VInce Staples - Summer Time ‘06Any fan of Vince Staples’ mixtapes, EPs and features will know he is herculean on a beat. His lyrics have told of his background in crime. He’s young – no older than me – but he’s seen an enormous amount of things someone his age, or any age for that matter, should never have to see. And yet it is tough to get enough of his no holds bar, perhaps nasally, delivery of the modern day gangster narrative.
His mixtapes and brilliant EP, Hell Can Wait, set the tone of the kind of work we can expect from California native: well-produced, no-frills songs which rely on street braggadocio and the story of a black boy who has had to do whatever to survive.
At times it does not quite seem like he’ll be hanging up his 9mm anytime soon. This evident in his debut album Summertime ’06.
The production on Vince Staples work always feels like it would make your grandmother blush. With producers like No I.D and Clams Casino handling some of the sounds on the album, it was bound to be well crafted. Compared to his previous week there is a far greater reliance on styles of production which usually result in club bangers. The No I.D produced “Lemme Know” has this generic sound and reminds me of an up-tempo version of Schoolboy Q’s “Studio”.
His rapping ability is what sets Vince apart from other rappers. The beats he chooses accentuate his lyrical content and delivery. He seldom takes a breath when he raps, preferring a continuous flow. Unlike his frequent collaborator, Earl Sweatshirt, his rhyme schemes do not include a considerable amount of words in quick succession. He does not bombard you with big words or complex rhyme schemes but words which tell the story as simple as it can be told while maintaining an entertaining element.
The album blends social commentary, parading the thug lifestyle and themes which reflect his youthfulness. Amongst the talk of dead bodies, selling drugs and dysfunctional family members we are reminded that this street-hardened rapper is only 22. It is easy to forget that when a high-pitched voice is telling you he has never ran from anyone other than the police.
“Lift Me Up”, “Norf Norf”, “Jump off the Roof” and “3230” definitely sound like the Vince many have come to know and love. A strong instrumental, with him bicep-curling it and then lobbing it through the net of top-tier rap songs. “Summertime” and “Might Be Wrong” are further highlights on what can be considered a good debut by a rapper who certainly has much to offer.
Throughout the album you may stumble on songs in which the influence of his peers rears its head: “Summertime” reminds me of a song that Mac Miller may have recorded and his rap/singing efforts are very much in the mould of a Mac Miller.
Vince Staples has been on a steady rise and perhaps he will finally get the recognition he deserves.
A great debut project which I would give an 8/10.
-Kets Mamabolo