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Jun 30, 2015 Vince Staples By Ryan E.C. Hamm

It’s hard to believe Vince Staples is only 22. His interviews sound like they’re coming from a tired, middle-aged man who’s seen it all. And that’s how his lyrics are too—he touches on the usual tropes of gangster rap (drugs, money, violence, women), but it’s with a weariness of someone who grew up in the middle of it (he was raised in Long Beach, Calif.). This is mourning rap—music from a twenty-something who’s lived too long with the reality that he and his friends could die, and with no real hope to escape. The music on Summertime ‘06, Staples’ debut, is uniformly great, with spare, booming beats allowing Staples’ sneakily technical rhymes to dart in and out of the rhythm. It’s a vital entry from a burgeoning new star. (www.vincestaples.com)

Author rating: 8.5/10