Dark Times is the sixth studio album by American rapper Vince Staples. It was released on May 24, 2024, through Blacksmith Records and Def Jam Recordings, and is his final release with the latter label after more than 10 years.
I enjoy how personal and dark this record is. However, my problem with the last few records have been the same: he went from a place of pushing hip-hop forward to returning to a comfort zone of relying on his storytelling to carry the album forward. I do think this is his best release since either Vince Staples in 2021 or FM! in 2019.
I need more time to digest but I have some first thoughts.. It's philosopher Vince. Trust no bitch Vince. Kinda miss hyphy Vince. Which he mentions fans complaining about. Productions like a mix of the last two albums, both of which I loved but I dunno. Kinda cold on this. He sounds like an old man, which, fair. Favourite song is still the single. Never thought I'd hear him interpolating Lauryn Hill and Kanye on the same record. Have to update this later on.
The final installment of the Querría-Que-Esto-Me-Gustase-Más Trilogy.
Entristece que alguien que ha hecho álbumes tan estimulantes como Big Fish Theory lleve tres discos seguidos acomodado en la contención y la languidez. No es mal disco, y tiene buenas canciones (Étouffée, por ejemplo) igual que Vince Staples y Ramona Park Broke My Heart tenían cortes interesantes, pero da la sensación de que el bueno de Vince va a medio gas y podría dar más de sí.