Watch Vince Staples Light Up The Hollywood Hills for NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk’
The Long Beach rapper is joined by Kenny Beats and Fousheé in a laidback and candid installment of Tiny Desk.
Vince Staples brought a batch of standouts from his recently released self-titled album to a new Tiny Desk Concert from NPR.
Recorded live and direct from somewhere in the Hollywood Hills (or Calabassas,) the set featured scaled-back takes on four tracks from the new project as well as some very funny interstitial banter from the rapper. Leading with the album’s anchoring single, “LAW OF AVERAGES,” the performance opens with Staples as a candidly dry and witty master of ceremony, introducing his backing band, which features Gio “Dutchboi” Ligeon on guitar, Reske on keys, David Meyers Jr. drums, and none other than Kenny Beats on bass (fitting, considering he handled the bulk of the production for the new Staples’ album.) From there, the performance continues on a very laidback path, easing into the glistening and smoke-friendly, “SUNDOWN TOWN,” before a turn into the contemplative and slightly southern, “THE SHINING.” The performance closes with Fousheé (the lone guest on the self-titled album,) joining Staples and the band front and center to sing her hook on “TAKE ME HOME.”
Released on July 9th, Vince Staples marked the Long Beach rapper’s fourth studio album. The project debuted at No. 21 on Billboard’s 200 albums chart. Alongside the Tiny Desk debut, Staples went live with pre-orders of a limited edition blue vinyl package for the album. You can reserve your copy today on the rapper’s site.
Watch Vince Staples lead a band and light up the Hollywood Hills in a candid and crucial Tiny Desk debut below. Hold tight for his next transmission in the weeks and months ahead.