Vince Staples | |
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 Staples at the 2021San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Vincent Jamal Staples[1] (1993-07-02)July 2, 1993 (age 32) Compton, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Genres | West Coast hip-hop |
| Occupations |
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| Works | Vince Staples discography |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | |
| Website | vincestaples |
| Signature | |
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Vincent Jamal Staples (born July 2, 1993) is an American rapper and actor. Born inCompton, California and raised inLong Beach, California,[3][4] he first became known for his appearances on projects byOdd Future members—Earl byEarl Sweatshirt,Journey to the 5th Echelon byThe Jet Age of Tomorrow (both 2010), andDoris by the former (2013). He signed withTalib Kweli'sBlacksmith Records prior to releasing his collaborative mixtape withMac Miller,Stolen Youth (2013). The following year, he signed withNo I.D.'sARTium Recordings, an imprint ofDef Jam Recordings to release his debut extended play,Hell Can Wait (2014)—which marked his first entry on theBillboard 200 and received critical acclaim.
His debut studio album,Summertime '06 (2015), was met with continued critical praise and spawned the single "Norf Norf", which receivedplatinum certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He was selected as part of theXXL 2015 Freshman Class.[5] His next albums,Big Fish Theory (2017),FM! (2018), hisself-titled fourth studio album (2021), andRamona Park Broke My Heart (2022), each diversified his artistry, being met with continued critical acclaim and moderate commercial response. His sixth album,Dark Times (2024), marked his final release with Def Jam.[6] Staples' music is described asWest Coast hip hop, often containingconscious subject matter while production experiments withavant-garde,dance andelectronic influences.[7]
Outside of his solo career, he is a member of the California-based hip hop trioCutthroat Boyz withAston Matthews andJoey Fatts. Staples has acted in the filmsDope andWhite Men Can't Jump, and the television seriesAbbott Elementary. As a voice actor, he performed in the 2015 filmMutafukaz, as well as the animated seriesAmerican Dad! andLazor Wulf. In 2015, he became a spokesperson andbrand ambassador forSprite.[8][9] In 2024, he delved into comedy on theNetflix showThe Vince Staples Show.
Vincent Jamal Staples was born on July 2, 1993, inCompton, California, and grew up inNorth Long Beach, after his mother decided she wanted to move away from Compton due to the high crime rates.[10] He has two older brothers and three older sisters, making him the youngest of six siblings.
Staples attended Optimal Christian Academy from 4th to 8th grade, which he said was an influential and positive experience.[11] He has been upfront regarding his involvement withstreet gangs while growing up.[12][13] He was a member of theCrips as a teenager, due to his fixation on violence and his mom sent him Atlanta to “cool off” after he “got into trouble.”[14] He attendedWestlake High School in Fulton County for six months while living with one of his sisters.[12] After returning to Southern California, Staples attended other high schools:Jordan High School inLong Beach,Mayfair High School inLakewood, Opportunity High School home schooling,Esperanza High School in Anaheim, andKennedy High School, among others.[11]
Staples participated in sports when given the opportunity. Most notably, he played inSnoop Dogg's Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL). Staples recalled playing against the Carson Colts and Mission Viejo Cowboys who he claimed had "grown-ass men on the field." Staples stated, "Snoop really did it big, we got our names on our jerseys, we had the best cleats, the best helmets, you know Snoop Dogg really loved football."[15]
Staples was discovered by Dijon "LaVish" Samo and Chuck Wun, alongside his cousin Campbell Emerson. LaVish took Staples on a trip to Los Angeles, where he befriended theOdd Future collective's membersSyd tha Kyd,Mike G, andEarl Sweatshirt. Although he had not intended to become a rapper, he made someguest appearances on their songs, most notably "epaR" from Earl Sweatshirt's March 2010 mixtapeEarl. After featuring on some other tracks, he decided to pursue a career in hip hop. He released his debut mixtape,Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1, on December 30, 2011, via applebird.com.[16] In October 2012, he released a collaborative mixtape withMichael Uzowuru,Winter in Prague. It was produced by Uzowuru.[17]
In 2012, Earl Sweatshirt returned from Samoa and reconnected with Vince. Earl introduced him to fellow American rapperMac Miller. In June 2013, Miller (under the alias Larry Fisherman) and Staples released a mixtape titledStolen Youth. The mixtape features guest appearances from Miller,Ab-Soul,Schoolboy Q, Da$H, Hardo, and Staples's Cutthroat Boyz co-member Joey Fatts.[18] FollowingStolen Youth's release, he toured as a supporting act on Miller'sThe Space Migration Tour. After making three appearances on Earl's debut studio albumDoris, including the single "Hive", theliner notes revealed Staples had recently signed to thehip hop record labelDef Jam Recordings.[17]
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On March 13, 2014, he released his fourth mixtape, calledShyne Coldchain Vol. 2.[19] The mixtape features the production from Earl Sweatshirt, Michael Uzowuru,Childish Major,No ID,Evidence,[11]DJ Babu, andScoop DeVille; as well as guest appearances from singer-songwritersJhené Aiko andJames Fauntleroy.[20] On March 2, 2014, Staples began touring in the United States with a fellow American rappersSchoolboy Q andIsaiah Rashad on the Oxymoron World Tour, to support the release of Schoolboy Q's albumOxymoron.[21]
On August 15, 2014, Staples released amusic video for "Blue Suede".[22] The track was made available oniTunes.[23][24] On September 9, 2014, Vince released another new song titled "Hands Up" via iTunes. He released the EPHell Can Wait on October 7, 2014.[25] Prior to the EP's release Staples revealed during an interview withXXL Magazine that it would includeguest appearances fromAston Matthews andTeyana Taylor, along with productions fromNo I.D., Infamous, and Hagler.[26]
On May 4, 2015, Staples released the first single from his debut album, called "Señorita". He later announced it that his debut studio album would be titledSummertime '06.,[27] In June 2015, Staples was named as one of the ten rappers ofXXL's "2015 Freshman Class".[5] On June 15, Staples released the second single from his debut album, "Get Paid" featuring Desi Mo. On June 22, he released the album's third and final single, "Norf Norf".[28] The track reached viral prominence after a video of a mom tearfully complaining about the song became popular on social media.[29] The album was released on June 30, 2015.[30] It received widespread acclaim and debuted at number 39 on the USBillboard 200.[31][32]
On February 23, 2016, Staples was announced as part of the line up for the 2016 Osheaga Music Festival.[33] On August 25, 2016, Staples released his second EP, the seven-trackPrima Donna, which was accompanied by a short film.[34] On February 3, 2017, Staples released "BagBak", the first single from his next studio album. A remix of the song was later featured in the trailer for theMarvel Studios filmBlack Panther.[35] On March 23, 2017, he was featured on theGorillaz track "Ascension" from their albumHumanz. In an interview onZane Lowe's show Beats 1, he announced his upcoming album would be calledBig Fish Theory and released an accompanying single, "Big Fish",[36][37] which was followed by the album's third single, "Rain Come Down" on June 8, 2017, featuringTy Dolla Sign. The album was released on June 23 and received with widespread critical acclaim.[38][39]
He and rapperTyler, the Creator announced on November 15 that they would be doing a tour around North America from January 26 to March 4, 2018. Staples collaborated with film composerHans Zimmer on a remix of theUEFA Champions League Anthem for theFIFA 19 reveal trailer.[40] On December 15, Staples and celebrated singer and songwriterBillie Eilish released the single "&Burn", which would later appear on the reissue of Eilish's EPDon't Smile at Me later that month.[41] The song wascertified gold in the United States by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 2, 2020.[42]
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In 2018, Staples set up aGoFundMe page titled "Get the Fuck Off My Dick" seeking $2 million as a response to people criticizing his work; they could pay to have him retire early. However, it was briefly taken down given the low response.[43] The money made from the page was subsequently donated to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library in Long Beach. On October 2, Staples released his third studio albumFM!. Produced primarily byKenny Beats, the album is framed as a radio station takeover, featuring recurring skits hosted by Los Angeles radio hostBig Boy.[44] Additionally, Staples contributed the song "Home" to theSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack, which was originally previewed in the movie's trailer in December 2017.[45]
In 2019, Staples released three singles: "So What?", "Sheet Music", and "Ad 01: Hell Bound", each accompanied by an episode of his YouTube seriesThe Vince Staples Show.[46][47]
By April 2021, Staples announced that he was working on a new album, which was later revealed to be self-titled. Released on July 9, 2021,Vince Staples received critical acclaim for its introspective lyrics and minimalist production. Critics praised its concise nature and the depth of its lyrical content, highlighting it as a significant work in Staples' discography.
On April 8, 2022, Vince Staples released his fifth studio album,Ramona Park Broke My Heart, throughMotown Records. The album delves into Staples' relationship with his Long Beach neighborhood, Ramona Park, blending personal narratives with broader social commentary. The album garnered acclaim for its lyrical depth and production quality.[48][49]
On March 31, 2023, Staples was featured on Tyler, The Creator's "Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale" on the track "Stuntman."
On February 15, 2024, Staples released a Netflix limited series,The Vince Staples Show. The five-episode series was well-received, with critics praising its unique blend of humor and authenticity.James Poniewozik ofThe New York Times described the show as "an entertaining enigma," appreciating its ability to leave the audience wanting more.[50] On May 30, 2024, it was renewed for a second season.[51]
In 2024, Vince Staples released his albumDark Times, marking his final project with Def Jam. The album was met with critical acclaim.[52]
[53]On August 1 2024, Vince Staples featured on JPEGMAFIA’s 5th studio album titled, “I Lay Down My Life for You” on the song, “New Black History”.
On August 8, 2025, Staples was featured on the track, "VCRs", onJID's fourth studio albumGod Does Like Ugly.
On October 9, 2025, Netflix released a trailer forThe Vince Staples Show season 2 and announced its November 5 premiere date.[54]
Since 2015, Staples has appeared in advertising campaigns forSprite and promoted the brand through his Twitter feed.[55] In June 2022, Staples partnered with Acura on a launch campaign for the next-gen Acura Integra.[56]
Staples has outspoke about the dangers of the gang lifestyle.[11] On June 14, 2016, Staples announced his assistance in aYMCA program that will benefit young people inNorth Long Beach.[57] The Youth Institute would teach graphic design, 3D printing, product design, music production and filmmaking to 20 eighth and ninth graders at Hamilton Middle School.[57] Staples donated an undisclosed amount to the program.[57][58][59]
The majority of Staples' family are immigrants fromHaiti, who had first arrived inEastern Canada, then left forLouisiana. "They were thinking they could get cheaper land, not knowing anything about slavery," Staples said in a 2019 interview.[60] Growing up, Staples spent a lot of time with his maternal grandfather, Andrew Hutchins, a retired truck driver and construction worker who was a young boy when he arrived in the United States.[61] He met Staples' grandmother at the age of sixteen and left to join the army to help support his family.[60] When Hutchins came back, he became a diehardDodgers fan who decided to migrate to Compton because he saw an interview of star player,Duke Snider, who mentioned he lived in Compton, which was a nice area at the time.[60][61]
Staples lives in Southern California[62] and is a fan of theLos Angeles Clippers.[63] He is a fan of modern art and has referenced the French-American sculptorLouise Bourgeois in his song "Rain Come Down" and stated his appreciation for painter and photographerRichard Prince.[64]
Staples has stated that he follows astraight edge lifestyle and does not drink alcohol or take illicit drugs.[65]
| Film | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role |
| 2015 | Dope | Dom's Crew Member 1 |
| 2016 | Prima Donna(short film) | Himself |
| 2018 | MFKZ | Vinz (voice) |
| 2019 | Gorillaz: Reject False Icons | Himself |
| 2023 | White Men Can't Jump | Speedy |
| Television | ||
| 2018 | American Dad! | Battle rapper (voice) |
| 2019–2021 | Lazor Wulf | Lazor Wulf (voice) |
| 2020 | Insecure | Himself |
| 2022–2023 | Abbott Elementary | Maurice |
| 2024–present | The Vince Staples Show | Himself |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | BET Hip Hop Awards[66] | Impact Track | "Kingdom" (withCommon) | Won |
| 2016 | Black Reel Awards[67] | Best Original or Adapted Song | "Waiting for My Moment" fromCreed (withDonald Glover andJhené Aiko) | Nominated |
| Berlin Music Video Awards | Best Cinematography | LIFT ME UP | Nominated | |
| Best Concept | SEÑORITA | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | VINCE STAPLES | Nominated |
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