Vince Staples

The Best Albums of 2022 (So Far)

by
  • Image via Publicist

    Jack Harlow, ‘Come Home the Kids Miss You’

  • Image via Defcee & Boathouse

    Defcee & Boathouse, ‘For All Debts Public and Private’

  • Image via Publicist

    Leikeli47, ‘Shape Up’

  • Image via Publicist

    Curren$y & The Alchemist, ‘Continuance’

  • Image via Publicist

    Dreamville, ‘D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape’

  • Image via Publicist

    YoungBoy Never Broke Again, ‘Colors’

  • Image via Publicist

    Toro Y Moi, ‘MAHAL’

  • Image via Publicist

    NIGO, ‘I Know NIGO!’

  • Image via Publicist

    Babyface Ray, ‘Face’

  • Image via Publicist

    Fly Anakin, ‘Frank’

  • Image via Publicist

    Ella Mai, ‘Heart on My Sleeve’

  • Image via Warner Records

    IDK, ‘Simple.’

  • Image via DTLA Records

    WiFiGawd, ‘Chain of Command’

  • Image via Atlantic Records

    Ravyn Lenae, ‘HYPNOS’

  • Image via Publicist

    Lucky Daye, ‘Candydrip’

  • Image via Publicist

    Black Star, ‘No Fear of Time’

  • Image via Publicist

    Syd, ‘Broken Hearts Club’

  • Image via AWAL/ Warner Records

    Omar Apollo, ‘Ivory’

  • Image via Tidal

    Rex Orange County, ‘Who Cares’

  • Image via Publicist

    Bad Bunny, ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’

  • Image via Publicist

    Latto, ‘777’

  • Image via Tidal

    42 Dugg & EST Gee, ‘Last Ones Left’

  • Image via Freebandz/Epic Records

    Future, ‘I Never Liked You’

  • Image via Tidal

    Buddy, ‘Superghetto’

  • Image via Publicist

    Lil Durk, ‘7220’

  • Image via Publicist

    Yeat, ‘2 Alivë’

  • Image via Publicist

    Saba, ‘Few Good Things’

  • Image via Columbia/Erskine Records

    Harry Styles, ‘Harry’s House’

  • Image via Publicist

    FKA Twigs, ‘Caprisongs’

  • Image via RRR Music Group

    YL & Zoomo, ‘In Memory Of’

  • Image via Publicist

    EarthGang, ‘Ghetto Gods’

  • Image via Publicist

    Mike Dimes, ‘In Dimes We Trust’

  • Image via Publicist

    $NOT, ‘Ethereal’

  • Image via Hvmor Records

    Redveil, ‘Learn 2 Swim’

  • Image via GDF Records/The Freeminded Records/EMPIRE

    Jay Worthy & Larry June, ‘2 P’z in a Pod’

  • Image via Publicist

    Benny the Butcher, ‘Tana Talk 4’

  • Image via Publicist

    Action Bronson, ‘Cocodrillo Turbo’

  • Image via Publicist

    Koffee, ‘Gifted’

  • Image via T.C.F Music Group

    Che Noir, ‘Food For Thought’

  • Image via Tidal

    Blxst, ‘Before You Go’

  • Image via Backwoodz Studioz

    billy woods, ‘Aethiopes’

  • Image via Publicist

    Conway the Machine, ‘God Don’t Make Mistakes’

  • Image via Publicist

    Denzel Curry, ‘Melt My Eyez See Your Future’

  • Image via Publicist

    Rosalía, ‘Motomami’

  • Image via Tidal

    Earl Sweatshirt, ‘Sick!’

  • Image via Instagram

    Gunna, ‘DS4EVER’

  • Image via The Weeknd XO, Inc./Republic Records

    The Weeknd, ‘Dawn FM’

  • Image via Blacksmith Recordings/Motown Records

    Vince Staples, ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’

  • Image via Sterling Ruby

    Pusha-T, ‘It’s Almost Dry’

  • Image via pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope

    Kendrick Lamar, ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’

Lil Baby Appeared On Vince Staples’ ‘East Point Prayer’ For Free Despite His Previous Feature Demands

by
lil baby east point
Getty Image

Lil Baby boasted that he isn’t doing features for less than six figures, but it looks like he’ll make some exceptions. Despite tweeting in 2020 “it’s safe to say I want $100k for a feature,” he recently gave the homie discount to one rapper who came looking for a verse. According to Vince Staples, who popped up on LA radio host Big Boy’s show to discuss his new album, Lil Baby gave him a big break on his feature fee to appear on “East Point Prayer.”

“He did it for free,” he said. “And I don’t believe in asking nobody to do nothing for free. I believe in whatever you charge – you gotta feed your family, and he did it for free. And you already know, he can charge whatever he wants. It’s funny because I met him at a Motown thing. We was cool and we ain’t really talk like that. And I was like, ‘Lil Baby would sound good on this.’ And I was tryna get it so where we could talk about it. He said, ‘We don’t even have to talk, I’ma do it.’ He just went and did it … he looked out.”

Both artists are signed to Motown — Vince through Blacksmith Records and his manager Corey Smyth, and Lil Baby through Quality Control Music. Still, that Lil Baby would waive his exorbitant feature price for Vince shows a lot of respect between the two rappers — and the potential for future, possibly more lucrative collaborations.

Vince Staples Postpones His Limbo Beach Carnival Due To Overwhelming Demand

by
vince-staples.jpg
Getty Image

Earlier this week, Vince Staples announced the Limbo Beach Carnival in Long Beach to celebrate the release of his Z2 comic book, also called Limbo Beach. However, today, just one day from the event’s scheduled date, Vince informed fans via social media that the carnival and book signing has been postponed. According to the hometown hero, the response to his initial announcement was so overwhelming that the city asked him to find a different venue.

For what it’s worth… yeah, I can see that. El Dorado Park is absolutely gorgeous but crowd control could have been an utter nightmare. No one wants another artist-backed event to end in tragedy. Vince advised that, while he and his team work to make a “bigger and better” event to accommodate a larger space, anyone who purchased a book through the event’s Eventbrite page will be refunded immediately. Good thing I pre-ordered mine almost a year ago.

Limbo Beach is written by Vince along with industry vets Bryan Edward Hill (who’s worked on DC’s Batman & The Outsiders and Titans and editor Chris Robinson (Marvel’s Children Of The Atom). It’s illustrated by Buster Moody, who’s best known for Godzilla In Hell (come on, that just sounds rad) and IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the one based on the most recent Nickelodeon series). Vince is also fresh off the release of his new album, Ramona Park Broke My Heart.

Vince Staples Will Celebrate The Release Of His ‘Limbo Beach’ Comic Book With A Carnival In His Hometown

by
vince-staples.jpeg
Getty Image

Good news, comic book (and Vince Staples) fans: This month, after four months of delays, Vince’s Z2 comic book, Limbo Beach, finally arrives. The book, which was announced in June 2021, will finally be arriving in “mid-May,” according to an update sent by Z2 Comics last month, and to celebrate, Vince has announced the Limbo Beach Carnival in his hometown, Long Beach, taking place on Thursday, May 12 at El Dorado Park. Vince’s dedication to The Beach is well-known thanks to his musical shout-outs and a wealth of local events, such as the Limbo Beach Carnival, and his appearance at the Activate Uptown block party in 2016.

Staples is fresh off the release of his newest album, Ramona Park Broke My Heart, named for the neighborhood in which he grew up in Long Beach. The project was his most commercially-appealing effort yet, led by the Mustard-produced single “Magic” and featuring introspective but enticing cuts such as “Rose Street” and “When Sparks Fly.” He recently performed the album in its entirety as part of a livestreaming special, Ramona Park Broke My Heart: The Musical on Moment House.

And as far as Limbo Beach goes, you can find out more on Z2 Comics’ website. It’s written by Vince Staples, Bryan Edward Hill, and Chris Robinson, illustrated by Buster Moody, and available in standard softcover and hardcover, deluxe, and super deluxe editions with plenty of goodies for hardcore fans.

Vince Staples’ Dream-Like ‘When Sparks Fly’ Video Depicts A Dangerous Love Affair

by

Only a few days ago, Vince Staples announced the premiere of a new visual project, Ramona Park Broke My Heart: The Musical, streaming performances from his new album live this week via Moment House. Now that the streams have passed, Vince is sharing snippets for fans in the form of music videos capturing his live performances. The first is “When Sparks Fly,” the standout from Ramona Park Broke My Heart that recounts a doomed love affair between a boy and his gun.

The video sees Vince sprawled on a bus stop bench in front of a flower shop, laying his head in the lap of a woman. Both remain motionless for the duration of the video, while the camera captures them from multiple angles and Vince raps the tragic romance of “When Sparks Fly,” which is told from the perspective of the gun. It’s the perfect antidote to the problem he noted earlier this year. “I think they see the money in the violence,” he said of record labels, decrying the glamorization of violence during an interview with Peter Rosenberg. “When Sparks Fly” depicts the consequences of a life lived on the edge and points out the cyclical nature of that violence, making it sound exactly as devastating as it really is.

During the live show, Vince also performed his entire new album, including “Magic!” and “Rose Street,” as well as tracks from across his catalog.

Watch Vince Staples’ “When Sparks Fly” video from Ramona Park Broke My Heart: The Musical above.

Vince Staples Will Perform ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart The Musical’ Live Through Moment House

by
Vince Staples 2022
Getty Image

Earlier this month, the live streaming platform, Moment House, announced that they would be hosting a performance from Vince Staples. The Compton rapper will be performing songs from his latest album, Ramona Park Broke My Heart, which featured singles like “Magic” and came out in early April.

The streams will be tomorrow and Monday, and according to a post from Moment House, Vince will not only be performing songs from his new album for the first time, but also including cuts from his entire catalogue. “On 5/1 & 5/2, join us with @vincestaples for the premiere of Ramona Heart Broke My Heart THE MUSICAL, an immersive Moment featuring Staples as he performs his new album along with music spanning his entire catalog,” reads the caption of the Instagram post previewing the event. “Tickets available now, link in bio.” Check out a preview of the set above.

It looks like the partnership will also include exclusive merch from this era:

Please note for those who might not be familiar — Moment House offers digital experiences, this is not a show that fans can physically attend, but would watch at home on their own devices. Tickets are available here, the show is scheduled to start at either 4 PM or 7 PM PST, based on time zones.