The rapper was in the country for two shows in June supporting his third studio album and major label debut, titled Oxymoron.
The album, which opened at No 1 on the Billboard 200 in the US, is one of 2014's strongest hip-hop LPs.
A rich brat from military parents with experience playing collegiate sports, spending time in jail for selling drugs as a member of the Crips, and as a commercially successful artist, ScHoolboy draws from these experiences, never getting weighed down by a single perspective.
It means he's capable of grim and dark socially conscious tales (Prescription/Oxymoron) as well as accessible more party-focused anthems (Man Of The Year).
ScHoolboy Q is of renowned American hip-hop collective Black Hippy, which also features critically loved Compton storyteller Kendrick Lamar (whose 2012 album good kid, m.A.A.d city is generally considered a classic), MC Jay Rock and psychotropic bohemian Ab-Soul.
For fans of Nas, Notorious Big, 50 Cent or Kendrick Lamar.
LITTLE BARK, BIG BITE
Auckland synth artist Little Bark (aka Sophie Burbery) is touring her brand-new sophomore album Unique Sonic Broadcast with a full live band and plays in Dunedin tonight for the first time.
Co-produced by long-term collaborator Stef Animal (The Golden Awesome, Mestar), USB's 11 tracks mix the epic, colossal sounds of M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, with odder, more 1980's pop-sounding modes.
It's a lush and moody listen, with just the right amount of cheesy.
It often conjures a similar feeling to the Drive motion picture soundtrack everyone went crazy for a couple of years ago.
Support comes from the Violet-Ohs and brand new electronic duo Crackerjacks.
LIKE EARLY RADIOHEAD
No Broadcast, formerly known as Anthesiac, is touring its self-titled debut album across New Zealand and plays in Dunedin tonight.
Heavy and punishing, the group's post-rock finds similar epic sonic territory to Dunedin's own Mountaineater in its force and presence, but has an alt-rock element to its sound so that songs such as Realise sound like post-'90s grunge anthems or early Radiohead.
See it
• ScHoolboy Q (Los Angeles), The #Oxymoron Encore Tour of New Zealand, Thursday, October 2, at the Otago University Students Association Union hall. Tickets from www.dashtickets.co.nz/ $70 plus booking fee.
• Radio One 91fm and The 91 Club present Little Bark (Auckland), The Violet-Ohs, and Crackerjacks, tonight at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers, free entry with your 2014 Radio Onecard or $10 without from 9pm. Chick's Magic Bus leaves Countdown at 8.30pm, University of Otago library at 8.35pm, and returns to town after the show. It is free to ride with your 2014 Radio Onecard (available on the bus).
• No Broadcast (Christchurch) Album Release Party, tonight at the Robbie Burns Pub with Russian Blue and Ink Mathematics. Tickets $10 on the door from 9pm.
Saturday, October 4, at Fitzpatrick's Irish Pub, Wanaka.
