This album starts out with "Crabs In A Bucket". One thing I've always loved with Vince, is his ability to create an atmosphere. This intro is thick, and I love the very icy synths that blare their way into this one without any warning, as well as the vocal sample snippets that make this one seriously haunting. What follows is actually pretty wild. Vince is a guy who has had tons to say in his career, and his flow on "Crabs In A Bucket" is both impeccable and urgent. I love the very left field production on here, due in part to Bon Iver's Justin Vernon on production which is pretty obvious if you dug the last Bon Iver album. It gives this track an even stronger atmosphere. As far an an intro goes, this is seriously very memorable. It's filled with the same sort of depressive vibes that came through so strong on "Summertime 06", but when they're set up against this more elaborate production and a banger of a beat, "Crabs In A Bucket" becomes incredible. Even Kilo Kish here sounds great here in her little vocal snippet. But that's honestly to be expected, she's always had such wonderful chemistry with Vince. Up next is "Big Fish", and as far as beats go this is so much more inviting than some of Vince's earlier work. It's sort of more mainstream, but not completely to the point where you'd hear this on the radio, it's still pretty dark. I actually love Juicy J's hook here, which for the most part doesn't shock me too much, I've always enjoyed his work as being more of a hype man. Vince's urgency in his delivery here is ridiculous, and while I've always loved "Summertime 06" there were a few tracks throughout that were a little too dreary for my liking. But "Big Fish" is much more straightforward. It's aggressive, and filled with brilliant one liners and flawless technique. Up next is the "Alyssa Interlude", and for the most part it's actually a seriously interesting interlude. At first listen I really didn't get it and it certainly didn't leave an impression. But then I took a minute to really listen to what Amy Whinehouse was saying in her little vocal excerpt, and I realized just how much it actually sums up everything that Vince Staples feels. An while this interlude goes on a little too long, it's still a very grim look into Vince Staples thoughts and mindset. It's not fun, and it's certainly sad, but it's powerful. Vince goes all out when it comes to guests on "Love Can Be...". Damon Albarn's contribution of this intro actually makes it pretty damn haunting, and the later contributions give this literally just enough mainstream appeal so this album doesn't come off so damn depressing and dark. As far as Kilo Kish goes however, personally I really don't feel like this is her best performance here. Personally, I like her much more when she's sort of bringing in haunting refrains rather than providing an actual verse. That's just me though, I'm sure others might dig it. As far as Vince's verse here goes, it's just so intense and non stop among this seriously vibrant and colorful verse, hot DAMN.
The next leg of this journey comes in the form of "745", and I seriously love how cold and uninviting this one is. As far as beats go, Vince is really branching out and I seriously love that. But lyrically and as far as his performance goes, this may be Vince's weakest track here. I feel like Vince is at his best when he goes off and sounds agitated and more personal. However, "745" just comes off like a track that was sort of just thrown together for this album at the very last minute. Not to mention, I dunno, I feel like this doesn't come off with the vibe of the rest of the album. To an extent, this comes off like the "Prima Donna" EP that Vince came out with a while back, one that I really wasn't into. However, Vince does save this one with this very chilling atmosphere and haunting refrain. The sort of weak moments here continue with "Ramona Park Is Yankee Stadium". I just feel like compared to the earlier "Alyssa Interlude", this one isn't nearly as interesting. The obviously point here is to come off like one of the interludes from "Summertime 06". But in a way it just comes off like a serious underwhelming leftover. It's short though, so it doesn't take away much, but was it really necessary? But of all the tracks here, there was only one that I was seriously interested to hear going into this, and that's "Yeah Right". And in the long run, this one doesn't disappoint at all. The production here from Flume and SOPHIE is ridiculous and gigantic. As far as Vince's performance goes, it's just so damn smooth. It's sleazier, and not nearly as urgent and explosive. But it still comes off ridiculously solid. I feel like overall this is what Vince was going for on "745", but this is so much more bombastic and gigantic. The quirky alternative beat with Vince and Kendrick Lamar's verses actually comes off ridiculous. And speaking of Kendrick, not so shockingly, his verse is just as gigantic and explosive among this atmosphere. As far as a real banger goes, don't look any further than "Yeah Right". Then we have "Homage", which is much more patient getting started. Vince continues to toy with all of these very left field beats that most MC's wouldn't have the interest or quite frankly the balls to hop on. But here, Vince is on it, sounding more rowdy and angry than we've heard so far. His performance here is so commanding, demanding a grammy and calling himself the Alfred Hitchcock of his generation. It's all about these little details with Vince, but that's why I tune in to his albums. Kilo Kish on this one brings in another truly haunting refrain, but like I said earlier it's where I love to hear her. His wolf performances are some of the most shocking and ear grabbing things in hip hop right now.
SOPHIE brings in some more production to us on "Samo", and man is it ever good. I honestly really don't know why he doesn't produce more Hip Hop. The result is another seriously gigantic banger. Vince's performance here is a little more laid back, but I love the sort of sleazy vibe to this one. However, as laid back as it is, Vince's verses remain seriously intense and non stop to the point where you're going to have to pause a few times to take it all in. I couldn't really make out A$AP Rocky on this one, so I really can't say much about his contribution. But hell yea, "Samo" is awesome. Then we have "Party People", which is easily the most exciting track on here, which certainly say something. Vince's performance, which continues to go down this very "agitated with the world around him" sort of feel, get's very animated and wild on "Party People". This track is overall completely ridiculous, and sounds like something outrageous and wild enough to have landed on Danny Brown's last album. It's a serious banger, but Vince keeps his cool in tact and blasts out another seriously sharp Alternative Rap tune. Vince so far has been seriously breaking genres, and remains an incredibly fresh face in the alternative Hip Hop community. "BagBak" is a song at first that really didn't sit well with with me. But it's actually grown on me immensely withing the context of the album. it's much more of a banger, but it still has Vince's signature wordplay and stunning lyricism. However, the only thing that's really absent from this entire album, is the looming and dark atmosphere that made "Summertime 06" so memorable. However, for a groovy, upbeat banger, this is certainly really good. And while that voice over is a little corny, it adds to the "Big Fish" theory of the album. It's angry, it's rebellious, it's aggressive, and it's a great banger. This album finishes off with "Rain Come Down", and to be honest this is another track that leading up to this album worried me. For my liking, Ty Dolla Sign is the last thing I want to hear, especially on a Vince Staples album. But, his dreary and moody performance on this hook is actually just what the doctor ordered. Ty actually ends up making the atmosphere here much more like what I've been used to hearing on Vince's albums. Vince's verse is a little less hard hitting, but it's still skillful and wowing. While I do wish it was a little more fired up, it's a solid ending to this pretty stunning album.
Rating: 8.6/10
Give A Listen To: “Crabs In A Bucket”, “Big Fish”, “Yeah Right” , “Party People”
Overall Thoughts: Now, hearing the singles leading up to this I was seriously very worried about Vince. What I've loved about his past work was his heavy atmosphere and dark subject matter. And while I eventually ended up getting just that, that's not to say there aren't a whole lot more bangers on here than his previous work. But as far as this album goes, hell yes, it's insanely good. Vince continues to be one of the sharpest MC's in the game, and most importantly completely fearless. He says what he thinks, he works with artists and producers that could be seriously hit or miss, and does it all with a fiery attitude that I can't get enough of. Vince Staples continues to be one of Alternative Hip Hop's freshest faces and most intriguing personalities.
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