Vince Staples Explains How Snoop Dogg ‘Has Always Been The Biggest Rapper’

Debates about who the best rapper is never seem to end, and now Vince Staples has shared his thoughts on one aspect of the discussion: When it comes to the “biggest” rapper, he thinks Snoop Dogg occupies that throne.

Speaking with Ebro Darden for a Black History Month episode of Apple Music 1’s The Message, Staples said of Snoop, “Snoop Dogg has always been the biggest rapper as far as brand, and namesake, to me at least. You can argue, people are equal, but you can’t argue nobody’s bigger than Snoop Dogg… He got the Martha Stewart show cracking right now, and nobody’s saying, ‘Who is that,’ when they watching the show, you know what I mean?”

He also explained why this year’s hip-hop-focused Super Bowl Halftime Show didn’t feel like a big deal to him, because it’s something that was supposed to happen:

“To me, [the halftime show]’s not even something to be super-duper excited about. It’s like, finally, because you can’t lie about it no more. It’s been so many times that they’ve pretended that this wasn’t a phenomenon, you know what I’m saying? They were playing songs from decades ago. That just goes to show you how long it’s been a thing, how long it’s been the pinnacle, but it’s good that they finally stop being stubborn and start coming around because it’s unavoidable at this point. […]

It’s just good to have that moment and just see how it comes full circle from Eminem taking his knee stance, to bringing it full circle with the Kaepernick situation, and the work that Jay-Z’s done in the messaging, and the lyrics, and all that… My pops used to always tell me… You come home like, ‘Oh, yeah. I got good grades.’ He’s like, ‘What you expect? You happy? You supposed to do that.’ I’m not giving people pats on the back for doing what they supposed to do. That’s just not how I’m built. I’m not proud of them, I’m not happy that they did it: they should have did it, you know what I’m saying? What else you going to do? What you going to put on there that’s more popping in LA for the LA Super Bowl? What’s your options? They had no other options except for the biggest hip-hop producer in the history of hip-hop arguably, the biggest rapper in hip-hop history arguably, and the biggest rapper out right now arguably. What other choice did you have? They didn’t do us no favor. They did what they was supposed to do.”

Watch the interview here.

One Great Song From Great Hip-Hop Albums in Recent Memory

Tracks from Tyler, The Creator, Slowthai, Baby Tate, Rod Wave, Conway The Machine, J. Cole and more. Continue reading…

Best New Music This Week: Kid Cudi, NIGO, Yeat, Jack Harlow, and More

Image via Complex Original

  • NIGO & Kid Cudi, “Want It Bad” 


  • Jack Harlow, “Nail Tech”


  • Yeat f/ Young Thug, “Outside”


  • Vince Staples & Mustard, “Magic”


  • Gunna, “Banking on Me”


  • Big K.R.I.T., “Southside of the Moon” 


  • Baby Tate, “S.H.O (Sl*t Him Out)”

Vince Staples Stays True And Turns Up On The Mustard-Produced ‘Magic’

After debuting his new song “Magic” in Naomi Osaka’s new Beats By Dre ad, Vince Staples gives the Mustard-produced song an official release. “Magic” features a Mustard-standard, post-hyphy beat that gives Vince plenty of real estate to sprawl out and once again explain his Long Beach-bred point of view. Toward the end, the beat breaks down, with live horns backing a spoken-word outro by Mustard himself, who details how making it out is an example of “magic” and praises fellow Beacher Vince despite coming from “the other side” of the city.

“Magic” is largely considered to be the first single from Vince’s upcoming album Ramona Park Broke My Heart, which he subtly hinted he’d finished after connecting with another veteran West Coast producer, DJ Quik. Ramona Park Broke My Heart will be Vince’s second album in as many years after dropping his critically-acclaimed self-titled project last year. He may also have even more projects in the works after revealing that he’d recorded 30 verses over different beats with Alchemist for a project that may end up also featuring Earl Sweatshirt. Alchemist later suggested that the duo had completed a whole EP, but for now, it seems Vince is focused on rolling out the long-awaited solo album dedicated to the neighborhood where he grew up. With Mustard and Quik involved, it looks like Vince is departing from his usual chaotic soundscapes, suggesting his most mainstream-friendly project to date.

Listen to Vince Staples’s “Magic” above.

Who Are Tyler The Creator’s Tour Openers?

Two years after he released his fifth album Igor, which eventually gave him a Grammy award for Best Rap Album, Tyler The Creator returned with his sixth album Call Me If You Get Lost. The project stands as a 16-track effort with contributions from Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Uzi Vert, Pharrell, Brent Faiyaz, Lil Wayne, and more. Months after releasing that project, Tyler The Creator received another Grammy nomination for the album, one that found him in the Best Rap Album category for the 2022 Grammy show. Later on, Tyler The Creator announced the full dates for a tour in support of Call Me If You Get Lost and it features a strong lineup of opening acts.

Who Are Tyler The Creator’s Tour Openers?

The opening acts for Tyler’s 2022 tour in support of Call Me If You Get Lost are Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, and Teezo Touchdown. Kali and Vince both released projects within the last couple of years. The former shared her sophomore album, Sin Miedo (Del Amor Y Otros Demonios), in 2020 while Vince dropped his self-titled third album last year. Teezo Touchdown, on the other hand, has yet to release a project. In addition to his eccentric and extremely unique appearance, the Texas native has steadily released singles over the past two years that have helped to boost his stock. Altogether, these opening acts are sure to provide a good show with Tyler for his upcoming tour.

You can see the full dates for Tyler’s upcoming tour below and purchase tickets for a show near you here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Vince Staples And Mustard Debut A New Song In Naomi Osaka’s Latest Beats By Dre Commercial

Vince Staples’ musical output is an ever-evolving thing. When he started out, his music was abrasive and almost contrarian, intentionally flying against the prevailing wind of hip-hop’s mainstream sound. However, over time, he’s mellowed out, at times flirting with a more accessible sound, most noticeably on the hyperactive FM! and the depressive sound of his 2020 self-titled album. In recent months, signs have pointed to that flirtation becoming a full-blown love affair on his long-awaited album, Ramona Park Broke My Heart, which could be the moment he goes from critical darling to fan-favorite superstar.

First, he tapped DJ Quik earlier this year to help finish the project, and now, it’s clear he’s been working with another West Coast hitmaker in Mustard. A song Vince created with the latter has appeared in the unlikeliest of places: a new Beats By Dre ad featuring tennis superstar Naomi Osaka. In the ad, Osaka is shown putting in a brand-new pair of Beats headphones on the tennis court and laying on the net like a hammock while the new song, “Magic,” plays. Judging from the party-ready vibe of the single, it sounds like Staples is actually making a play for radio and playlist love for a change and he sounds every bit as cozy on the Mustard-standard beat as Osaka looks in her makeshift hammock. Staples’ Instagram post promises more on the way, and we can’t wait.

Raveena Wants Vince Staples To Keep A ‘Secret’ On Her Sultry New Single

Raveena has been having a productive last few months as an artist. Back in 2021, she released the surreal “Tweety” video, and since then, she’s signed to Warner Records and given fans a taste of her own culture with the Bollywood-inspired single “Rush.” That range is part of what earned Raveena a spot on María Zardoya of The Marías’ favorite rising pop stars playlist. Now, she’s preparing a new full-length project called Asha’s Awakening that will be out in just a few days on February 11.

To give fans a preview of that album, tonight she shared “Secret,” which features a cameo from Long Beach rapper Vince Staples. Raveena even gets a little sci-fi with her description of the song: “To me, “Secret” is a song about love that traverses through different dimensions,” she said in a press release. “People on earth are starting to have sensual dreams ignited in them by a space princess — someone they feel like their body knows, but whom they also do not know and cannot reach in this dimension. What if your lover was enticing you from space and you couldn’t reach them in this realm? What if a spirit from an outer dimension ignited your sacral chakra? This is what “Secret” explores.”

Check out all that sacral chakra goodness above, and the full tracklist for Asha’s Awakening below.

1. “Rush”
2. “Secret” (Feat. Vince Staples)
3. “Magic”
4. “Kismet”
5. “Kathy Left 4 Kathmandu”
6. “Mystery”
7. “Circuit Board”
8. “The Internet Is Like Eating Plastic”
9. “Arrival To The Garden Of Cosmic Speculation”
10. “Asha’s Kiss” (feat. Asha Puthli)
11. “Time Flies”
12. “Love Overgrown”
13. “Endless Summer”
14. “New Drugs” (feat. TWEAKS)
15. “Let Your Breath Become A Flower” (Guided Meditation)