Vince Staples Talks New Project, Collabs and More with GQ

It’s been a while since we heard new music from Vince Staples. But, he recently sat down with Desus Nice in a new interview courtesy of GQ magazine for their May 2021 issue. He talks about his daily routine during the pandemic, his gaming hobby along with his political views. He also touches on his early day learning how to rap, Nipsey’s passing and more. He also unveils a new album on the way, a self titled project and Ramona Parks Broke My Heart this Fall. Take a look and see some of what he had to say below and read the full article on GQ.

DESUS NICE: The first track on the new album wasn’t poppy, but the beat was kind of upbeat. And then at one point, you’re just like, “I want to shoot a n-gga in the head.” And I was like, “Okay. All right. This is Vince Staples.” Your lyrics are hardcore. There’s hardcore gangster rap, but it’s not over-the-top like your stuff, which still somehow feels light. How do you find that balance?

VINCE STAPLES: That whole verse is just based on feelings that I had when I was younger. Certain things that I’ve seen or that I’ve experienced where I grew up on the Northside. So it never comes across, to me, as showboaty or glorifying. It might seem like it’s stark, or that I’m trying to make it scary, but that’s not what it is. A lot of the time it comes from a positive space. From a then-and-now kind of perspective.

You’ve said that you do the same thing every day. Walk us through an average morning as Vince Staples. 
In the pandemic or out of the pandemic?

In the pandemic now. 
I wake up early. I watch either First Take or Undisputed, depending on who I’m trying to hear. I’m not watching live sports or anything like that right now. That’s all I need: First Take or Undisputed. Start making coffee. I’m trying to get off the coffee, though, so sometimes I’ll make tea. I brush my teeth like a psychopath—to be honest, way too many times a day. It’s probably not healthy. Then I’ll drink my coffee, go through these emails I try not to respond to, and brush my teeth again.