BIG FISH THEORY Vince Staples

ONE can only wonder at the reference to a big fish in the world of Vince Staples. He was always respected, always recognised, nobody ever questioned his talent as a story-teller or an MC, and he had already achieved more than most hip hop artistes of his generation.

Still, he would always linger in the shadow of a man seen as a visionary in the modern world of hip hop, Kendrick Lamar.

To release an album almost simultaneously as Lamar’s Damn seemed ambitious to the point of being ill-advised.But release it he did, and many are already saying it may just outshine the other man from California.

Lamar wrote on the struggles of the modern world, politics and societal ills, and Staples matches him bar for bar. Where other rappers proclaim their street cred, Staples comes as tried and tested as any.

Where Staples takes things above and beyond though, is in the production on Big

Fish Theory. Right off the bat, Crabs In A Bucket make you check your player to see if you accidentally put on the wrong record.

Where the likes of Hot97’s Ebro will tell you that modern dance music has its roots solidly grounded in hip hop, Staples solidifies this fact.

Love Can Be... and Homage continue the Detroit techno, almost drum and bass theme on the album, and further pushes the boundaries on both genres, while challenging conventions in music.

With the likes of Lamar himself, A$AP Rocky, Damon Albarn and Ray J lending supporting vocals, and producers such as Flume, Sophie and Zack Sekoff working on the record, it’s a straight race to the top for the two best hip hop albums released so far this year.

5/5