Reflecting on… “Blue Slides” by Schoolboy Q

One of my favorite songs of 2024 is from TDE artist, Schoolboy Q. He released an underrated album last year bearing the title Blue Lips. This album was experimental and brought forth a variety of sounds, including a track that traps me into a melancholic mood. This single track is locked in with a fond memory from last Fall, when my family and I traveled to France and visited the island of Corsica.

Blue Slides

My family and I were in Ajaccio, Corsica, viewing the sights while waiting for our ferry ride to Toulon. We took a break at a local playground and let the kids run free. While they played and my wife went to a local cafe, I took out my phone and searched for a song to play. I clicked onto the Blue Lips album and pressed play on track 4.

“Better climb out of that hole before you (mess) up your blessings
'Fore you realize that it's over with and start to get desperate
Keep your mind, body on pressure, give your time when it's needed Know a man gon' be a man, if he don't work, he ain't eatin'”

Within the first three bars, Q had my full attention. Depression sometimes finds me and I try hard to not stay trapped in its grasp. It’s too easy to become trapped by one’s issues and look track of the blessings one has in their life.

Man, I gotta shake this (stuff), wake up and move with a purpose
Been in prison in my own house, I don't know if they noticed
I done broke down so many times, next time, it gon' catch me

When these lyrics released, I couldn’t help but close my eyes and feel the breeze blow through me. As someone who struggles with finding the intrinsic motivation to keep going, I couldn’t help but weep quietly as my kids ran freely around the slides. My wife and kids give me purpose and keep me moving on but sometimes, I still worry that the next time I break down, it might catch me.

I done made problems my problems, now I barely can breathe
The lil' boy father 'bout nothin', so I roll up my sleeve
I was always good at errythang, especially my dreams
But lately, I ain't really been myself, ain't strong as I seemed
I been hustlin', day in, day out, belong to the streets
But sometimes you gotta be a deadbeat when the kids gotta eat

As an educator, a friend to many (once removed), and a family man, I have found myself taking on the problems of others, in the attempt to provide comfort and resolve. As I grow older, I realize that it can be debilitating and hard to maintain. Sometimes, I also have ideas that I want to chase, with hopes of it providing stability and support to my family but in return, it ends up causing my presence to be absent.

The first verse is so strong that the second verse doesn’t hit me as hard. It’s well crafted but doesn’t pluck the same strings as the first verse.. When I hear the song end, I quickly go back and start it back at the top. I can’t help but let the haunting vocals of the talented Lauren Santi sing:

Lover of mine
Don't you dare walk away now
Don't leave me quite so high and dry
I hope you don't leave it all inside

I still go back to this song in particular several times a month. When the first note of the recording starts, every time, I’m transported back to that park bench in Ajaccio. The breeze, within the upper 60 degrees Fahrenheit, hits me while my kids run around, seeking a good time. It’s hard for me to not think of it and that’s what makes it art. This song hits on many levels for me: it marks a special trip with my family and makes me reflect on internal fears that I work to tackle as a person.