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The new era of Vince Staples' career has officially begun.
On Monday, May 20, the rapper-actor debuted his latest single "Shame on the Devil" ahead of his forthcoming album Dark Times. Staples uses the ominous instrumental to reflect on how far he's come in his life despite losing friendships and experiencing moments of loneliness. The California natives considers the song to be “a personal achievement" amid his final album on Def Jam Recordings.
"It’s me mastering some things I’ve tried before that I wasn’t great at in the beginning," Staples said about the record. "It’s a testament to musical growth, song structure—all the good stuff.”
Along with the single, Vince Staples also debuted the album's official cover, which features a noose hidden in plain sight. According to a press release, he recorded his eighth studio album in North Hollywood over the past seven months. The Long Beach native landed on the album's title after he heard the final product in full and noticed the various dismal themes throughout the project.
“I’m Black, and that’s what we’re evading,” Staples said about the album cover. “We all have our things that could kill us. We all have that imminent threat.”
Dark Times serves as the follow-up to Vince Staples' 2022 LP Ramona Park Broke My Heart. His critically-acclaimed album contains songs like "Magic" featuring Mustard, "Slide," "East Point Prayer" with Lil Baby and more. His new 13-track album will also arrive few months after he debuted his Netflix series "The Vince Staples Show." Staples wrote, produced and starred in the five-episode comedy series, which received rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
Look out for Vince Staples' Dark Times album dropping this Friday, May 24. Listen to "Shame on the Devil" and see what he had to say about his last album on Def Jam below.
"Eleven years ago, a young, uncertain version of myself was given an opportunity with Def Jam Recordings," Vince Staples wrote. "I released my first project under their banner, Shyne Coldchain Vol 2, a year later. I was unsure of what to expect from the world of music but deeply aware of what I needed: a change in my surroundings and a clear understanding of self. Ten years and seven projects later, I’ve found that clarity. Now, I share with you my final Def Jam release, Dark Times. 5.24.24"
WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE