U Want" (featuring Candice Pillay)
Tae Beast3:50
8."By Any Means"
  • Hanley
  • LaTour
  • Jackson
  • Cardo
  • Yung Exclusive
3:34
9."Dope Dealer" (featuring E-40)
3:42
10."John Muir"
Sounwave3:39
11."Big Body" (featuring Tha Dogg Pound)
Tyler, the Creator3:43
12."Neva Change" (featuring SZA)
4:29
13."Str8 Ballin'"
  • Nez & Rio
  • Sam Hook[b]
4:09
14."Black Thoughts"
Willie B.3:42
15."Blank Face" (featuring Anderson .Paak)
  • Hanley
  • Spears
  • Russell
  • Sounwave
  • Russell
3:14
16."Overtime" (featuring Miguel and Justine Skye)
4:38
17."Tookie Knows II" (featuring Traffic and TF)
  • Hanley
  • Wesonga, Jr.
  • Loving
  • Derraile Cail
  • Mychal Hatch
Nez & Rio4:45
Total length:72:27

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[b] signifies a vocal producer
  • All songs are stylized with the capital letter "H" if they contain that letter in the title. For example, "That Part" is stylized as "THat Part".
  • "Torch" features background vocals by Anderson .Paak
  • "Lord Have Mercy" features background vocals by Swizz Beatz
  • "Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane" features background vocals by Dem Jointz and additional vocals by Candice Pillay
  • "By Any Means" features background vocals by Kendrick Lamar, and additional vocals by Candice Pillay and Terrace Martin
  • "Dope Dealer" features additional vocals by Smacc
  • "John Muir" features additional vocals by Sam Dew
  • "Big Body" features additional vocals by Candice Pillay
  • "Str8 Ballin'" features background vocals by Jesse Rankins
  • "Black Thoughts" features intro vocals by Trayvon Ray Cail and additional vocals by Kendrick Lamar
  • "Overtime" features additional vocals by Kendrick Lamar

Sample credits

Personnel

[edit]

Credits for Blank Face LP adapted from AllMusic.[96]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Blank Face LP
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[64] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Blank Face LP

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is the fourth studio album by American rapper , released on July 8, 2016, through and . The project, recorded over two years, presents a narrative-driven examination of Q's past involvement in gang activity, drug , and the tensions of fatherhood amid street life, framed through a "blank face" motif symbolizing . Featuring guest appearances from artists including , , and , alongside production from Mike WiLL Made-It and , the 19-track effort blends traditional with experimental sonic elements. Commercially, it debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, accumulating 74,000 album-equivalent units in its opening week, with 52,000 from pure album sales. The album achieved gold certification from the (RIAA) on June 8, 2018, reflecting combined sales and streaming equivalents of 500,000 units. Critics praised its cohesive storytelling, raw lyricism, and production diversity, positioning it as ScHoolboy Q's most artistically mature release to date.

Development

Conception

Following the success of his major-label debut in early 2014, contemplated retiring from rap to prioritize time with his young daughter, having grown weary from extensive touring and promotional demands. He took an extended break, to the point of effectively quitting music temporarily. Ultimately, installing a home studio reignited his creative process, as he noted, "I just put the studio in the crib and it was like, I’d rather just do it that way," prompting him to begin developing what became Blank Face LP. The project's initial concept centered on an introspective self-portrait, drawing from Q's South Central Los Angeles upbringing, affiliations, and transition to fatherhood and sobriety. At age 29, he aimed to depict the "real side of gangbanging" while acknowledging his distance from that lifestyle: "I’m not really a gangbanger no more, but I also wanted to touch on that." This narrative framed the album as a mature evolution, blending personal history with broader social reflections on and in street culture. Originally titled Ghost Face as a nod to Wu-Tang Clan's , the name evolved to Blank Face LP to avoid perceived corniness: "I wanted to name the album Ghost Face, but I thought it would be a little too corny." The final title evoked emotional numbness from repeated exposure to violence and hardship, symbolizing a conditioned, expressionless facade amid life's traumas. Recording commenced in this post-Oxymoron period, incorporating beats dating back to 2013–2014, such as one from repurposed for "By Any Means."

Recording

Recording for Blank Face LP began in 2014, shortly after the release of 's previous album , with initial sessions taking place in and New York. During this early phase, experienced significant personal challenges, including depression stemming from the disorienting effects of sudden fame and success, which influenced the tone of the material produced. He later described these tracks as "depressed rap," reflecting a confessional style that captured his temporary mindset but ultimately failed to align with his desired artistic output. Dissatisfied with the results, scrapped an entire album's worth of recordings, stating, "I scrapped a whole album… I didn’t feel like that was me no more," as the content no longer represented his recovered sense of self after overcoming the depressive period. This decision prolonged the recording timeline, extending into 2016, during which he reworked the project to incorporate a broader, more dynamic range of themes and sounds. The process nearly led him to abandon music altogether, amid struggles with the music industry's demands and his reluctance to continue as a "reluctant rap star." Final sessions were conducted at facilities including Paramount Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, and Art Dealer Chic Studios. Production involved collaborations with multiple contributors, such as Metro Boomin and the Alchemist (who worked on tracks like "JoHn Muir"), alongside frequent Top Dawg Entertainment affiliates Tae Beast, Sounwave, Cardo, and Nez & Rio, who handled several beats. Additional high-profile producers like Swizz Beatz and Southside contributed to specific songs, emphasizing the album's varied sonic palette.

Content

Musical style and production

Blank Face LP features production primarily handled by Top Dawg Entertainment's in-house team, including frequent collaborators Sounwave, Tae Beast, Cardo Got Wings, and Nez & Rio, who contributed to multiple tracks. High-profile external producers such as Metro Boomin and Southside (on "Dope Dealer"), DJ Dahi, The Alchemist, Swizz Beatz, and Dem Jointz also participated, blending trap elements with West Coast funk and soul samples. The album's double-disc format, spanning 72 minutes across 19 tracks, incorporates live instrumentation like vocoders by Terrace Martin and vocal production by Sam Hook on select cuts. Musically, the album roots itself in West Coast hip-hop and , reviving influences through grimy, groovy beats and narrative-driven sequencing that evokes cinematic storytelling. Tracks like "Groovy Tony" draw from masked personas akin to Ghostface Killah's style, while eclectic production ranges from hard trap percussion to soulful, down-tempo keys reminiscent of East Coast sampling techniques. Critics noted its matured aesthetic, balancing raw aggression with lavish, experimental flourishes that distinguish it from predecessors. The overall sound prioritizes thematic cohesion over commercial polish, with beats often featuring record scratches, undertones, and powerful bass lines to underscore Schoolboy Q's street narratives.

Lyrical themes

The lyrics on Blank Face LP predominantly explore Schoolboy Q's personal history of gang affiliation, , and familial shortcomings, framing the album as an narrative of a "divided man" caught between his criminal past and attempts at redemption. Tracks like "" and "By Any Means" detail initiation into life around 1996, including and , while emphasizing the loss of through references to financial struggles and an uncle's . This autobiographical approach contrasts with glorification, instead portraying the cyclical entrapment of street existence, as in "Groovy Tony," where Q admits to being a "banger, deadbeat father and dealer." Drug dependency emerges as a central motif, particularly prescription pill abuse, with "Prescription" chronicling a descent into Percocets, , and Xanax, underscoring the addictive pull and emotional toll rather than mere bravado. Songs such as "Dope Dealer" and "Black Thoughts" extend this to broader commentary on inner-city trade, , and systemic issues like police brutality, reflecting Q's shift from active participation to reflective critique. Fatherhood and family dynamics provide counterpoints of , influenced by Q's relationship with his , which tempers the of earlier tropes and highlights internal conflict over legacy and regret. Overall, the lyrical content prioritizes raw over , sequencing tracks to mimic life's progression from youthful recklessness to sober hindsight, distinguishing Blank Face LP as a work amid West Coast hip-hop traditions.

Release and promotion

Marketing strategies

The marketing campaign for Blank Face LP centered on visual intrigue, narrative filmmaking, and selective media engagement to align with the album's themes of emotional numbness and street introspection, rather than aggressive traditional advertising. initiated buzz through deliberate trolling, teasing fake album covers—including a meme adaptation—before unveiling the official artwork on June 16, 2016, depicting a featureless, blank-faced figure against a stark background, intended to evoke and provoke fan speculation. Pre-release singles served as entry points: "Groovy Tony" dropped on May 3, 2016, introducing the project's West Coast funk; "" featuring followed on June 27, 2016, amplifying mainstream appeal via West's involvement; and "Dope Dealer" with arrived in June, reinforcing roots. A cinematic trailer released on , 2016, showcased raw South Central Los Angeles footage with in inmate garb, foreshadowing the album's dualities of fame and peril. A was a of interconnected short films doubling as for album cuts "By Any Means," "Tookie Knows II," and "Black THougHts," directed by Jack Begert and of The Little Homies. Released sequentially in late June and early July 2016, these formed a fictionalized drawn from Q's life experiences, blending gritty with subtle track previews to immerse viewers in the "blank face" mindset without overt sales pitches. Targeted previews built anticipation, including a New York City listening party on June 29, 2016, where Q played the full 17-track project for attendees and fielded questions from Hot 97's , fostering word-of-mouth among industry and fans. On release day, July 8, 2016, an additional short film installation was announced, extending the cinematic rollout. This restrained, artistry-focused strategy—leveraging Top Dawg Entertainment's over mass-market blitzes—drew mixed perceptions, with some attributing the album's 52,000 first-week pure sales to subdued promotion amid a competitive summer landscape.

Singles and music videos

"Groovy Tony" was released as the lead promotional single on April 5, 2016. This was followed by "", featuring , issued as the lead single on May 13, 2016. "", featuring Miguel and , served as the third single. An official music video for "THat Part" premiered on June 2, 2016, depicting and in various surreal scenarios amid urban settings. A video for "Groovy Tony" was also produced, aligning with the album's thematic visuals. The promotion included a narrative video of short films directed by Jack Begert and of The Little Homies, functioning as music videos for tracks such as "By Any Means" and "Black THougHts". These interconnected pieces explored themes of street life and introspection, released in the lead-up to the album's July 8, 2016, launch.

Commercial performance

Chart positions

Blank Face LP debuted at number 2 on the US chart on July 16, 2016, with 74,000 album-equivalent units. It simultaneously topped the US Top Album Sales chart. The album also reached number 1 on the US chart. Internationally, it peaked at number 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart. In the United Kingdom, the album entered the Official Albums Chart at number 36 and spent two weeks in the top 200. It performed modestly in France, peaking at number 120 on the Top Albums chart.
Chart (2016)Peak position
US Billboard 2002
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums1
US Top Album Sales1
Canadian Albums (Billboard)2
UK Albums (OCC)36
France (SNEP)120

Sales figures and certifications

Blank Face LP debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, accumulating 74,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, including 52,000 traditional album sales and approximately 27 million streams. On June 8, 2018, the (RIAA) certified the album for combined sales and streaming-equivalent units of 500,000 in the United States. No higher certifications or international equivalents have been reported as of 2025.

Reception

Contemporary critical reviews

Blank Face LP received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its July 8, 2016 release, with praise centered on ScHoolboy Q's charismatic delivery, thematic depth exploring gang life and , and the album's ambitious production blending West Coast with experimental elements. Aggregated review site reported an average score of 81 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, classified as "universal acclaim," with 16 positive, 2 mixed, and none negative. Pitchfork's Jonah Weiner rated the album 8.3 out of 10 on July 14, 2016, describing it as "a collection of catchy, urgent songs" that highlighted Q's "gallows humor and tough talk" while navigating the contradictions of street life and sobriety. Rolling Stone's Kevin O'Donnell awarded 4 out of 5 stars in a July 11, 2016 review, commending the production's "mean " loops and Q's vivid storytelling of South Central Los Angeles hardships, though noting occasional pacing issues in its 72-minute runtime. Consequence of Sound gave it an A- (equivalent to 91/100) on July 12, 2016, lauding its "sprawling and even psychedelic" scope that distinguished it from conventional . Some reviewers critiqued the album's length and occasional filler tracks amid its narrative ambition. Entertainment Weekly's Kyle Anderson scored it B+ on July 8, 2016, appreciating Q's "impressive array of moods" but observing that the extended duration caused it to "sag under its own ambition" at times. Despite these notes, the consensus affirmed as a high point in Q's discography, elevating his status within Top Dawg Entertainment's roster through raw authenticity over polished commercialism.

Retrospective assessments

In the years following its release, Blank Face LP has been reassessed as a pinnacle of Schoolboy Q's discography, often lauded for its conceptual ambition and unflinching exploration of gang life, addiction, and duality. A 2021 retrospective by FM Hip Hop rated the album platinum, praising its 17-track structure as a cinematic self-portrait that evolves beyond Q's prior work like Oxymoron, with standout sequences such as the dual "Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane" and the innovative "THat Part" remix featuring Black Hippy members. The review highlighted Q's versatility across gangsta anthems, atmospheric introspection, and party tracks, attributing its enduring strength to raw honesty about his identity as an ex-convict, Black father, and rapper, though it critiqued "Overtime" as a weaker, label-influenced inclusion. One year post-release in 2017, Uproxx affirmed its staying power, calling it an "indisputable classic" that surpassed 2016 peers like Beyoncé's Lemonade, Kanye West's The Life of Pablo, and Drake's Views in replay value and thematic density. The album's bleak, shadowy aesthetic—evoking midnight voids and vivid demons of survival—was credited with transforming initial skeptics through immersive production and Q's emotive flow, positioning it as potentially second only to Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city among Top Dawg Entertainment outputs. The project has secured placements in decade-end compilations, reflecting its influence on West Coast gangsta rap narratives. Genius's community-curated list of the 100 best albums of the commended its grim immersion via tracks like "Kno Ya Wrong," emphasizing Q's descent into personal voids. ranked it #120 among the top 150 hip-hop albums of the , valuing its cohesiveness and replay amid broader genre shifts. While some fan discussions note uneven pacing in re-listens, its reputation endures for prioritizing narrative grit over mainstream polish, solidifying Q's legacy in conscious street rap.

Artist's self-critique

In a 2019 interview, ScHoolboy Q expressed regret over the tonal uniformity of Blank Face LP, stating, "That’s my biggest regret with Blank Face. Besides a couple songs, I just made the whole album pretty dark. I regret that so much. Why did I do that?" He contrasted this with his follow-up album CrasH Talk, which he described as more balanced to avoid similar limitations. Q further critiqued the album's replay value, labeling it a "one-listen album," which he attributed to its lack of variety and resulting lower commercial performance compared to his prior release (2014), which debuted at number one on the while Blank Face LP peaked at number two. This assessment reflected his view that the project, recorded amid personal struggles including depression and substance issues, prioritized raw over broader accessibility. Despite these reservations, Q later ranked Blank Face LP highly in personal retrospectives, indicating evolving appreciation for its artistic risks even as he acknowledged its structural flaws.

Impact and controversies

Cultural influence

Blank Face LP played a role in the mid-2010s revival of gangsta rap aesthetics, integrating 1990s West Coast influences such as gritty storytelling and instrumental aggression with modern emotional vulnerability. Tracks like "Groovy Tony" evoked the raw persona of early Ice Cube and N.W.A., updating the genre's focus on street despondency and systemic entrapment rather than unchecked glorification. This approach positioned the album as a bridge between classic gangsta rap's bravado and contemporary hip-hop's emphasis on personal reckoning, influencing portrayals of urban struggle within Top Dawg Entertainment's output. The album's thematic structure, framing gang affiliation as a cycle of desensitization—symbolized by the "blank face" motif—highlighted psychological tolls of gang life, including and loss, fostering a more nuanced on these tropes in rap narratives. Sociopolitical , such as references to police violence in the "" remix addressing Alton Sterling's 2016 killing, aligned it with Black Lives Matter-era reflections, extending gangsta rap's legacy into broader cultural critiques of institutional failure. By channeling despair from Compton's underbelly without romanticization, Blank Face LP reinforced 's function as a raw document of socioeconomic realities, impacting subsequent West Coast artists' willingness to explore unfiltered authenticity over trap's formulaic excess. Its production, led by in-house TDE collaborators, emphasized cinematic sequencing that mimicked life's inescapable loops, setting a template for narrative-driven albums in the late 2010s.

Debates on gangsta rap tropes

Blank Face LP prominently features gangsta rap tropes, including depictions of gang affiliation, drug dealing, interpersonal violence, and objectification of women, drawn from Schoolboy Q's self-reported experiences as a former member of the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips and involvement in OxyContin distribution during the 2000s. Tracks like "Dope Dealer" and "Groovy Tony" detail narcotics transactions and street hustling, while "TorcH" and "Blank Face" evoke cycles of retaliation and desensitization to death, reflecting South Central Los Angeles environments. These elements align with longstanding gangsta rap conventions originating in the 1980s and 1990s, such as those in N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton (1988), but updated with Q's "groovy gangsta" persona blending funk influences and humor. Critics have debated whether the album glorifies these tropes or offers a nuanced portrayal. Some reviews argue it promotes violence and misogyny by embedding them without sufficient critique, noting lyrics that normalize aggression and reduce women to transactional roles, as in "Cash Out" or "JoHn Muir," where female characters serve narrative functions amid bravado. This perspective echoes broader hip-hop discourse, where such content is seen as perpetuating harmful stereotypes, potentially desensitizing listeners to real-world consequences like incarceration rates among young Black men, which exceeded 1 in 9 for ages 20-34 in California during Q's formative years. However, defenders contend the album avoids endorsement by emphasizing futility and personal toll, with Q recounting "both sides of the gun" to highlight contradictions rather than aspiration, as in reflective skits and tracks like "Black Thoughts" that underscore addiction's grip—Q himself battled codeine dependency, entering rehab in 2016 post-recording. Authenticity bolsters arguments against glorification claims, given Q's verifiable history: he joined the at age 12 in 1996 and dealt drugs until pursuing music around , experiences he frames as cautionary rather than aspirational in interviews. Outlets like praise this "raw emotion" for humanizing tropes without sanitization, contrasting with more redemptive West Coast peers like , while positions Q as preserving 's "profound negativity" amid commercial pressures— (2014) went platinum without diluting narratives. Yet, persists in some analyses, questioning if market-driven revival of 1990s-style , as in TDE's output, risks romanticizing decay despite introspective layers, especially as U.S. rates hovered around 386 per 100,000 in 2016. These tensions reflect ongoing cultural divides, where empirical ties to lived trauma validate tropes for some, but others prioritize causal links to societal harms over artistic .

Accolades

Rankings in lists

Blank Face LP has appeared in various year-end and all-time rankings by music critics, reflecting its recognition within hip-hop. In 's list of the 20 best rap albums of 2016, the album ranked 15th, praised for its exploration of gang life and survival in South Central Los Angeles.
PublicationList TitleYearRank
The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2016201615
The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time2022164
The album's placement in Rolling Stone's all-time hip-hop ranking highlights its status as a contemporary classic, noted for advancing beyond the artist's prior work through detailed storytelling.

Industry recognitions

At the on February 12, 2017, Blank Face LP received a nomination for Best Rap Album. The album's lead single, "" featuring , earned a nomination for Best Rap Performance in the same category. Neither nomination resulted in a win, with Dang! by taking Best Rap Album and "Humble" by winning Best Rap Performance. No additional major industry awards or nominations, such as from the BET Hip Hop Awards or MTV Video Music Awards, were conferred upon the album or its singles.

Credits and track listing

Production personnel

The production of Blank Face LP was primarily handled by Top Dawg Entertainment's in-house team, including frequent collaborators Tae Beast, Sounwave, Cardo, and the duo Nez & Rio, who contributed to multiple tracks across the album. High-profile guest producers such as Swizz Beatz (on "Lord Have Mercy"), Metro Boomin and Southside (on "Dope Dealer"), DJ Dahi, The Alchemist, and Tyler, The Creator also provided beats, blending West Coast gangsta rap aesthetics with trap and experimental elements. Executive production was overseen by Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith and ScHoolboy Q, with A&R direction from Kendrick Lamar and Manny Smith. Mixing duties were primarily managed by Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, while mastering was completed by at Mastering. Additional vocal production and recording involved figures like Sam Hook and , supporting the album's layered sonic palette that incorporated live instrumentation from on select tracks. These credits reflect a collaborative effort emphasizing TDE's self-contained production ecosystem, supplemented by established hitmakers to elevate the project's commercial and artistic scope.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Quincy Hanley (ScHoolboy Q), except where noted, with production credits varying per track.
No.TitleFeaturing artist(s)Length
1"TorcH"5:34
2"Lord Have Mercy"1:44
3"THat Part"5:13
4"Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane"6:19
5"Kno Ya Wrong"Lance Skiiiwalker4:07
6"Dope Dealer"4:38
7"Black THougHts"—3:24
8"JoHn Muir"3:52
9"Cash Out"4:23
10"Electric Chair"4:42
11"Overtime"Miguel, 4:00
12"By Any Means"—4:00
13"DeaD Pu$$y"—2:24
14"Problems"3:31
15"Fake Loc"—3:20
16"Groovy Tony"—3:18
17"THat Part (Remix)", 5:01
The total runtime is 67 minutes and 54 seconds.

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