by Amanda Sanchez
Vincent Jamal Staples, better known as Long Beach rapper Vince Staples, is a member of the hip-hop trio Cutthroat Boyz who rose to fame with appearance on albums from Odd Future and his collaborative mixtape Stolen Youth with Mac Miller. In 2014, Staples released his debut EP Hell Can Wait, following it up with his debut album Summertime ’06. Aside from being a critically acclaimed rapper, Staples also assisted in a YMCA program that benefits young people in the Long Beach area while starring in the 2015 movie Dope. Critics have found it hard to wrap their arms around the enigmatic Staples, whose genre choices fall well outside the mainstream of what people have traditionally come to expect when it comes to hip hop. Never shy about voicing his love for uncool cultural detritus like Pokemon or the movie Beethoven, Staples bursts forth with true storytelling skills and unmistakable grit designed to fuck with your comfort zone.
