COMM 380: Media Criticism
The Narrative of Vince Staples and Summertime '06
by Rachel Handschuh, '21
Major: Communication, Media Production & Criticism
Vince Staples, born Vincent Jamal Staple, is a prominent force now in the rap genre. After making appearances on songs from the collective Odd Future, other major artists and having few minor EP (extended play) releases and collaborations under his belt, Staples was now given a chance to show his story and true colors. Hell Can Wait, his next EP and major project, caught the attention of many people, but nothing in comparison to his debut album Summertime 06’. The hype around the album that set him on the track for his current fame is given for good reason.
Staples shares his opinion on the project by noting “The summer of 2006 was also a time of transition--a strong turning point in my life. That is where I drew inspiration from for this album” (Frydenlund, 2015). The Long Beach, California native achieves this differently from the “gangsta rap” and other modern rap artists that he openly despised Wordplay in interviews.
Summertime 06’, released June 30, 2015, arguably explains the narrative of growing up in a hard childhood environment as well address social justice issues in a new, exciting way that pushes the rap genre in a new direction. This is achieved through the wordplay in the album, the contrast between the positive title and the album's subject matter, and since it is strategically split into two structures and imagery regarding certain subject matter in the album such as masculinity, gang violence, growing up in such a harsh environment as a child, and how it has affected him gives the album a certain wonder to it.
For example, throughout the album, Staples will make certain words and lines mean one thing, yet their meaning changes one the next line or two is revealed. On the song “Summertime”, Staples uses this captivating trick with starting off with a line, regarding a relationship he is struggling with, “Open your heart, if we don't love then we fall apart. This could be forever, baby never seen you wetter, baby” (Staples, V., 2015). On first glance, one may think Staples is pulling a typical move in the rap genre, where he talks about his “relationship” and his amazing sex life. Yet, after hearing the next few lines that follow, such as “Than when the tears fall soakin' up your sweater, baby. I didn't mean harm, don't make me regret it, baby,” (Staples, V., 2015) it reveals to the audience that the lines did not point to sexual innuendo, rather than Staples acknowledging the pain he sees he’s causing in this relationship by the tears on her sweater. This use of imagery addresses the social issues of black masculinity and relationships in the black community well, yet without outright saying it. This subtle touch shows how versatile yet real Staples is as an artist and proves the genre can push beyond its mainstream-like tendencies.
When you think of the word Summertime, you probably do not imagine the subject matter touched in Summertime 06’. You think of no homework, vacations, and many more middle class-esque things. This is the exact opposite of what Staples experienced, and that reflects in the issues touched in the matter as well as the title of the album’s meaning itself. On the topic, when interviewed by Complex News, Staples chimed in by saying, “The summer of 2006 was also a time of transition--a strong turning point in my life. That is where I drew inspiration from for this album” (Frydenlund, 2105). By using such a positive title yet including such dark material, Staples captures our attention and leads us through a narrative of his life through dualistic song titles and lyrics.
For example, in his song off Summertime 06’ called “Get Paid”, Staples using a positive phrase such as getting paid to explain the darker parts of his childhood life. Staples was heavily involved with gang activity, most notably with the Crips, which reflects in the lyrics of “Get Paid” when he says, “Tomorrow never come. I'm on the block all night 'til the sun. Come up, I can sleep when I'm done.” (Staples, V., 2015).
Through these lyrics and the rest of the song, Staples paints a picture of what living on the streets and participating in gang life as a young teen is like, and what kind of message it creates and ingrains into the local youth’s brains. Through talking about his own experiences, Staples addresses the harsh realities of gang violence that is often ignored, pushing the topic and his music into the forefront of attention in the rap community.
The least notable factor of the album that is often ignored is that fact that the album is split up into two parts, let alone split up and arranged this way on purpose. The only comment from the rapper himself regarding why the album is split into two, technically making it a double album release, is that “It helps break down stuff more and it’s easier for people, ’cause it’s a lot of music out here and it’s coming fast” (Hernandez, 2015).
Staples’ comment makes it clear that he wants you to hear the subtle messages that the arranging of the album into two parts does as well as show the creativity and thoughtfulness of the rapper and continuing the dualistic nature of the album. For instance, the first side consists of songs such as “Norf Norf”, “Lift Me Up”, “Summertime”, and “Jump Off the Roof”.
These songs have a common theme of how growing up poor in the gang-infested area of Long Beach, California has an effect on Staples and what it has done to him. This is a stark contrast between the second part of the album. In the second part, songs such as “Get Paid”, “06”, “C.N.B.”, and “Hang N’ Bang” reflect a much more aggressive side of Staples. With lines coming from the song “06” that says, “Good mornin', hope you had a good time last night. I need money from e'rybody, mo'fucker, better pay your tithes. Now I can change your life, fuck what's wrong, fuck what's right” (Staples, V., 2015) show the aggressive “gangsta life” Staples is trying to show that he is in the second life of the album. With the end of that song cutting off in a static like fashion, Staples’ arrangement of this short song in the album makes a point. By having it abruptly shut in this way, it makes a subtle yet purposeful commentary from the artist about how gang violence in poor areas in the country such as Long Beach, California is like a television program for the outside country to watch on the news.
Summertime 06’ is a mirror of Staples’ life, making it more than just a generic rap album that is composed of things rappers really did not do such as steal, get girls, and growing up in such a “hard” life. Staples actually did have the “hard” life, with it consisting of robberies, drug dealing, and evading the police. Regarding his life before becoming the famous,Grammy-nominated artist he is now, Staples says in an interview, “I didn’t grow up with people breakdancing; I come from gang culture” (Amara, 2015).
This shows to the world that someone can do such things without having a certain event that “inspired” them to make music, Stapes has mirrored his process growing up and living in an album. Having the album address the struggles of an African American man growing up in a poor area and bringing it to the limelight, which brings along such vulnerability, makes the album a much more real narrative. Knowing this, it increases my appreciation for Staples’ work due to the fact that he promoted such controversial topics with such subtlety, that you don’t even notice some of it until the second or third listen. This shows the versatility of a young rapper who has a promising career who pushes the genre in a different direction, regardless of what others think.
References
Vince Staples. (2015). Summertime 06’ [MP3]. Def Jam Recordings.
Frydenlund, Z. (n.d.). Vince Staples Annotates 'Summertime '06' and Explains His Love For Fetty Wap. Complex News. Retrieved April 17, 2018, from http://www.complex.com/music/2015/07/vince-staples-genius-annotations
Hernandez, V. (2015, June 19). Vince Staples Explains Why "Summertime '06" Is A Double Album. Retrieved April 17, 2018, from https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.34336/title.vince-staples-explains-why-summertime-06-is-a-double-album#signup
Amarca, N. (2015, October 26). Vince Staples Reflects on His Violent Gang Past. Retrieved from https://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/10/26/vince-staples-calls-out-gang-culture/