Q052 Drops Thunder Child: A Honest Hip-Hop Beatdown on Injustice

(Q052 / Image Credit: Jean-Philippe Sansfaçon)

Q052 unleashes his fourth album, Thunder Child, today, October 10, 2025, through the Musique Nomade label, marking another chapter in his relentless push for Indigenous voices in hip-hop. The Mi’gmaq rapper and activist, born Quentin Condo in Gesgapegiag, Gaspésie, and now calling Sherbrooke home, builds on a career defined by sharp social commentary and stage command. His alias—’Q’ for Quentin, 052 for his First Nations community code—carries the weight of his roots, where he’s channeled advocacy for Indigenous youth and the safety of women and girls into music that hits hard. Q052 has racked up over 140K Spotify streams, snagged Best Male Hip-Hop Artist at the 2023 International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards, and picked up noms like Indigenous Artist of the Year at the 2021 ADISQ Gala, plus spots at the 2022 Teweikan Gala for Expressive Music and Blues/Rock categories. His previous work scored a 2022 GAMIQ nod in Hip-Hop Album. Backed by outlets like CLASH Magazine, with airplay on Radio Canada and BBC Radio 6‘s Don Letts‘ Culture Clash show for the single ‘Loud Sunday‘, he’s shared bills with heavyweights like Cypress Hill and torn up stages at fests including FEQ, La Noce, OFF Québec, Innu Nikamu, Festival Kwe!, FME, Festival Bleu Bleu, and Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée.

Thunder Child packs layers that unfold with repeat spins, layering Q052‘s incisive bars over rugged, throwback beats that echo old-school grit. The standout focus cut, ‘Look It Up‘, strips things down to let his verses cut through, a direct shot at systemic powers that recalls the edge of Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Danny Brown, and KRS-One. It’s built on defiance and awareness, mirroring the record’s core drive, while tracks throughout weave in grunge-tinged riffs and spoken-word punches influenced by Ty Segall, Immortal Technique, Black Sabbath, Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, Run DMC, and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. The blend of hip-hop, alt-rock, and raw narrative keeps the energy coiled tight, demanding attention to every line.

Q052 had this to say: “Hip Hop artists are considered to be street journalists who share stories from their environment. In this album, I’m taking listeners on a tour in my mind and expressing how I view the world right now. It’s gone to hell!! From world leaders to the environment, from television shows to the news, from law enforcement agencies invading homes to assassinations, from social media platform addictions to a cold beer!! I’m reporting on it…is this mic on?”

Thunder Child Album Tracklist
1. Whap Bam-Boo
2. Wickedness
3. Look it Up
4. Thunder Bows
5. Piece of Man
6. Loud Sunday
7. Post Like Addict
8. Space Invaders
9. Restricted Radio
10. Sláinte

Stream Thunder Child:

Follow Q052:
Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify