Long Beach rapper Vince Staples is one of hip-hop's most potent young voices on the mic, but he may be even better off. Here are just five pieces of proof.
1. "I would vote for Kanye in 2020. Everybody loves Kanye. Instead of wars, he'd just do concerts in North Korea. 'Why are y'all mad at us? Look, I'm about to do 'Good Life.'" Sounds like a great president to me." (GQ)
2. "I didn't give a fuck about fucking hip-hop when Toy Story 2 came out. Rap? Get the fuck out of my face. Wu-Tang Clan? Nah. Woody and Buzz." (Fader)
3. "Michael Jordan's such a scumbag. I love him. Michael Jordan and Donald Trump are the same kind of person. They are the epitome of bad people in America becoming successful." (GQ)
4."I'm all about going hard or going home. If you're getting high and you're not on the crack rock, I've got to worry about your commitment to the cause." (Pitchfork)
5. "You've got to scare people enough to where they leave you alone but not scare them enough to where you get indicted. That's the secret of hip-hop success." (Fact)
SEE IT: Vince Staples plays the Project Pabst Kickoff Party in the Dr. Martens parking lot, 2 NW 10th Ave., with Mean Jeans, on Friday, Aug. 26. 5 pm. Sold out. All ages.
Willamette Week