Ten years after releasing one of the most celebrated albums of his career, ScHoolboy Q returned home Friday night for a special performance at the Hollywood Palladium, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his critically acclaimed Blank Face LP. The evening brought together longtime fans for a nostalgic look at an important chapter in Q’s career while showcasing just how impressive his catalog has become over the years.
ScHoolboy Q at the Holloywood Palladium. Alexis Strum/ Alive Coverage
Released July 8, 2016, through Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records, Blank Face LP followed the commercial success of 2014’s Oxymoron and showcased a darker, more experimental side of Q’s artistry. Featuring collaborations with Kanye West, Jadakiss, Vince Staples, E-40, SZA and Anderson .Paak, the album combined gritty street narratives, unconventional production and personal storytelling, further establishing Q as one of the most distinctive voices in West Coast hip-hop.
Q opened the evening with “TorcH” and “Lord Have Mercy” before launching into the Kanye West-assisted “THat Part,” one of the album’s biggest records. Throughout the night, he revisited fan favorites including “Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane,” “Kno Ya Wrong,” “Ride Out,” “By Any Means” and “JoHn Muir.” Tracks like “Neva CHange,” “Str8 Ballin” and “Black THougHts” also served as reminders of the storytelling and introspection that made Blank Face LP such a memorable project.
Although the anniversary was the focus, Q made sure the evening celebrated much more than one album. Classics from his Oxymoron era, including “Collard Greens,” “Man of the Year,” “Studio” and “Break the Bank,” brought plenty of nostalgia, while “Hands on the Wheel” and “Hell of a Night” revisited his earlier days with TDE. He also mixed in records from 2019’s CrasH Talk, including “Numb Numb Juice,” “CHopstix” and “Floating.”
More recent selections from his 2024 album Blue Lips, including “Yeern 101,” “oHio,” “Nunu” and “THank god 4 me,” highlighted Q’s continued evolution as an artist. Hearing these records alongside his earlier material offered a reminder of his versatility and ability to experiment with different sounds without losing the personality and gritty storytelling that fans have come to appreciate.
Considering Q’s extensive relationships throughout the industry, particularly within the TDE family, the anniversary celebration could have easily featured numerous surprise appearances. Instead, Q handled nearly the entire performance himself, with fellow Los Angeles rappers T.F and Traffic serving as the evening’s only special guests. The two joined him for “Tookie Knows II,” the closing track from Blank Face LP, bringing the celebration full circle with a fitting tribute to the album’s original collaborators.
For longtime TDE fans, the evening was also a reminder of an incredible era in Los Angeles hip-hop. Alongside Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, Q helped bring a new generation of attention to the city’s music scene while establishing a sound and identity that were uniquely his own. A decade later, his influence and longevity remain evident. What started as a celebration of Blank Face LP ultimately became a showcase of ScHoolboy Q’s career, from the early records that introduced fans to his music to the projects that have continued pushing his sound forward. And while the Hollywood Palladium was filled with nostalgia, the performance made it equally clear that Q still has plenty more to offer.
ScHoolboy Q at the Holloywood Palladium. Alexis Strum/ Alive Coverage
