Schoolboy Q + 6Magazine conversationJuly 7, 2012
By: Kenyatta Giddings
Photo: Jackie Bryan
Schoolboy Q recently made his way to Austin for another one of the countless live performances he’s been giving since “Habits and Contradictions” was released in January. He talked to us about A.$.A.P., his daughter, and hard work.
The last time I saw you was actually South By Southwest 2011, you were here with Kendrick Lamar, and since then “Habits and Contradictions” released and your career is a completely different beast. Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Schoolboy Q: Hard work, you know what I mean? Staying focused and going hard and not giving a fuck about nothing. Just doing me and not listening to people.
6Magazine: Okay, that kind of takes me back to the interview you did in RESPECT Magazine talking about TDE and keeping that TDE feel. You don’t get lost in anybody else’s machine. How important is it to stay true to TDE?
Schoolboy Q: I mean, I got to. That’s where I started off at and that’s what my fans know me for. They don’t know me for Interscope or Aftermath, they know me for TDE so I gotta keep giving my same feel. We’re just joint business–just doing a little business with Interscope and Aftermath– that’s all that is. But I love Interscope and Aftermath family but, I’m about TDE right now until we get to that certain level.
6Magazine: I was in the car the other day, and “Hands on the Wheel” came on. Now, I heard it a while ago, but it’s currently on the radio. Can you refresh us on that collaboration with A.$.A.P. Rocky?
Schoolboy Q: That’s the homie. I sent him the record, he sent it back and like it was nothing. That shit was groovy. I didn’t want to put anybody– like no big, big, big, big, BIG artist on it– I wanted somebody that was kinda on my level and kinda coming up with me on the record you know what I mean and A.$.A.P. was perfect for it.
6Magazine: Father’s Day wasn’t all that long ago. Was your daughter able to get you anything for it?
Schoolboy Q: She got me a T-shirt, I think it said like, ‘I love my daddy’ or something like that. I was in the studio cause I had to finish this record so I didn’t even really kick it with my baby that night. We had to do something the next day.
6Magazine: So what’s next for you?
Schoolboy Q: My album and to keep soaring.
