For Vince Staples, It’s Community Over Celebrity
“Nothing matters but where you come from. Without that, who are you?”
“Nothing matters but where you come from, “ says Vince Staples in his Obey Your Thirst documentary, created by The FADER and Sprite. “Without that, who are you?”
Anyone who has listened to his fantastic, just-released debut album Summertime ’06 knows that he’s not making stuff up for the camera. The record is an intricately detailed narrative, completely rooted in the past, present, and future of his hometown. Norf Long Beach made Vince Staples who he is, and he’s not forgetting that with his music.
As his star rises, Staples remains community-first in attitude. He says that without the support of the people around him, he might not have realized hip-hop was his destined path. Now, he wants to encourage others: “I want to be an example to my homies and say you can do whatever you want to do. It’s up to me to push them and push this community.”
After watching the documentary, have another read of FADER's recent interview with Staples, watch the previously-released documentaries on Drake and Nas, and get ready for the final installment on Isaiah Rashad next week.