ScHoolboy Q Isn’t in the mood to drop an album and that’s ok

Moved by the passing of Mac Miller, ScHoolboy Q announced that he would not be releasing an album in 2018. Four years after our first meeting, we caught up with the rapper during his stop at House of Vans in London to discuss mental health in the music industry. He offers us a different - and rather grim - perspective on what life as an artist can be.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN FRENCH ON YARD.MEDIA

ScHoolboy Q had developed a habit of releasing an album every two years. So after Habits & Contradictions in 2012, Oxymoron in 2014, and Blank Face LP in 2016, it seemed natural to expect a new project in 2018. But even the best-laid plans can be disrupted by life’s unpredictability. At this moment, ScHoolboy Q isn’t in the mindset to release new music, devastated by the recent loss of his friend Mac Miller. This tragic event once again shed light on the issue of artists’ mental health. Q himself has not always been in a good place, having seriously considered quitting music after the release - and success - of Oxymoron. So when we were given just ten minutes to speak with him before his live performance at London’s House of Vans, we wanted to address a topic that matters now more than ever.

You’ve admitted to struggling with the pressure that comes with being an artist. How does that pressure manifest itself?

I can’t really say. Some things just hit you randomly, without explanation. They just happen. For this new album, for example, I needed to rebuild myself mentally and physically. Sometimes, you just grow in different ways, you go through certain challenges that come out of nowhere, and you have to face them. I also can’t really tell you how I became a rapper; at some point, I just started writing.

What gave you the strength to keep going?

I don’t know—probably passion. Passion is what keeps you from quitting. Once you’re passionate about something, you never give up. You see those guys on a football field who never get to play, who seem stuck at a certain level, but they keep practicing over and over to get there? That’s passion. The moment they lose it, they’re done. For me, I’m passionate, so I never quit. It’s unthinkable. I don’t even know what quitting feels like. I’ve tried stopping before, but it didn’t work. I tried quitting rap once, and it lasted barely two days. It’s just impossible for me.

What would you say to people who claim artists “have nothing to complain about”?

Those people are stupid. We’re human beings like everyone else. We cry, we laugh, and we usually die much younger than average. And we put ourselves at risk just so others can feel better. A lot of things that people do in private, we do publicly—to help make them feel more comfortable with themselves. We’re healers, too. Some people listen to our music, hear our words, and decide not to take their own lives. We constantly look out for others, but no one is ever there for us. That’s the truth about artists.

All it takes is for an artist to refuse a photo once… Do you have any idea how many people ask for a photo, even when that artist is already feeling sad or depressed? I rarely refuse a picture, but sometimes I’m not in the right headspace, so I just say, “No.” Then I go on Twitter and see people calling me an asshole left and right… Man, that’s probably only the second time in my life that I’ve refused a photo!

People assume things and end up thinking you owe them something when you’re already giving them your life. I’m already putting myself in a vulnerable position by sharing my fears and doubts with you, while you sit there behind your computer screens, saying whatever comes to mind about us. We’re already on the front lines, so the idea that we should just “be grateful” is stupid. Never. We deserve every dollar we make.

What advice would you give to young artists going through similar struggles?

Depression is something everyone experiences. Some people are strong enough to get through it, and others aren’t. It’s tough. I’ve been through depression—many times—but I made it because I’m strong. Everyone knows what depression is. Even my nine-year-old daughter will go through it one day. And it’s my job, as her father, to prepare her for that. Because school won’t. It’s crucial to prepare kids for the things life will throw at them.

No one is immune to being poor, no one is immune to depression. Even the richest person can end up broke one day. Think about it—even Robin Williams took his own life. The man was super rich, and he lost it all in the blink of an eye. That’s why you always need to surround yourself with people who truly care about you. The closer they are, the more you let them stay in your life, the more they can help clear your mind.

You need people who will pull you out of depression. People who will make you laugh, joke with you… That’s why it’s important to be able to take a hit, because depression affects those with thinner skin more. My job as a father is to make sure my daughter has thick skin. I don’t tell her she’s beautiful every day, I don’t say everything she does is amazing when it’s not. I’m not afraid to tell her, “No, that’s terrible!” It’s necessary.

What can we expect from your next album?

I don’t want to say too much. With social media and everything, people have access to everything at all times. They know when I wake up, when I go to bed. If I drop an album, before they even listen to it, it’s already been dissected. That’s not how music should be. Music should be: I release my album, you listen, and you make your own interpretation. Sometimes, everyone will come to the same conclusion about a record, and other times, they won’t.

Even I can’t fully explain an album. Most of the time, it’s just thoughts that come to mind, and I write them down. Sure, there’s a concept, but ultimately, they’re still random thoughts. So sitting here and telling you what my next album will be like would be a disservice to myself because that’s not how I approach music.

All I can say is that my albums never sound the same. Whether it’s Setbacks, Habits & Contradictions, Oxymoron, or Blank Face LP, none of them sound like the one before. So I can guarantee the next one won’t sound like anything you’ve heard before. I’ve never made the same album twice. Never.