Summertime '06
by Vince Staples

I usually begin by commenting on the production, but here I feel like making an exception., becayse I am such a big fan of his rapping. His delivery is a bit weird, a bit like he doesn't even care anymore, maybe that's why it's so addictive and so memorable. Most of the guests are in the same mood, too. This attitude is further reflected on the production. It's like something is about to happen, it slowly builds up, but it never comes to fruition, it stops the very last moment before it does, it simply doesn't bother any more. All of the above are closely related to the concept of the album and in that regard make more sense. It deals with the summer of 2006 - wow, how did you figure this out, amazing - and how it changed everything for the worse, it signified the loss of innocence ("Rounds up in that chamber, I'm a gangsta like my daddy My mama caused another problem when she had me They found another dead body in the alley They found another dead body in the alleyway Stacking paper, I'm a gangsta like my granny It's money over everything if you ask me They found another dead body in the alley They found another dead body in the alleyway I'm "stop-and-pop"-ing like a shooting guard My seat is back, I'm too relaxed, not moving out this car") and with it the loss of everything he loved ("My teachers told me we was slaves My mama told me we was kings I don't know who to listen to I guess we somewhere in between My feelings told me love is real But feelings known to get you killed I feel as if I'm misconstrued I spend my moments missin' you I'm searchin' for atonement Do I blame my darker tone? I know somethings are better left unsaid And people left alone Pick up the phone Don't leave me alone in this cruel, cruel world"). 20 tracks are arguably too much and it doesn't fully justify its length, but that's more or less my only complaint about this album. (Edited)

I aint even bullshitting when I say this record has the best hip-hop production of the year so far (that's right even better than TPAB). Thes trings, the synths, the samples all cater to the hopelessly drab atmosphere that this provocative record employs throughout its noticeable running time. As for Vince, his songwriting is unique and thought-provoking, but still gets caught up in a slurry of hip-hop cliches ("lets have a track about gangbanging and the next one be about fucking bitches. repeat"). Not that the rapping's not on point, I just think Vince can address many broader categories and veer-off in different directions than his contemporaries.
However, production still wins the day here.

B

From Hayden TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/06/2015 20:24 | #145247 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This could have honestly have been cut in half. It's not that it's a long album or anything, but many of these tracks are meaningless and boring. It has it's occasional moment, but the entire thing feels half baked. His delivery is pretty typical and sounds the same on every track... plus, 80% of his lyrics are nothingness.

Bit of a shame. Was looking forward to this after his EP last year. Finding this a downgrade.

good kid, m.A.A.d. city + Yeezus = Summertime '06
I love it. Standout after standout after standout and a very cohesive sound and great lyricism all the way through make this my 2nd favorite rap album of 2015, right after TPAB

I'm really really digging the lyricism, flows, and one of the best productions on any hip hop album I've heard recently. (Edited)