Many rappers think that all you have to do to make a hit album is slap together 16 filler tracks with 2 radio ready tunes & wait for the money to come rolling in. Vince Staples, on the other hand, realized that quality is more important than quantity. That’s why the 7 tracks on his “Hell Can Wait” EP make the Long Beach emcee stand out from his less talented hip hop peers.
The project begins with the dark and intense “Fire.” Vince describes the horror of his neighborhood while constantly chanting “I’m probably fin’ to go to hell anyway” over a murky, disturbing groove. “65 Hunnid” starts with mellow piano keys and mournful horns that seem more compatible with a Ken Burns Jazz documentary than a hip hop song. Once Vince launches into his first verse everything falls into place. The listener absorbs the vibe of a knowing youth who was forced to grow up fast or fall prey to his hostile, unforgiving environment. “Screen Door” finds Vince reflecting about his father’s involvement in the drug game and the sad yet predictable outcome of illegal activities that were building to a head. All of this is done over a spare, stripped down track that propels the story forward.
“Hands Up”(produced by No ID) is more uptempo than the previous track…slightly. Vince rhymes about the police and street life over a cacophony of noises familiar to anyone who has experienced the disgust and humiliation of being racially profiled. “Blue Suede” brings an immediate sense of urgency to the party with its piercing sirens, reverse beats and filtered vocals. “Limos” begins like any other syrupy hip hop/ R&B love song, but Vince quickly shuts that down with “Bitches think they livin’ in a dream ’til I wake ’em up…and “Feelin The Love” brings the EP to a close over a loopy, stop-start beat as Vince prays for forgiveness for his sins when his life is done. Overall, this is an impressive major label debut for Vince Staples. Mind you, it’s not nearly as powerful as his Shyne Coldchain mixtapes, but Vince will be here for a long while, so he’s just getting started.
– Kevin Keith
