‘Vince Staples’ by Vince Staples: new release review

Vince Staples is the latest project by the Long Beach, Californian rapper of the same name. With the success of his most recent album, 2018’s FM!, fans have been long awaiting his next record for three years, a particularly long interval for Vince. Two contributing factors to FM!‘s enjoyability are its brief 22-minute run time and almost full production from Kenny Beats.

‘Vince Staples’ album cover

For that, fans are in luck with Vince Staples, as Kenny Beats magnificently produces all 22 minutes of this project. While fans complain about the short run time, at least we know this formula works. Also, this is the first of two projects that Vince promises to come in 2021, thus length complaints are unappreciative.

Simply put, Vince Staples is Vince Staples’ most different album to date. A forward thinking MC who never cared to fit into the mainstream, each of his albums have their own unique style to them, but this is by far his biggest change-up yet. Gone is the sardonic young gun that invites trouble from anybody ready to test him, and found is a man left with mature trauma. Vince still has his sharp edge from his crippin’ days, but it’s whittled down. By now, he’s stuck with the consequences of his past and a fight for himself.

Crazy freestyle on the LA Leakers show before an interview

“Being 27, I done lost a lot of people in these past couple of years”

In his interview with the LA Leakers to discuss this project, Vince mentions how part of his bold delivery in his past projects comes from the pride of him and his friends making it out alive.  Unfortunately, in the past couple of years, Vince has lost more friends than ever before. This gives his performance on Vince Staples its withdrawn and sullen delivery in replacement of his fierce and sarcastic bite.

The first two tracks, “ARE YOU WITH THAT?” and “LAW OF AVERAGES,” both came out before the album, and rightfully so. Vince and Kenny recognize that their album is going to take some getting used to, smartly using these tracks as a sneak peak.

“Visit my crips that lay under the ground, runnin’ around, we was them kids that played”

“ARE YOU WITH THAT?” is unlike any vocal performance from Vince yet. Admittedly, it isn’t the most fitting style for him, but he’s capable and experimental through it. In terms of content, its a perfect intro into the album’s themes. Vince spends many of the bars reflecting on gangbanging ambitions, resulting in nothing but losing his childhood friends. Upon getting used to his new flow, Vince actually proves to have made the smart choice of vulnerability, allowing for us to tap into his pain.

‘LAW OF AVERAGES’ single cover

“LAW OF AVERAGES”, the lead single, brings us back to his more expected flow though the beat is withdrawn and patient. Arguably the least personal cut on the album, Vince comes in with his usual badass bars and distrust in materialistic women. This song serves more as a the method of choice for roping in his current fans, Vince doing his normal thing over a different kind of instrumental.

“SUNDOWN TOWN” is an easy sell to Vince’s fans. With a more fast paced beat and active delivery, he brings his trademark style with adult modifications. This is an examination into the paranoid shell of a gangster that he’s been attempting to communicate thus far. In arguably the most effective lyric of the whole project, Vince admits that meeting fans scares him because he considers that they might be trying to make an attempt on his life.

Tracklist for ‘Vince Staples’

“I ain’t gon’ lie, she only want me ’cause I money touch”

“THE SHINING” is where the album truly begins to unify, marrying Vince’s new flow from the first track to his personal fears, hardened self protection and incompatibility with image-driven women. After this, we get “TAKING TRIPS,” the kind of track that fans initially came here for. Vince rides the beat with a familiar flow and unique bars. One that has already began circulation is his inability to enjoy the beach without packing heat in his bathing suit.

After the first of two heartfelt skits, “TAKE ME HOME” resumes what the album began. Vince uses one of the more beautiful beats on the album to for one of the more depressing outings here. Focusing on his paranoia, he explores his preference to be alone, forced by his distrust strangers and peers alike. The album’s only feature, Foushee, sums up the song the best by saying “I can’t tell you who’s an ally.”  While Vince owns the project by himself, this is a great reminder of how well he’s always selected and worked with feature artists.

“‘Fore Corona, I was at Ramona with the mask”

The last two tracks, “LIL FADE“and “MHM,” bring us two of the more sonically bumpy cuts on the project. The former is classic Vince bars, painting the picture of he and his friends out here gangbangin’ on the regular. Both his flow and lyrics are extremely reminiscent of his old style while Kenny Beats’ production keeps it refreshing. Wrapping it all up, “MHM,” sends it off with the highest energy on the project. Working with the build of the album, we’re left with a very street, almost mixtape type quick cut. Though somewhat inconclusive to album’s narrative, its a perfect ending, as Vince’s personal struggles are far from over.

From the lyric video for ‘MHM’

Vince Staples is not an easy album to get into. Even after a couple of listens, you may feel the same way. However, the pacing, experimentation and forward thinking maturity makes for Vince’s most honest project since his masterpiece, Summertime ’06. This album gets a gold grade from FMHipHop due to its major aging potential, something that’s already begun. The album is just days old and we owe it as much time and care as Vince and Kenny invested into it. Here, Vince Staples officially transitions from a slick talking kid, almost too wise for his years, to a veteran aged into his mindset. Paired with PERFECT production from Kenny Beats, Vince Staples is a respectable self-study and one of the most mature rap albums made in a long time.

Vince Staples Rating: Gold

Vince spittin’ on Kenny Beats’ show, ‘The Cave‘

Click here to understand our rating system!

And here to peep our review of Vince Staples and Mac Miller’s Stolen Youth LP

Written by Jason Heilbronner | Twitter: @JasonHeilbronn1