He began recording in 2007, and released his first two mixtapes, ScHoolboy Turned Hustla (2008) and Gangsta & Soul (2009) to local success.

After signing with the Carson-based record label Top Dawg Entertainment, Hanley's debut studio album, Setbacks (2011) and its follow-up, Habits & Contradictions (2012) were both released to positive critical response; both also performed moderately on the US Billboard 200 chart as digital exclusives.

Met with critical acclaim, the album peaked atop the US Billboard 200 and was supported by the singles "Collard Greens" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) and "Studio" (featuring BJ the Chicago Kid); the former received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, while the latter received triple platinum certification and peaked within the top 40.

His fourth and fifth albums, Blank Face LP (2016) and Crash Talk (2019), were both met with continued praise and peaked within the top three of the Billboard 200.

He was a member of the California-based hip hop group Black Hippy, alongside frequent collaborators Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Kendrick Lamar.

[3] Quincy Matthew Hanley was born October 26, 1986, on a United States Army air base in Wiesbaden, West Germany.

Before turning to music, Hanley became a drug dealer selling Oxycontin, and for a short time crack cocaine and marijuana.

His first time at TDE's studio, Hanley worked with his soon to be Black Hippy cohorts Jay Rock and Ab-Soul.

After the release of Schoolboy Turned Hustla, he signed a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2009, where he later formed Black Hippy, with fellow label-mates and frequent collaborators, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul.

Hanley later stated in a video interview as to why they were beefing: "He made some false statements about my boy, Tyga, that's my little brother.

[13] The album reached number 100 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling close to 1,000 digital copies in its first abbreviated week.

[19] In March 2011, Hanley was arrested at the 2011 South by Southwest music festival and explained that he was ultimately jailed because of marijuana possession.

Music videos for "Hands on the Wheel" with ASAP Rocky, "NigHtmare on Figg St.", and "Druggys wit Hoes Again" with Ab-Soul, followed the album's release.

In July 2013, for their 53rd issue, Mass Appeal called on photographer/director 13thWitness, to shoot Schoolboy Q, alongside friend and fellow American rapper Mac Miller, for their cover story.

[28][29] On August 27, 2013 Hanley appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, alongside Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, to perform "White Walls", the sixth single from the duo's platinum-selling debut album The Heist, which was released in October 2012.

[31] Schoolboy Q also appeared alongside his Top Dawg label-mates Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Isaiah Rashad, in a cypher presented by BET.

[33] A snippet of the song, which is titled "Man of the Year", first surfaced with the release of the music video for Kendrick Lamar's single "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe".

[36] On January 24, 2014, Schoolboy Q made his network television debut, performing "Man of the Year" on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

[37] In January 2014, Schoolboy Q announced a three-month tour in support of his major-label debut, set to begin March 1, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Schoolboy Q's Top Dawg label-mate Isaiah Rashad and fellow American rapper Vince Staples, made appearances to support Q in domestic dates.

[38][39][40][41] In April 2014, before his two sold-out shows in Las Vegas, Schoolboy Q was the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

During his time on stage, Schoolboy Q was joined by BJ the Chicago Kid, for a special rendition of Oxymoron's fourth single "Studio," and later returned to perform the album cut "What They Want.

[44][45] On February 24, 2016, TDE founder, Top Dawg, announced Schoolboy Q's fourth album would be released before the summer.

[54] In June 2016, Schoolboy Q performed a live rendition of "That Part", in a medley with "Groovy Tony", on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

[57] In February 2017, Schoolboy Q stopped by Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show and revealed that his new album was close to completion.

"[58] In June 2017, Schoolboy Q revealed on social media that he had made "like 50 songs" during the recording process of his fifth studio album.

"[60] On September 15, 2018, Schoolboy Q announced that the album has been delayed due to the death of his longtime friend and frequent collaborator Mac Miller.

[76] Hanley has mentioned Joy in several of his songs, and she has also appeared in several of his music videos, notably "Phenomenon", "Nightmare on Figg St.", "There He Go" and "Break the Bank".

Hanley also states that he made the decision to stop using drugs after realizing he had gained weight to the point of reaching 250 lbs.