Vince Staples

Rapper Vince Staples was born on 12 July 1993 in Compton, California but raised in nearby Long Beach. Known for his socially conscious lyrics, he grew up in a low-income neighbourhood and was associated with gang-related activities during his childhood. During his teenage years, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to stay with one of his sisters. Inspired by the likes of DJ Quik, Pimp C, and Outkast’s Andre 3000, he immersed himself in hip-hop and began rapping. Following a trip back to Los Angeles, California, Vince Staples befriended the Odd Future collective and made his first appearance on Earl Sweatshirt’s 2010 mixtape, Earl. Vince Staples’ debut mixtape, Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1, arrived a year later, followed by a collaborative mixtape with Michael Uzowuru titled Winter in Prague (2012). Around that time, Vince Staples joined the hip-hop group Cutthroat Boyz alongside Aston Matthews and Joey Fatts. In 2013, he collaborated with Mac Miller on the mixtape Stolen Youth and made a cameo on Earl Sweatshirt’s debut album Doris. A fourth mixtape, Shyne Coldchain II, was released in 2014. After signing with Def Jam recordings, Vince Staples released his official studio debut, Summertime '06, in 2015. The album peaked at Number 39 on the Billboard 200 and established Staples as one of the fastest-rising stars in the rap world. He followed this success with the James Blake-produced EP Prima Donna (2016) and the full-length Big Fish Theory (2017), which was a star-studded affair that included guest spots from Bon Iver, Kilo Kish, Juicy J, Damon Albarn, Kendrick Lamar, Sophie, Flume, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, and Ty Dolla $ign. Subsequently, Vince Staples continued to challenge his audience through a handful of eclectic releases such as 2018’s FM! and his 2021 eponymous album. In April 2022, he released the critically acclaimed album Ramona Park Broke My Heart, which featured guest appearances by Mustard, Lil Baby, and Ty Dolla Sign. The album’s release was preceded by the singles “Magic” and “Rose Street.” He released his sixth studio album, Dark Times, in May 2024 via Blacksmith Records and Def Jam Recordings, making his return to the latter label after ten years apart. The LP, which featured a long list of personnel and guest vocalists including Santigold and Kilo Kish, was praised by critics and reached number 69 on the US Billboard 200.