Whether its making music or his new Netflix series, the rapper only wants to connect people.
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We need to start talking about Vince Staples as a utility player.
Theres a question that comes up repeatedly in your new show: Who is Vince Staples?
I figured Id take it to the source.Just a person.
Life is a product of perception.
It does for very few people.
I view people as people.
From my vantage point, were all pretty much the same.
Im fascinated by someone getting a Netflix show and filling it with people who dont know who they are.
I go outside every day and Im rarely bothered.
Out of 7 billion people in the world, I dont think a majority know who I am.
You have polarizing figures, extremely large artists such as Kanye West or Drake.
Even on a different level, still an astronomical feat, your Tylers and Kendricks.
Im not any of those guys.
Its just not something I look for.
What you get is what you get.
Talk about the chronology of the creation of the show.
I also took it into my own hands to continue what I was doing from a musical standpoint.
That led to a few more meetings.
We met with Kenya and he was like, I like what youre doing.
I want to help.
He had a situation with Netflix at the time.
They were interested in the show and wanted to see a full pilot script.
When we came back out of that, they were still interested.
Everyone understands elements of crime.
We have crime everywhere.
The choices are subjective, whether right or wrong.
It depends on what side of the coin you land on.
Its about the relationships of people involved and what they do when their back is against the wall.
We all can relate to that.
But you do have to consult and lend your perspective.
Its a very communal thing, creating film and television.
Were crowdsourcing our existence as human beings.
So our things are also going to be spoken about.
Its important to take the things that weve seen and done and inform a new perspective.
Creatively, thats something that Ive always tried to do.
Even with the show.
I wouldnt have guessed you were interested in this much relatability.
You just have to do your best to create something youre content with.
Theres a scene of you getting arrested where the police are watching the Norf Norf video.
It was just weird.
Life is crazy, man.
In the bank episode you explain to a consultant that you have a deal for 15 records.
Do you feel you got a better shake than young artists tend to in the major-label machine?
You got to work with No I.D.
on the first album.
A lot of people dont get time with a vet.I worked with No I.D.
for six months and then he left Def Jam.
Even with that I did have a decent shake.
Ive had good management I definitely got lucky to have the same management since I began.
Ive had people whove looked out for me since I was a teenager and taught me along the way.
Ive had good work ethic, and I had a plan to do what I wanted to do creatively.
Whatever came with that I was willing to accept.
Weve seen a lot of changes in the past few years based on a shift in the marketplace.
A lot of these companies are forming, folding, becoming desperate.
Theres a lot of unfairness in the music business.
Are these his terms?No, I wrote that.
That was in the script.
The point of that was to showcase contrast.
You have Vince entering this new world kind of having a moment of vulnerability.
A door has shut in his face.
Rick Ross ends up being a person who can lend him some advice.
It was important to show the nuance of both characters.
It was a long process.
The last time Iinterviewedyou was for a 2013Faderissue around the release ofStolen Youthwith Mac Miller.
It seemed like you hadbetter things to do than making music.
Its incredible to see you on Netflix years later.
Music became an opportunity for me to change my viewpoint on life, and led me to other things.
I approached them the same way I approached music, which was, Why not?
My friendship with Mac came at a very important time in my life.
He made me feel as if I shouldnt quit in the middle of the journey.
Are you mindful of other television shows created around musicians blurring the lines between real life and the industry?
Do you watchDaveandAtlanta?Theyre great for music in general.
Theres always been a through-line between hip-hop and sitcoms, fromFresh PrinceandThe Jamie Foxx ShowtoMartinfocusing on a radio DJ.
Its a continuation of those things.
Moeshabeing played by Brandy made her affinity important to the show.
I dont mean that from a negative standpoint.
So many people have done the thing.
You got Eve, Missy Elliott, although that was a different kind of television.
Mos Def and Ice Cube reached great heights.
We learned from those people that its actually possible to transition.
Im just happy to be able to do as much as I can.
What were your favorite shows growing up?Whatever was on the TV.
It was mostly reruns.
I didnt know what time or what day anything came on.
I watched with my grandparents and ended up catching a lot ofTwilight Zone.
Thats a good memory of mine.The Andy Griffith Show.
I really likedThe Simpsons.
As I got older,Breaking Bad,The Good Place, andUtopia, a British series.
If were talking sitcoms:Fresh Prince,Martin,Moesha.
Talk about playing Maurice onAbbott Elementary.
Whats it like working with Quinta?Id never really met Quinta.
Probably seen her in passing once or twice before that.
That was a big role and a big opportunity.
I learned a lot seeing the way they run their ship over there.
It was open-ended with a lot of closure.
Just great writing overall.
We want to venture to find a way to get to that level as well.
We used to do shows together.
My favorite is something offJackman, probably.
You stay booked but we never really see you in anything terrible.
How do you maintain a solid catalogue and filmography?
Theres so many things I havent gotten.
Its not a matter of having the pick of the litter.
Were not at that point yet.
Thats where Im at with it.
I want to double-check Im doing something great.
You posted about new music a few weeks ago.
Whats in the works?Im always making music.
Music takes five minutes to make, so I always have songs.
Right now were just trying to see how the show turns out.
We need a sequel.I talk to Q all the time.
His albumBlue Lipsis really good.
I hope a lot of people go check that out because hes been working really hard and hes great.
Q is a great person to bounce ideas off or even to listen to things that you do.
I appreciate how your music keeps people guessing.
In 2017,Big FishTheorygot a mixed response.
Did it frustrate you that some folks fronted on your record?Not at all.
I honestly dont even think about it.
745 with Jimmy Edgar was a beat that SOPH heard and had me in mind.
I met Jimmy through her and got the beat.
It was a pleasure to create with SOPHIE.
Also, if SOPHIE didnt pass people wouldnt be asking me about the music.
I didnt get one question about SOPHIEs production until she passed away.
Thats just what Im saying as well.
Iwouldve asked.I get that.
Im just speaking from my experiences.
I do hear you.
Watching your show, I realized there arent that many rap-music cues.
One of the first ones is MoneySign Suede from L.A., who was killed last year.
I wonder if you were a fan or knew the guy.I didnt know him.
He was relatively young.
I did enjoy his music.
How do we break the cycle of labels profiting off of artists deaths?Its not about hip-hop.
Its not about labels profiting off death.
Its the social currency of violence, death, negativity.
We consume it almost like its an addiction.
When people die, then their stories become interesting because of how they end it.
Were put off by positive outlooks.
When someone dies, we want to know why.
Death is a headline.
We gravitate towards headlines.
It is a cultural thing, not necessarily a financial thing.
What rappers are you bumping?I honestly dont listen to much music.
I never really have.
There werent many moments that were calling for that throughout the show.
There is a needle drop.
Yeah, theres one.
I think theres one or maybe two references to my music throughout the show.
People dont just come up to me playing my songs or talking about my songs like that.
Im not that level of artist.
So thats how it made sense to play it.
I feel like you would be surprised whos bumping your music.No, I wouldnt.
I wouldnt at all.
I have multi-platinum songs and millions of followers across all platforms of streaming services.
So I wouldnt be surprised if people heard my music.
The extreme humility has been throwing me off.
Anything after that is all a perk, so to say.
If people like it, they like it.
If they dont, they dont.
Ill take the note and take a stab at learn what to do differently the next time.
