Vince Staples, arguably one of the most innovative rappers of his generation, recently announced on Instagram that he will be releasing his final full-length album via Def Jam. The rapper, who is also known for his quirky sense of humor and his signature deadpan aesthetic, has revealed the album’s title, “Dark Times,” along with the tracklist below for your perusal. The album will be released on May 24th, pre-save here!
The album artwork has a minimalist, low-contrast, gritty aesthetic that nicely complements the album’s title and demonstrates Vince’s approach to letting the music speak for itself. The rapper also quickly released a promotional single titled “Shame on the Devil,” which is already streaming and comes with a rather short visual trailer:
Speaking about the single, Staples considered the song a “personal achievement,” before briefly reflecting on the nature of the music. “It’s me mastering something that I’ve tried before that I wasn’t good at in the beginning. It’s a testament to the growth of the music, the song structure – all of that is good stuff. Vince didn’t lie, because this guy The artist really brings his style to life in a more subtle way than ever before. Thematically, the song is also a somber exploration of losing friends, making peace with isolation and isolation, and finding some light in these dark times. .
Featuring what appears to be a lot of live instrumentation, filled with sparkling guitar riffs and nicely saturated bass guitar, this laid-back new single is a treat for pop and hip-hop lovers alike. Vince Staples takes to the mic, using his unmistakable drawl and drawling syllables to deliver fresh music with a hint of nostalgia. Switching between bass tones and falsetto embellishments, covering the full range of Vince’s artistry and spectrum with heart, the song is a well-polished whole that doesn’t fall into a monotonous musical nap.
Prior to announcing the album, Vince also shared his thoughts on the Big Three feud on the Joe Budden Podcast, and surprisingly, he didn’t hype it up. Instead, Vince talks about the industry’s willful neglect of core issues surrounding hip-hop publishing with the emergence of sample archiving platforms that can more easily exclude collaborators, session musicians, and smaller writers from payment splits outside. It’s unclear whether this hints at a more independent, live-instrument-based approach for Vince’s new album. However, you can speculate for yourself from the interview excerpts here:
