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 an 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]
