Now that the weeks-long has (hopefully) flamed out, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans, it’s time for a palette cleanser. And who better to provide an amuse-bouche than Vince Staples, one of the most consistent and inventive hip-hop artists to emerge in the past decade and a half. Earlier this week, the Long Beach rapper announced that his sixth album, “Dark Times,” would arrive on streaming platforms on Friday.
Staples also shared the album’s track list and the lead single, “Shame on the Devil.” Rapping over a soulful, down-tempo track with a shimmering guitar line, Staples — — though only 30, sounds poised, like an elder statesman of hip-hop. “Mission complete, outta the mud / Labeled a ‘leader’ they following cuz,” he raps, reflecting on his journey from his tumultuous days as a teen gang member to his current status as a successful artist and role model.
“Dark Times” will be Staples’ first album since 2022’s “Ramona Park Broke My Heart,” which Complex, Vulture and Wired all named one of the top five albums of that year. In February, Netflix released his dark-comedy limited series “The Vince Staples Show.” Over the course of his career, Staples has garnered acclaim for his raw, honest lyricism, blending evocative portraits of his wayward youth with biting cultural commentary.
He’s also proven to be one of hip-hop’s most innovative figures, experimenting with sounds and aesthetics, moving between West Coast hip-hop .
