Man of the Year (song)

This article is about the 2013 Schoolboy Q song. For 2003 song by Alice Cooper, see The Eyes of Alice Cooper.
"Man of the Year"
Single by Schoolboy Q
from the album Oxymoron
Released November 23, 2013
Format Digital download
Recorded 2013
Genre Hip hop
Length 3:36
Label Top Dawg, Interscope
Writer(s) Quincy Hanley, Nesbitt Wesonga, Mario Loving, Ruth Radelet, Adam Miller, Nat Walker, Johnny Jewel,
Producer(s) Nez & Rio, Sounwave of Digi+Phonics (add.)
Schoolboy Q singles chronology
"White Walls"
(2013)
"Man of the Year"
(2013)
"Break the Bank"
(2014)
Music video
"Man of the Year" on YouTube

"Man of the Year" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Schoolboy Q. The song was released as the second official single from his major-label debut album Oxymoron, on November 23, 2013, by Top Dawg and Interscope Records. The song, produced by frequent collaborators Nez & Rio, first appeared on the soundtrack to the 2013 video game NBA Live 14. The song samples "Cherry", as performed by American electronic band Chromatics, from the 2013 compilation album After Dark 2.[1][2][3] The song debuted at number 81 and later peaked at 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background and release

On May 13, 2013, the music video for Top Dawg label-mate Kendrick Lamar's single "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", was released. Later that day, the director's cut of the video was released, which included a bonus clip featuring a snippet of a new song by Schoolboy Q.[4][5] Shortly after the video was released, American production duo Nez & Rio, who previously contributed production on Schoolboy Q's 2012 project Habits & Contradictions, revealed on Twitter that they had also produced the song at the end of the video.[6] Also in May, Schoolboy Q tweeted: "Nez & rio all ova #OXYMORON"[7] On November 5, 2013, it was revealed Schoolboy Q would appear on the soundtrack to the 2013 video game NBA Live 14.[8][9]

"Man of the Year" was released as a single via digital distribution on November 23, 2013.[10] On January 28, 2014, "Man of the Year" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States.[11]

Critical reception

"Man of the Year" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Brandon Soderberg of Spin called it one of the album's highlights.[12] David Jeffries of AllMusic said it is an accessible highlight of the album.[13] Lizzie Plaugic of CMJ referred to the song as one of the album's essential tracks.[14] Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork Media said the song, "follows suit in affixing the happy ending to Oxymoron’s war stories while serving up the album’s most memorable hooks."[15] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound said it had one of the album's standout productions.[16] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard said, ""Man Of The Year" is not a lyrical masterpiece, but it slays: with a beat from Nez & Rio that nicks an obscure Chromatics track, the track explodes every time Q spits the refrain "Man of the year, ma-man of the BOUNCE," which is nonsensical but feels oh so right."[17] Maya Kalev of Fact praised the endlessly catchy refrain of the song.[18]

Joe Sweeney of Slant Magazine called the song a "languid dance-crossover" that drags the album down.[19] Omar Burgess of HipHopDX referred to the song as album filler.[20] Aziz of Sputnikmusic said the song is "too obsessed with pampering clubgoers to be at all interesting."[21]

Live performances

On January 24, 2014, Schoolboy Q made his network television debut, performing "Man of the Year" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[22] On January 28, 2014, Schoolboy Q performed the song, along with "Collard Greens" and "Break the Bank" on the season finale of DJ Skee's SKEE Live.[23] Then on February 26, 2014, Schoolboy Q performed "Man of the Year" on the Arsenio Hall Show.[24]

Music video

On January 17, 2014, the music video for "Man of the Year", which was directed by Dave Free, Fredo Tovar and Scott Fleishman, was released.[25]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Man of the Year"  Quincy Hanley, Nesbitt Wesonga, Mario Loving, Ruth Radelet, Adam Miller, Nat Walker, Johnny Jewel,Nez & Rio 3:36

Chart performance

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[26] 60
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 45
Germany (Deutsche Black Charts)[27] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 62
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 16
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[30] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[31] 30

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States November 23, 2013 Digital download[10] Top Dawg Entertainment, Interscope Records
January 28, 2014 Rhythmic contemporary radio[11]
United Kingdom March 3, 2014 Urban contemporary radio[32]

References

  1. "Listen: Schoolboy Q's "Man of the Year" Featuring Chromatics Sample | News". Pitchfork. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  2. Taylor, Katie (2013-11-19). "Schoolboy Q samples Chromatics on new track, 'Man Of The Year' [Track Of The Day]". Thefourohfive.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  3. "Schoolboy Q'sMan of theYear sample of Chromatics's Cherry". WhoSampled. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. "Watch the Extended Cut of Kendrick Lamar's "B**** Don't Kill My Vibe" Video". Complex. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  5. "Watch The Director's Cut Of Kendrick Lamar's “B*tch, Don’t Kill My Vibe� - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  6. "Twitter / NEZandRIO: Y'all seen that new video". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  7. "Twitter / ScHoolBoyQ: Nez & rio all ova #OXYMORON". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  8. "NBA LIVE 14 Mixtape: New Music, New Features | NBA Live". Ea Sports. 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  9. Gotty™ (2013-11-19). "ScHoolBoy Q - "Man Of The Year" | The Smoking Section". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  10. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Man of the Year - Single by Schoolboy Q". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  11. 1 2 "Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  12. Soderberg, Brandon. "ScHoolboy Q, 'Oxymoron' Review". Spin.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  13. David Jeffries (2014-02-25). "Oxymoron - ScHoolboy Q | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  14. Lizzie Plaugic. "Schoolboy Q - Oxymoron | Album Reviews". CMJ. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  15. "Schoolboy Q: Oxymoron | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  16. Madden, Michael (2014-02-26). "Album Review: ScHoolboy Q – Oxymoron". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  17. "ScHoolboy Q, 'Oxymoron': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  18. "Oxymoron – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  19. "Schoolboy Q: Oxymoron | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  20. Burgess, Omar (2014-02-25). "ScHoolboy Q - Oxymoron | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  21. "Review: ScHoolboy Q - Oxymoron". Sputnikmusic. 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  22. C. Vernon Coleman (2014-01-25). "ScHoolboy Q Performs "Man Of The Year" On Jimmy Fallon - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  23. timsanchez818. "Ice Cube and Schoolboy Q Stop By For The Season Finale’ Of SkeeLive". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  24. Emmanuel C.M. (2014-02-27). "ScHoolboy Q Performs On 'Arsenio' - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  25. Diep, Eric (January 17, 2014). "ScHoolboy Q Is Surrounded By Pretty Women In "Man Of The Year" Video". XXL. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  26. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Schoolboy Q – Man of the Year" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  27. articles with dead external links%5d%5d%5b%5bCategory:Articles with dead external links from February 2016%5d%5d "Deutsche Black Charts: KW 17" Check |archiveurl= value (help). Trendcharts. Media Control. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  28. "Schoolboy Q – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Schoolboy Q.
  29. "Schoolboy Q – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Schoolboy Q.
  30. "Schoolboy Q – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Schoolboy Q. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  31. "Schoolboy Q – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Schoolboy Q. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  32. "BBC Radio 1Xtra". BBC. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
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