After briefly considering retirement from rap music to spend more time with his family, he set up a home studio and resumed working on the album in the summer of 2015; it was completed in April 2016.
Blank Face LP was supported by three singles, "Groovy Tony", "That Part" and "Overtime", and several music videos, including a trilogy of short films.
[2] SchoolBoy Q toured in support of the album for a year and a half, and it was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
[5][6] SchoolBoy Q initially considered retiring from rap music after touring in support of Oxymoron to spend more time with his family and his daughter Joy; he regretted the long periods he spent away from them promoting the album.
[10] Blank Face LP was primarily produced by TDE's in-house production team Digi+Phonics, composed of Tae Beast, Willie B and Sounwave.
[11][12] Its production saw the return of Nez & Rio, DJ Dahi, The Alchemist and Tyler, the Creator, whom appeared on SchoolBoy Q's previous albums, alongside new collaborators such as Swizz Beatz, Metro Boomin and Southside.
[21][22] On June 16, Schoolboy Q released what was thought to be the cover art for the deluxe edition of the album, which features 2016 US presidential candidate Donald Trump, with his face blurred out as well.
[33] "Groovy Tony" was released as the lead single from Blank Face LP on April 5, 2016, alongside a music video directed by Jack Begert and the Little Homies.
[38][39] Between June 25 and July 11, 2016,[40][41] a trilogy of three short films/music videos, directed by Begert and Free, were released for "By Any Means", "Tookie Knows II" and "Black Thoughts".
[46] "Overtime" was serviced to urban and rhythmic radio in North America, on September 12, 2016, as the album's third and final single;[47] a music video for the song was released the same day.
[48] On June 29, 2016, Schoolboy Q held a listening session for Blank Face LP in New York City, which was hosted by Hot 97 radio personality, Peter Rosenberg.
[51] Various blogs reporting on the session said that Schoolboy Q had said that Interscope Records lobbied to have Miguel and Skye on "Overtime" in the hopes of recreating the success of "Studio", which he ultimately agreed to.
[9][52][53] Q said that his comments about "Overtime" had been misunderstood;[2] in an interview with Real 92.3, Q clarified that TDE had suggested the song's inclusion instead of Interscope and criticized blogs for getting the information wrong, though he conceded that he "should’ve worded it way better".
[54][55] Schoolboy Q embarked on a twelve-show concert tour of North America, Groovy Tony Pit Stops, in support of Blank Face LP.
[58] From August 30 to December 15, 2016, SchoolBoy Q embarked on the Blank Face World Tour of North America, Oceania and Europe, taking Joey Bada$$ as support.
[59] Blank Face LP debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, with 74,000 album-equivalent units with 52,000 copies coming from pure album sales in its first week.
[61][62] Blank Face LP is Schoolboy Q's second top five album on the Billboard 200, and follows his number one debuting Oxymoron effort in 2014 which sold 139,000 copies in its first week.
But with an impressive range of sonic and lyrical styles and numerous highlights, Blank Face LP stands as one of 2016's most engaging rap projects.
[70] Jonah Bromwich of Pitchfork said, "Blank Face turns away from the ambitious fusion of To Pimp a Butterfly, instead doubling down on a smoked-out atmosphere that points the listener's focus toward rapping.
Nearly every element of the sound – the mean breakbeat from an old Christine McVie tune that Tae Beast loops beneath lead single "Groovy Tony", R&B visionary Anderson .Paak sweetening the mood without lightening it, guest rhymes from Kanye and Jadakiss and Vince Staples – adds an ominous undertone.
"[74] Chris Gibbons of XXL, concluded with: "Blank Face LP isn't Schoolboy Q's first great album, but it's the first one where he lives up to his utmost potential.
"[75] In a mixed review, Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine said, "Blank Face LP is ultimately an unfocused album, one caught between reportage and repugnant opportunism.
"[76] In another mixed review, Jessica Ankomah of Now said, "Q might appear masked on the album cover, but his explicit tales of hardship, prosperity and loss hide nothing.
[83] In a 2019 interview with Vulture, Schoolboy Q expressed his dissatisfaction with the content of Blank Face LP, feeling that the album was too dark and introspective; "I want balance in my music.
"[85] In July 2024, he selected "Groovy Tony", "Know Ya Wrong", "By Any Means", "John Muir" and "Tookie Knows II" as his favorite tracks from the album.