Vince Staples: "Blue Suede"

In his song-stealing guest verse on last year’s Earl Sweatshirt track “Hive”, Vince Staples offered a self-description that read like a great Twitter bio: “If this was ’88, I would’ve signed to Ruthless [Records].” As a statement of artistic intent, it was as aspirational as it was accurate, providing a glimpse into the 21-year-old Long Beach rapper’s influences. “Blue Suede”, the purported lead single from Hell Can Wait, Staples’ forthcoming Def Jam debut, makes that connection even more explicit.

Produced by Toronto’s Marvin “Hagler” Thomas (who lent a hand on Drake’s “Furthest Thing” and “Trophies”), “Blue Suede” features the kind of urgent, paranoid production that Eazy-E or Ice Cube might’ve rapped over in their heyday. Built around a squealing synth that sounds like it’s being torn apart at the subatomic level, it’s half apocalyptic evacuation siren and half Bomb Squad tribute. Most impressive is how Staples manages to cut through the track’s piercing din with a seen-it-all steeliness that undercuts his bluster. “All I wanted was them Jordans with the blue suede in ‘em,” he raps before following up with a simpler—and more sobering—desire: “Young graves get the bouquets/ Hope I outlive them red roses.”

Comments are closed.