VINCE STAPLES: RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART

By Leo Hewitt-Provost

04/08/2022 

Vince Staples is back after last year’s self-titled Vince Staples in the summer of 2021, Ramona Park Broke My Heart refers to the neighbourhood the Californian rapper grew up in. This is his longest project since Summertime ’06 came out in 2015, perhaps indicating a change of style for Vince Staples, who has adopted proportionate themes since his debut.

The 16-track project features Mustard, Lil Baby and Ty Dolla $ign.

The production on RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART might be his best yet, on DJ Quik and Magic With Mustard, Staples references legendary West Coast rapper and producer DJ Quik whilst You Know How We Do It by Ice Cube can be heard in Magic With Mustard.

On East Point Prayer featuring Lil Baby, Vince uses a different approach on the track with the rapper from Atlanta, adapting to his music style, the beat approaches a slightly slower tempo than majority of the album. Lil Baby’s presence suits the song, as you can predict happening from the start. And he delivers like he often does.

RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART is special, not only because Staples finds himself at a crossroads in his career, but because the themes touched on are simply of a man who has had to deal with anything coming his way his whole life. From making money and surviving in Long Beach, to dealing with fame and women, songs like Papercuts scream West Coast all day long, because he’ll never forget where he’s from.

Melodically, the rapper born in Compton is spot on, the track with Ty Dolla $ign allows the listener to take in new material sonically and on Mama’s Boy he talks loving the life he leads just like the way he loves his mom, giving a nod to OutKast in passing.

The last two tracks are critical, Rose Street and The Blues are two of the best songs on the project, whilst The Blues is by far the most personal song on the album, he opens up on both songs: ‘She said she’s in love, what’s that? Trust, what’s that? Us, what’s that? I’m only married to the money don’t play games; I’m only bringing flowers to the homies graves.’

RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART is everything I had hoped to be, reflective, critical and sumptuous lyricism are all ingredients for a compelling body of work, each track has been produced carefully with love and raw talent from Vince Staples and the producers. This makes for a very intricate body of work and a contender for one of the best releases for the first half of 2022.