Vince: A Staple In My Night
Though “intimate” likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about Vince Staples, it was perhaps most apt for his performance on March 6 in Urbana. Like many University of Illinois students, my experience with Foellinger Auditorium began with Professor Jose Vasquez. Each Tuesday last semester I would roll out of bed, i-Clicker in hand, to experience the exciting world of Econ 102 with nearly 700 other sleepy-eyed freshmen. In comparison to this capacity crowd of disinterested individuals, Monday’s show packed a heavy punch despite the relatively small crowd (small in comparison to spacious Foellinger is). As an early city on his The Life Aquatic tour, Vince Staples’ stop in Champaign occurred at an interesting time in his career. After making his debut with the album Summertime ‘06, he was hailed by many to be the next great West Coast rapper. In “Norf Norf,” the number one single, Staples makes the lofty claim that “Nate Dogg still here cause of niggas like me / Police still scared cause of niggas like me.” Staples has since fallen into the background of other prominent rappers of a similar style, such as Kendrick Lamar, following the mild flop of his second album Prima Donna in August of last year. In The Life Aquatic tour, Vince hopes to re-establish himself as a player in the rap world ahead of his next LP. Vince’s set spanned just shy of an hour and covered his entire body of work - from the stereotypical concert hype-song “Hands Up” to his new explicitly anti-Trump “Bagbak.” Providing an interesting mix of traditional West Coast gangsta rap as well as hints of Detroit techno and witty, introspective lyricism, his work transitions well into a live setting. However, perhaps the most impressive portion of his performance was the logistics behind the audio/video setup. Though Foellinger is a compelling concert venue, it is first and foremost a classroom space serving thousands of students each day. In a matter of hours, Staples and company produced an environment any laser-aficionado would enjoy. Going along with the theme of The Life Aquatic, Vince’s lyrics are coupled with imagery of sharks, jellyfish, and all sorts of ocean life tastefully mirroring the thematic elements of the song behind him.
Another unexpected high point of the show was the opener, Brooklyn-based rapper Kilo Kish. Born Lakisha Robinson, Kish is known for her personal lyrics revolving primarily around identity, race, and her place in the world. This was displayed on her first studio album Reflection in Real Time, released on EMPIRE last February. Kish masterfully transfers these motifs from album to stage; her set displayed her skills as a visual and kinetic artist as well as her rapping. Beginning the show seated behind a desk clad in a meticulous pantsuit, Kish gradually strips away this image of serenity as her songs get darker. By the end of her set, her surroundings were in shambles as she cast her intense gaze towards the audience, basking in the silence she created.
If you’re interested in seeing Vince Staples and Kilo Kish again, they will both be performing at Pitchfork Music Festival this July. Be sure to look out for Staples’ next album, which likely will be released later this Spring.