Vince Staples: Looking back at Ramona Park circa ‘Summertime ’06’

Vince Staples has never been the kind of MC to play around. In fact, he’s never been the kind of MC that even seems to enjoy himself on a track. A NOISEY short in May of 2014 featured the 2015 XXL Freshmen saying, “I just really got to feel it. It has to mean something to me because I can’t make music if it doesn’t mean anything.”

It is safe to say that with Summertime ’06, he found that meaning.

Last week, NPR released a stream of the 22-year-old MC’s latest effort, offering the first taste of Staples’ much anticipated two-part album debut.

The interesting thing about the Long Beach lyricist — post Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1 — is the combination of excessive talk of gang activity, paired with the fully transparent self-awareness of what that same gang affiliation means in the present day climate of faux post-racial America.

In the “gurgle rap” state of hip-hop, it isn’t a frequent occurrence to hear an artist have so much to say, especially with their major label debut. Add the crystal clear annunciation that Staples features, and Summertime ’06 (out June 30 via Def Jam) stands as a refreshing look from one of the newest voices in hip-hop. Instead of allowing the listener to get lost in the production, Staples voice stands alone. He holds the listener down, and makes for certain they hear what he has to say. In typical Vince Staples fashion, that isn’t always cheery. “I’m trying to paint you a picture, we stuck in the moment. My burner get stuck if I shoot it too much so a nigga resorted to doming,” he raps on the Future aided, “Señorita.”

Despite the often-tense subject matter, we do see moments of vulnerability sprinkled throughout the album. On the final track of part one, “Summertime,” we find Staples almost crooning that “this could be forever baby,” asking his significant other to “open up your eyes and tell me what you’re thinking, open up your mind and tell me what you’re seeing.”

This is what’s so appealing about Staples. He can go from Ramona Park Crip on one verse, and then transition without skipping a beat to intimate introspection such as, “Is it love, I’d really like to know the meaning.” On top of all that, he provides intelligent social commentary on what it’s like to grow up in the not-so-post racial United States. “My teacher’s told me we were slaves, my momma told me we was kings, I don’t know who to listen to,” he says on “Summertime.”

Despite being a self-admitted novice when it comes to counting bars, Staples moves smoothly through the production on the album, which features the likes of No I.D., DJ Dahi, and Clams Casino. There are gems sprinkled throughout that prove his unwavering handle of the English language, and further solidifies his place as more than just an MC who can steal another rapper’s shine with a feature.

Summertime ‘06 is by no means a Dom Kennedy-esque California “soundtrack to your summer” release. Depending on what track you play, it would probably be a good way for that summertime barbecue to end in either a fist fight or an intellectual conversation on race relations in America.

This may not be the kind of music or subject matter that appeals to the general public as a fun release to put on their summertime ’15 playlist, but then again, Vince Staples doesn’t rap for fun.

★★★★★