Sonic Anatomy: Blackberry Marmalade

Background

After his two previous albums tackled the idea of trauma and loss and ita affects on aspects of life. Vince Staples first single moves more external than his own feelings. His most recent album, Dark Times focuses on his personal struggles and trauma, and Ramona Park as a tribute to his city. Now with this upcoming record, Crybaby, Vince is tacking more external forces in America.

The song itself

The first verse focuses on the aspect of the white man building off the work of the black man. Leading to the inevitable fall to the black man without seeing their own successes due to temptations from fame. The entire verse is built from the historical element of the first line and represents it's a structural problem. The chorus standing for a return to innocence and what his nana showed and taught him who he mentions early in the song. The second verse speaks on how exploiting is seen as opportunity and makes people not relate to issues that are important in other communities. The song as a whole is meant to picture a life as a black man in America.

Instrumentation

Not since Big Fish Theory has experimented this heavily in the instrumentation. Produced by Mike Hector, Banshee The Great and Vince himself, the song is built on a rock-rap styling that has been slowly growing back into prominence over the last few years. Another similar track from this year was A$AP Rocky's 'Punk Rocky'. Staples has built the early part of his career on his west coast style rapping on experimental beats. LIke on Big Fish Theory from earlier, used young producers of the Hyperpop genre like SOPHIE to build one of the best experimental rap projects of the past few years.