Track 16: Black & Blue - Vince Staples
Infatuated with folklore...
There was a moment a few years ago when Vince Staples was poised to be the next big thing in hip hop. And then nothing quite clicked, and I don’t know why. Staples is consistently producing good to great albums, and Dark Times, his release from 2024, is one of his best. I’ve barely heard anyone say much about it, though. Musically his beats and atmosphere are distinctive, catchy, and, interesting. Lyrically he might not be the strongest MC, but his rhymes and rhythm perfectly match the vibe he creates in the song.
Black & Blue is a perfect example. Half celebratory banger, half depressed lament, Staples chronicles what it’s like being Black in America in 2024. There’s a lot to be thankful for, a lot of culture to unpack and appreciate, but when he looks in the mirror, he can’t help but think something is missing. “I’m thinking it’s you,” he says. A lost friend, a former lover, a piece of himself? The chorus kicks in, mapped to the masterful Thee Sacred Souls sample, hinting that the answer is the undeniable tragedy that comes with being Black in America: as long as the US refuses to answer for its rampant systemic racism, there will always be a sense of sadness entwined with being Black.
Staples makes it sound easy, but this song is more complicated and layered than it appears, and grows deeper upon repeated reasons. Hopefully one day he won’t be so underrated.
Click here for the Infinite Mixtape on Spotify.
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