On Friday, May 23, 2024, Vince Staples released his sixth and final studio album under the Def Jam record label, after having been signed for over 10 years. Serving as the ending to a journey and the beginning of a new one, Staples’ “Dark Times” reflects on why fans grew to love a once young Staples, exuberating maturity, heavy themes and his classic relaxed instrumentation that illustrates blossomed artistry.
Following the album’s short intro “Close Your eyes and Swing,” the track “Black&Blue” begins with a skewed and interpolated rendition of Thee Sacred Souls’ song “Weak for Your Love.” In the song, Staples reflects upon the actions committed by individuals around him at a young age. He discusses the stories of individuals who were lucky to escape their hostile environments, like stories out of folktales.
“My people product of poverty, I don’t know why they would play with us / Choppers in luxury vehicles, livin’ like Saudi Arabians,” Staples raps.
Staples makes the comparison to figures of authority and power to poverty stricken individuals, riding in the same luxury vehicles. He samples his own song “Blue Suede,” which was released in 2018, on the song “Government Cheese.” Staples discusses how the simple act of a smile can push one through hard times.
“Just another day closer to my demise / Love to see they face smile, love to see they heads held high / Everybody gotta die, only question, is it Hell or in the sky,” Staples raps.
Staples examines survivor’s guilt, having made it out of his own bad neighborhood and comments on the inability to escape death.
The dark and eerie instrumentation of “Radio” creates an almost enchanting listen, as Staples displays nostalgia for simpler times through his radio, while also scrutinizing a failed relationship.
“When we met, she told me she don’t ever listen to rap / I asked her ‘Why?,’ she said ‘No man should speak to women like that’ / … / So what you say in a verse means somethin’ different, but to me, they just words,” Staples raps.
A later heartbroken and abandoned Staples considers the advice given to him earlier and finds himself saddened while listening to the love songs of The Jackson 5, Etta James and Roberta Flack. “Radio” provides wonderful imagery and a resounding story, serving as one of the best written narratives in the album.
“Why Won’t The Sun Come Out” is the album’s final track, featuring a somber spoken word by American singer and songwriter Santigold, taken from a conversation between her and Staples. As they discuss the inner workings of the human mind, they reveal the bright and simultaneously grim future for humanity.
“It’s all movin’ us forward on the path that humans are meant to be on, but very slowly / I came away feeling, like, ‘But it’s at the pace that it’s meant to be at’ / … / This is where we need to get to / Emotional vulnerability,” Santigold sings.
Spanning 13 tracks and clocking in at 35 minutes, Staples’ new album “Dark Times” serves as a short yet spiritually impactful record, containing a vast amount of versatility and experimentation for almost every listener.