In the mid-2010s, if you were a rap fan, you were basically waiting for the "Black Hippy" album like it was the second coming. It never came. We got individual masterpieces instead. We got Pulitzers. But that four-headed monster consisting of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul remains one of hip-hop’s greatest "what ifs."
Honestly, it's kinda wild to look back at 2008. Before the Grammys and the stadium tours, there was just a cramped studio in Carson, California. Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith had this vision of a West Coast Wu-Tang. He didn't just want solo stars; he wanted a unit. And for a few years, Black Hippy Kendrick Lamar collaborations were the gold standard for lyrical chemistry.
Why the Black Hippy Album Never Happened
You’ve probably heard the rumors over the years. Conflict? Egos? Money?
Actually, it was much simpler and somehow more tragic for the fans. Kendrick Lamar eventually addressed the elephant in the room on his late 2024 surprise album GNX. On the track "Heart Pt. 6," he basically took the fall. He rapped about how he "moved on with new concepts in reach." Basically, as Kendrick’s artistry spiraled into complex jazz-rap and heavy conceptual storytelling like To Pimp a Butterfly, the raw, competitive energy of a group project didn't fit the vision anymore.
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It wasn't a lack of love. It was a lack of alignment.
- The Competitive Edge: ScHoolboy Q has been vocal about how they used to record. They’d sit in the studio and try to "kill" each other on every verse.
- Diverging Paths: By 2016, Kendrick was a global prophet. Q was the king of "grooviness" and street anthems. Ab-Soul was deep in the esoteric clouds. Jay Rock was the gritty anchor.
- The Business of TDE: Top Dawg Entertainment realized they had four solo stars who could sell out tours on their own. Why split the pie four ways when you can have four separate pies?
The Best Black Hippy Kendrick Lamar Moments
Even without a studio album, the group left a trail of breadcrumbs. These weren't just guest spots; they were statements.
If you want to understand the hype, you have to go back to the "Black Lip Bastard (Remix)" from 2012. It’s six minutes of pure adrenaline. Kendrick opens it with a verse that sounds like he’s trying to punch through the microphone. Then there's "Vice City" from Jay Rock's 90059. It’s perhaps the most "group" they ever sounded—using a shared triplet flow that made them feel like a singular organism.
Then there was the 2013 BET Cypher. If you were there, you remember. Kendrick had just dropped the "Control" verse and the world was on fire. Seeing the four of them stand side-by-side with Isaiah Rashad felt like watching the Avengers assemble in the middle of a street fight.
Notable Posse Cuts to Revisit:
- "Say Wassup" – Pure fun. You can hear them laughing in the background.
- "U.O.E.N.O. (Remix)" – A masterclass in how to hijack a popular beat.
- "THat Part (Black Hippy Remix)" – The last time we really saw them all together on a track (2016).
The Legacy in 2026
Things changed. Kendrick left TDE to start pgLang. He’s his own boss now.
But the DNA of Black Hippy is all over his new work. When Kendrick brought the whole crew out for the "Pop Out" Juneteenth show in 2024, it wasn't just nostalgia. It was a reminder that he didn't get to the top alone. Seeing Jay Rock and Kendrick perform "Money Trees" or "Hood Gone Love It" in front of a home crowd proves the bond is still there, even if the "Black Hippy Kendrick Lamar" era of recording is technically over.
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ScHoolboy Q said it best in an interview recently: he's not doing the group thing anymore. He’s focused on his own legacy. And honestly? That's fair. They gave us enough.
How to Experience the Black Hippy Era Today
If you’re new to the lore or just want to dive back in, don't just look for an album title that doesn't exist. You have to hunt for the features.
Start with Kendrick’s Section.80 and Overly Dedicated. Look for the Ab-Soul and Jay Rock features there. Then pivot to ScHoolboy Q’s Habits & Contradictions. You'll find "Blessed," which features Kendrick in one of his most soulful guest appearances ever.
The "Black Hippy" experience is a scavenger hunt. It's a collection of remixes and loose singles scattered across a decade of West Coast dominance. It might not be a tidy 12-track LP, but the impact is just as heavy.
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Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to "Heart Pt. 6" on Kendrick's GNX for the most honest perspective on why the group disbanded.
- Watch the "Pop Out" live stream (specifically the TDE segment) to see the 2024 reunion.
- Track down the original mixtapes like Black Friday by Jay Rock to hear the raw, unpolished beginnings of the collective.