Tuesday 3 May 2022

Vince Staples "Ramona Park Broke My Heart" (2022)

 

With a talkative tone and casual cadence, Vince returns on this forth outing spinning his introspective thoughts on a breezy laid back vibe. To say business as usual would understate the emotional weight and expressions from this insightful artists. Again, stories and perspectives are told through the personas he inhabits. Lacking the spark a new dimension can bring, the familiarity of his attitude and lyrics lets one swiftly fall into the easy groove the record presents. Its a slow riding, G-Funk inspired chill out where 808s and percussive beats pop low key and the instrumentals croon gently on the subdued, sleepy leaning vibes that drift by with an eerie lack of tension.

I'm not sure if its in contrast to the gravity of topics discussed in his lyrics as there is a lot of pride and warmth expressed where Vince often uses his words to peers into social ills and societal issues. His words make this record feel more personal than the tales of prior projects. His cadence, which at its sturdiest still seems casual, can slip into a breathy effortless slew of words that almost seems intentionally lazy. The vibe is spot on however! These dreamy toned down beats play right into his hand.

The result is a soothing lofty warmth that drifts by yet any attention given to his words reveals a deeper meaning. I love how he can wrap the most potent words into simple lines and expressions to emphasis a narrative. Its almost in rebellion to overworked rhymes and clever wordplay. Vince uses just a drop of poetry and the apt moments so effortlessly. Seemingly much of it plays of as train of thought, ringing of the thoughts directly but a little study often reveals something a little deeper. I do think some of the Ramona Park Broke My Heart's depth does hinge on its authenticity. Are these more personal tales? Either way, its a very easy to enjoy record.

Rating: 7/10