If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve already heard me sing this album’s praises. I bought ScHoolBoy Q‘s Setbacks off iTunes, and now he’s released a free version. The free version is shorter than the iTunes joint (couple different songs, and honestly, one of them is potentially a highlight on the tape…yikes…oh well!) Since he dropped the announcement on Twitter Nation, I figured I’d let those who don’t know of him or follow him to learn about him here.

Q’s got a charisma about him, man. His voice is unique, and he kills the majority of these tracks with his somewhat unorthodox rhyme scheme. Every song is pretty intense, too, as far as subject matter. When I play this album, I paint a vivid picture of this hazy, California hellhole. Lots of drug talk, but the stressful life that he seems to lead kind of explains it all. I love pretty much every beat on the album, and the only real problem I have with the project is that he didn’t put the one song that I blogged of his a while back on the joint. I understand the decision (it doesn’t really work with the entire “setbacks” concept), but that joint bumped.

All of the features are awesome. Top Dawg teammates Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock all have appearances (Kendrick actually has two, and the one on “LigHt Years AHead” is my favorite swag verse of his since I heard “Michael Jordan”) ***WOW! This song is NOT on the free version! Sorry, guys!*** BJ The Chicago Kid murders the hook on “I’m Good”, and in a great, great way.

I hate talking about music too much. Just listen to it. Thank me later. I rock with Q the long way. This album is the best thing to drop in January as far as hip-hop is concerned (that I’ve heard, anyway). Check out this video real quick, then grab the whole project via the link below. Oh, and shout out to @daveisfree.

DOWNLOAD: ScHoolBoy Q – Setbacks [ALBUM]

let’s get it. my ninja maestro, along with anthony hamilton and BJ the chicago kid. they take us on a nice little trip to district 9 south africa. enjoy. confused? then go google “maestro knows” or put it in my search bar, because i put up a few of the past videos.

and maestro, we gotta get up next time i’m in LA! you too BJ!

maestro knows is an online show based around levi maestro’s day-to-day life. hailing from in the city of angels, Maestro bounces from region to region, using his LA frame of mind as his compass wherever he goes. so far in ’09, he’s been grinding heavily – i’ve posted a video of his before, when he was skateboarding with the air yeezy’s. well, he’s back, hitting DC and the A with his charm and grace. i wish one of y’all cmonwealth + stussy guys woulda told me he was in town so i could shake his hand and let him know that i appreciate his hard work. geesh. and i can’t forget about BJ the chicago kid, either!

i wonder how many breezies he gets with this stuff!? enjoy.

DC:

Atlanta: