Coming off of the release of his critically successful third LP, Oxymoron, Compton rapper Schoolboy Q has cemented himself as one of the biggest artists in hip hop at the moment. With his melodic, hook-heavy style combined with eclectic and forward thinking beat selection, Q, along with members of his Los Angeles Black Hippy collective Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul, have helped spur the resurgence of the West Coast hip hop mentality. The group has pushed boundaries in hip hop sonically with their sample selection as well, with sounds from indie artists like Beach House, Chromatics, and Twin Sister being used to forge an art-pop oriented hip hop vibe that has gained crossover appeal.
Tonight, at University at Buffalo’s Alumni Arena the rapper will co-headline the school’s annual Fall Fest with Atlanta MC T.I., whose latest album, Paperwork: The Motion Picture, is due out late next month. T.I. has had an enduring career that has included shows on VH1 and movie appearances, but began with the 2003 breakout album, Trap Muzik, which included the hugely popular singles “24’s” and “Rubberband Man.” With countless other successful singles and albums like Urban Legend and King, the artist born Clifford Harris is a certified southern rap legend.
Doors open at 6pm. Tickets are $43 general admission and free for UB students. Los Angeles rapper and TDE affiliate Ab-Soul opens the show.