Big Fish Theory

AlbumJun 23 / 201712 songs, 36m 9s
West Coast Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop
Popular Highly Rated

“WE IN YEAR 3230 WIT IT,” Vince Staples tweeted of his second album. “THIS THE FUTURE.” In fact, he’s in multiple time zones here. Delivered in his fluent, poetic flow, the lyrical references reach back to 16th-century composer Louis Bourgeois, while “BagBak” captures the stark contrasts of Staples’ present (“I pray for new McLarens/Pray the police don’t come blow me down because of my complexion.”) With trap hi-hats sprayed across ’70s funk basslines (“745”) and Bon Iver fused into UK garage beats (“Crabs in a Bucket”), the future is as bold as it is bright.

8.7 / 10

On his second album, Vince Staples teams with producers like SOPHIE, Jimmy Edgar, and Flume on a collection of sleek club-rap bangers. But his eye for detail and observational skills remain intact.

A-

You don’t want to write about Vince Staples. Few modern musicians have made playing with the press such an essential part of their appeal. There is, on the one hand, his endless trolling: sardonic tweets about American Apparel and 3 Ninjas; his sarcastic sponsorship of Sprite, which is almost long-form performance art…

6 / 10

California’s other philosophical rap provocateur, Vince Staples drops a game-changer on 'Big Fish Theory'.

9 / 10

Vince Staples creates powerful, potent protest hip-hop on a level that other genres don’t dare approach.

Our take on the second full-length LP from the Long Beach rapper.

An incredible State of the Union address on rap today.

For the third consecutive year, Long Beach rapper Vince Staples issued a standout effort that continued to push creative boundaries while deepening his lyrical prowess.

9 / 10

Before Vince Staples' Big Fish Theory washed ashore, the Long Beach MC both amazed and aggravated listeners with lead single "BagBak," which...

8 / 10

Since the release of his first commercial release, 2014’s ‘Hell Can Wait’, West Coast rapper Vince Staples has been on a significant hot

The rapper and former Crip’s urgent second album juxtaposes California sunshine with the horrors of gang life

8 / 10

4.7 / 5

Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory review: I used to look up to the sky, now I'm over shit.