Long Beach rapper Vince Staples has made quite the name for himself this past year. In 2015, he not only secured himself a position in XXL's Freshman Class, but he also released his debut album, Summertime 06, to widespread acclaim. With the production responsibilities largely being held down by No ID and Clams Casino, the album offered listeners a sonic coming of age tale couched between atmospheric production and Vince Staples' intelligent, street-savvy rapping.
Now that he's earned himself a spot at the forefront of hip hop music, Vince Staples is using his position to launch a program that will help give back his hometown. On Tuesday, Staples and Long Beach Ninth District Councilman Rex Richardson introduced the Youth Institute in North Long Beach, a YMCA affiliated program that will offer North Long Beach youth the opportunity to learn music production, film making, 3D printing, and graphic design. The program will be located in Hamilton Middle School, and it's geared towards helping students in eighth and ninth grade. Staples, who grew up in North Long Beach, has donated generously to the program.
“I think the most important thing is opportunities,” Staples said when discussing the program. “What I can say is, living over here my entire life, I’ve never had an opportunity given to me from the area, only examples of how to mess up, and what I didn’t want to do.”
In addition to giving back to the town that functions as the backdrop for so much of his music, Staples is still finding time to remain productive in the studio and churn out great music. The Long Beach rapper is featured on the single “All Nite,” which is on 32 Levels, the forthcoming album from East Coast producer Clams Casino.
By Ryan Donberg for RAPstaton.com
