Vince Staples

Vincent Jamal Staples (born July 2, 1993) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He first gained recognition through his work with members and affiliates of Odd Future, contributing to projects by Earl Sweatshirt, Mike G, and The Jet Age of Tomorrow. Staples' music is described as West Coast hip-hop, featuring conscious subject matter alongside avant-garde, dance, and electronic production influences. Outside of his solo music career, he is a member of the hip-hop trio Cutthroat Boyz alongside Aston Matthews and Joey Fatts.

Staples was born in Compton, California. His family has background roots in Haiti, Eastern Canada, and Louisiana before settling in Compton, where his family became involved in local street gang culture. During his elementary middle-school years at Optimal Christian Academy, Staples excelled in writing and politics, while participating in Snoop Dogg's Snoop Youth Football League. He spent significant time on the Eastside of Long Beach, California, with his grandfather, eventually joining the 2N Gangsta Crips. After attending Mayfair High School in Lakewood, Staples moved to Atlanta to attend Westlake High School before returning to California, where he attended several high schools and eventually lived in the Ramona Park neighborhood of North Long Beach.

Staples began rapping casually before connecting with musicians such as Dijon Samo, Syd tha Kyd, and other Odd Future affiliates. In December 2011, he released his debut mixtape, Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1. He subsequently released the collaborative mixtape Winter in Prague with producer Michael Uzowuru in 2012 and worked with Mac Miller on the 2013 mixtape Stolen Youth. After signing with Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Records and later ARTium Recordings, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings, Staples released his debut extended play, Hell Can Wait, in 2014, which marked his first entry on the Billboard 200 chart.

Staples released his debut studio album, Summertime '06, in 2015, featuring the single "Norf Norf," which was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He followed this with the EP Prima Donna in 2016 and his second studio album, Big Fish Theory, in 2017. Staples subsequently released FM! in 2018, a self-titled album Vince Staples in 2021, and Ramona Park Broke My Heart in 2022. His sixth album, Dark Times (2024), marked his final release under Def Jam Recordings. In 2026, he released his seventh studio album, Cry Baby, as an independent artist through Loma Vista Recordings.

In addition to his recording career, Staples has worked as an actor and voice artist. His screen credits include roles in the films Dope (2015) and Mutafukaz (2015), as well as appearances in television series including American Dad! (2018), Lazor Wulf (2019–2021), Abbott Elementary (2022–2023), and White Men Can't Jump (2023). In 2015, he became a brand ambassador for Sprite, and he also co-created the original graphic novel Limbo Beach, published by Z2 Comics.

In 2024, Staples created and starred in the Netflix series The Vince Staples Show. The series aired for two seasons, with its second season premiering on November 6, 2025, before being canceled in January 2026. Following the series, Staples continued his music career as an independent artist with the release of Cry Baby.