Vince Staples

For his eponymous album, see Vince Staples (album).

Vince Staples
Staples at the 2021 San Diego Comic-Con
Staples at the 2021 San Diego Comic-Con
Background information
Birth nameVincent Jamal Staples[1]
Born (1993-07-02) July 2, 1993 (age 31)
Compton, California, U.S.
OriginLong Beach, California, U.S.
GenresWest Coast hip hop
Occupation
  • Rapper
DiscographyVince Staples discography
Years active2008–present
Labels
Member of
Websitevincestaples.com

Vincent Jamal Staples (born July 2, 1993) is an American rapper. He first became known for his association with alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, namely Mike G and Earl Sweatshirt. He signed with Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Records prior to releasing his collaborative mixtape with Mac Miller, Stolen Youth (2013). The following year, he signed with No I.D.'s ARTium Recordings, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings to release his debut extended play, Hell Can Wait (2014)—which marked his first project to chart on the Billboard 200.

His rise to prominence was supported by his appearances on projects by Odd Future members: Earl, Journey to the 5th Echelon (2010), and Doris (2013). Hell Can Wait was met with critical acclaim and included the singles "Hands Up" and "Blue Suede". His debut album, Summertime '06 (2015) was met with similar reception and spawned the platinum-certified single "Norf Norf". He was part of the XXL 2015 Freshman Class.[3] His follow up albums, Big Fish Theory (2017), FM! (2019), his self-titled fourth studio album (2021), and Ramona Park Broke My Heart (2022) each further diversified his artistry, being met with continued critical acclaim and moderate commercial response. In 2024, Staples released his album Dark Times (2024), which was his final album with Def Jam Recordings.[4] Staples' music is often described as West Coast hip hop, often containing conscious subject matter while production experiments with avant-garde, dance and electronic influences.[5]

Outside of his solo career, he is a member of the California-based hip hop trio Cutthroat Boyz with Aston Matthews and Joey Fatts. Staples has acted in the films Dope and White Men Can't Jump, and the television series Abbott Elementary. As a voice actor, he performed in the 2015 film Mutafukaz, as well as the animated series American Dad! and Lazor Wulf. In 2015, he became a spokesperson and brand ambassador for Sprite.[6][7]

  1. ^ Weiss, Jeff. "Vince Staples, Regular Genius". The FADER. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  2. ^ "Vince Staples Signs to Motown Records/Blacksmith Recordings". Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  3. ^ "2015 XXL Freshman Class Revealed". BallerStatus.com. June 3, 2015. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Espinoza, Joshua. "Vince Staples Shares His Final Def Jam Album 'Dark Times'". Complex. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "Vince Staples Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Breihan, Tom (June 19, 2017). "Vince Staples Got His Own Sprite Can". Stereogum. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Sprite® Drops Its First-Ever Music Video for Vince Staples' New Single "Rain Come Down"". The Coca-Cola Company. June 23, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2024.