One of the most talented and forward-thinking voices in rap in the late 2010s, Vince Staples surfaced early in the decade with a spate of promising appearances on Odd Future-related recordings -- including Earl Sweatshirt's "epaR," Mike G's "Moracular World" and Award Tour EP, the Jet Age of Tomorrow's "Lunchbox," and Domo Genesis' "Elimination Chamber" -- as well as the 2011 mixtape Shyne Goldchain. In 2012, the rapper released Winter in Prague, a mixtape issued as a free download with the production work handled entirely by Michael Uzowuru. A darker, more introspective mixtape, Stolen Youth, arrived in 2013 with a co-billing to Larry Fisherman (a Mac Miller alias) and verses from Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q, Mac Miller (as Mac Miller), and Cutthroat Boyz partner Joey Fatts. Staples then performed as the opening act on Miller's Space Migration tour. Among Staples' assists in 2013 were verses on Earl Sweatshirt's Doris and Jhené Aiko's "The Vapors." The rapper continued his steady ascent in 2014 with a fourth mixtape, Shyne Goldchain, Vol. 2, and contributions to Common's Nobody's Smiling -- specifically on the key single "Kingdom," as well as on the deluxe edition bonus track "Out on Bond."nn His debut album, Summertime '06, landed in 2015 with production from Clams Casino and No ID. It rose to number three on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop chart and was selected as one of the top albums of 2015 on many notable year-end lists. The following summer, Staples released Prima Donna, a seven-track EP that featured A$AP Rocky and Kilo Kish. Again breaking into the Top Ten on the R&B/hip-hop chart, the EP featured production by James Blake and an accompanying short film. In 2017, in addition to featuring on the Gorillaz album Humanz, Staples issued his sophomore album, Big Fish Theory. The effort featured contributions by Bon Iver, Kilo Kish, Juicy J, Damon Albarn, Kendrick Lamar, Sophie, Flume, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. The critically acclaimed effort peaked in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200, Top R&B/hip-hop, and rap albums charts. Staples followed with an appearance on the Gorillaz track "Ascension" and "Opps" from the chart-topping soundtrack to the film Black Panther. In late 2018, Staples surprised fans with the unannounced release of his taut and immediate third album, FM! The album featured guests Earl Sweatshirt, Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign, Kamaiyah, Kehlani, and many more. ~ Andy Kellman & Neil Z. Yeung