Vince Staples may lay his claim to the Long Beach, Calif. rap thrown left unoccupied after Snoop Dog turned into Snoop Lion and became a reggae musician with the release of his first studio album Hell Can Wait (release date TBD). The California native’s first single for the album, “Blue Suede,” contains lyrics that are a throwback to mid-90s NWA and possesses a beat that could have been from one of the tracks that didn’t make it on Dr. Dre’s masterpiece The Chronic. The track has over 5,000 plays on SoundCloud and the music video has over 100,000 views in less than 48 hours since being released. The 21-year-old rapper and member of the Odd Future hip-hop collective released his first mixed tape in 2011. After spending most of the past year touring with Schoolboy Q and signing a major record deal, Staples is finally set to release his debut album with Def Jam records. While Staples has appeared on tracks with artists that range from Jhené Aiko to Common, he is ready to really step into the spotlight with the new album. Staples’ music is a reminder of the simpler times in rap that is refreshing, but still has the appeal and swagger of his contemporary counterparts. “Blue Suede” is a little dark and a little edgy, but it is unlike anything else out there today, which is definitely a good thing.
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