Heaven Needs Vince Staples
What it is everyone? Did you miss me? Because I sure didn’t miss you all ;)
But in all seriousness, I haven’t written a pathetic review in awhile, so I’m here to disappoint you all again!
Enough about me, let’s talk about why we’re really here: Vince Staples.
Don’t recognize him? No worries, many don’t. If any of you enjoyed “Hive” from Earl Sweatshirt, then surprise, VINCE STAPLES is in that song too!
Evidence: Skip to 2:54
Crazy fact-pinion: I think his verse on this track blows Earl Sweatshirt’s out of the water, plus the beat was created for Vince’s bar “Tools hit like pool sticks, the way I cue sh**”. The beat and those words correlate to the production since the beat sounds like someone playing pool.
Vince Staples is not like any hip-hop artist; he’s actually from Compton. Being from Compton is a blessing and a curse when you’re a rapper.
Blessing: You have “stuff” to talk about
Curse: You have “stuff” to talk about
But when it comes to Vince Staples, his whole mentality on hitting it big is something else. I remember reading an interview that I think Complex did with him, and he was saying that he doesn’t make music for the hell of it, rather if he has things to talk about, then he’ll make music and it makes sense because his songs usually have some strong themes such as racism and death.
What’s interesting to note is that Vince Staples has been active in the game for awhile now, I remember seeing him on some Odd Future stuff, and then I would occasionally see him featuring on other artist’s stuff such as Earl Sweatshirt (which is probably the best person for him to collaborate with since their styles and flows compliment each other so well. Disagree with me? Did you not listen to “Hive”?!?!), A$ton Matthews, Joey Fatts and another OF member, Domo Genesis.
Now, let’s get back to the album:
Here’s the tracklist to Hell Can Wait :
- Fire (Prod. Anthony Kilhoffer)
- 65 Hunnid (Prod. Infamous)
- Screen Door (Prod. Hagler)
- Hands Up (Prod. No I.D.)
- Blue Suede (Prod. Hagler)
- Limos ft. Teyana Taylor (Prod. Hagler)
- Feelin’ the Love (Prod. Hagler)
Hear thee! Hear thee! Shall I start thee review of Vincent Stapler?
1. Fire
Just the title of the track alone says it all. Vince raps about how he’s basically destined for hell since he’s performed too much wrong in this world, from dropping out of school to gangbanging.
Would your grandma tell you to turn this off if you played it?: Mine said something in spanish and had a smile on her face, so yeah, Mexican grandmas dig this! (Caution: your grandma might not be Mexican like mine)
2. 65 Hunnid
This next track isn’t my favorite (the production on this track wasn’t as ear-grabbing as the others on the project), but nonetheless, it’s filled with above-average wordplay and Vince definitely keeps the transition running smoothly from the first track.
favorite-line: “And ain’t s*** wrong with the truth, got the Juice/
Would’ve threw that n**** Bishop off the roof”
Fun fact: Vince is referencing Tupac (R.I.P.) from the movie Juice
3. Screen Door
Now here’s a track that’s enjoyable for all you since the production is on point and the hook is pretty catchy.
“Who’s that peekin’ in my screen door?/
I got what you need, what you fiend for?”
In this song, Vince reminiscences about the past in where his father was drug-dealing and throughout the track, it seems like his father wasn’t thinking straight back then since he was a convicted felon and was “getting high off his own supply”. Correct me if I’m wrong, but according to all those TV shows and movies, that’s the number one rule not to break.
4. Hands Up
Now here’s the fan favorite. This has to be the best record on the project HANDS DOWN. If that beat can’t get your head bobbin’, something might actually be wrong with you. I mean, No I.D. produced this, and isn’t it ridiculously good?
Other than that, it seems like this track is a response to all authority figures that abuse their power.
What’s interesting is what Vince does with the hook:
Yeah, put your hands in the air/
Put your hands in the air/
Put your hands in the air/
N*** freeze, put your hands in the air*
So essentially, he’s telling the audience to put their hands in the air, but in the last line, he’s telling the audience to surrender to the police.
In the light of the whole Ferguson, this track summarizes the abusive power the police has shown.
5. Blue Suede
I don’t know about you guys, but Vince Staples clearly goes hard in the paint on this track, not to mention, the ringing infectious production goes well with Staples’ style.
Yet again, Vince gives praise to his gang, the Long Beach Crips, and he does it so well with this track. Heck, it’s even pretty catchy!
There’s even a video for it:
6. Limos ft. Teyana Taylor
Here we take a detour, and Vince gives us something that is slowed down and has Teyana Taylor’s beautiful voice featuring. In Limos, Vince talks about a certain group of women who crave the lavish lifestyle and how they’re mistreated.
Fun Fact: The hook on this track is the same hook from a Mary J. Blige song:
7. Feelin’ the Love
To end this short, but above-average project, Vince spits over a smooth beat about his hardships and how he managed to get through all of them.
Is this project worth checking out? Is that even a question??? This project is definitely worth your undivided attention since Vince Staples falls in the realm of modern gangster rap, and in this day and age, we don’t have many of those artists.
Would that weird kid in your English class dig it? That’s a good question, but I don’t know, he’s weird.
Comparison? To be honest, I have no clue, but let this be known: He would be a huge star in the era of early 50 Cent and Nelly.
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