Vince Staples' new album Dark Times marks the end of an era in victory lap fashion. The full-length marks the eighth and last project under contract with Def Jam. Since the Long Beach lyricist first signed with them a decade ago, he’s proven himself to be an anomaly. Unfazed by metrics, fans have witnessed a candid wordsmith grow into an unfiltered artist whose versatility and sound experimentation continue to deliver something new without compromise. In today's streaming era, rappers having 10+ year careers and a quality catalog while marching to the beat of their own drum is a rarity.
As his last Def Jam album, it’s only right that it's all done on his terms. No excessive promotion, no filler, and no holding back creatively.
The moment “Dark Times” begins, Staples hits the ground running with the melancholic intro “Black&Blue.” The tone is immediately set as Vince vents about unapologetically being the person he is, for better or worse. The drums, guitar, and organ keys on this track give the production a simplicity that somehow manages to still weigh a ton, hitting the eardrums like a crashing tsunami wave.
Early into the project, it’s clear that his level of self-awareness plays one of the antagonists in most of these songs. Vince’s impressive ability to understand the world around him and his place in it is what really makes his rhymes hit home. His second verse on “Government Cheese” detailing a jail call with an incarcerated friend shows his struggle with remaining comfortable with his reality.
Told him that I was good, wonder if he believed,
Couldn't tell him the truth, what kind of homie would I be?,
Knowin' these fifteen minutes the only time that he free,
See, it's hard to sleep when you the only one livin' the dream,
Hard to leave niggas hangin' when you the money tree
Every Vince Staples fan well versed in his discography knows that the content on here is not out of the norm. Cuts like “Children’s Song” exemplify the calm, yet cautious Vince that fans have grown to know. As well as the brazen track “Etoufee”, where he vows to remain solid to himself and where he’s from.
But on this album, Vince’s level of vulnerability makes his lines sink in harder and artistic leaps commendable. Exactly what’s needed to address the other antagonist in Dark Times: his love life. Like never before, the 30-year-old rapper touches on his shortcomings with trust and losing romance. “Shame on the Devil” is a slow-burning record focusing on longing for stronger emotional connections with his loved ones while staying stuck in his ways. In “Nothing Matters”, Vince reminisces about a failed relationship in great detail.
Ending the album on a high note, the closing tracks cap off Dark Times with a blanket of optimism.
One of the early standouts on the project is the groovy, pro-positivity track “Little Homies.” Across the wavy production, Vince surfs across the track, speaking more affirmational than usual. Between the song's hypnotic sound, heavy synths, and hopeful lyrics, this feel-good summer jam is a record he was always made to make. "Freeman" drives the project off into the sunset as Vince reflects on the present-day version of himself. The minimal, airy instrumental breathes solace into the track that plays like a well-deserved send-off for Vince.
Clocking in under 40 minutes, Dark Times is easily one of the most consistent rap releases that drops this year. With the music sounding more melodic and musing than his previous efforts, Vince has grown exactly into the artist he's meant to be. Now a free-agent artist, there's a lot of excitement for what direction he chooses to take his sound next.
