The Tao of Vince Staples: "Dark Times" analysis

Each listen brought me closer to better understanding this masterwork. @vincestaples
My other spam channel: / @fromthedeskofprofesso... The best way to get my attention is to leave a comment (I read them all) The best way to support me is smashing the like bucket, scubscribing and joiningk my Patreon: www.patreon.com/professorskye The best way to reach me is my businexss email: [e-mail] I am on Instagram: / professor_skye You can also buy my merch (for now): professor-skye... The best way to hear my music (from over 20 years ago) is on BandCamp: www.bandcamp.com/professorskye My name on Reddit is "losermobile" for a weird reason

[@shr00m7]

AAVA. Ettoufe in the French/Cajun/creole culinary linguistic tradition means 'smothered' not choke. I don't think it changes the meaning in this context, but I couldn't stop myself from commenting because the fusion of French culinary technique and west African recipes and arrangements with local (and imported) ingredients to create Cajun/Creole cuisine is amazing to me.

[@professorskye]

One of my favorite EVER comments.

[@michaelisaslin]

saw someone commented on his story "is this the end of Vince Staples the rapper and the beginning of Vince Staples the artist" and he replied "that's racist just letting you know." also another quote relevant here Lin Manuel Miranda "the path to the universal is through the specific" i think that's what vince is doing here

[@roramdin]

trainer tips reference has my mind blown i'm in that venn diagram!

[@professorskye]

That’s awesome! I messed up and forgot to set up a live chat, would have been fun to have a trainer tips convo

[@kerkkoh]

Hi Ro! 👋

[@BEASTYMUZIK]

being a trainer tips, prof skye, vince & ro fan is even wilder

[@zadig08]

@@roramdin seeing you here has my mind blown. We're all very venn right now.

[@hunterdelaghetto]

Summary: Album goes off, go buy it ✨

[@86Sentra]

Is it $10 ? F*ck it why not

[@OSNLebuna]

Vince reminded you of the Tao in the interview when he said "whatever pops up on the canvas" explaining his process of creation. lol he reminded me of Miyamoto Musashi and the Way of Ether. Once you trust your abilities you can forget everything and move gracefully with force.

[@vickjr98]

Well said

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

42:40 I love these videos because they are so eclectic and free ranging, I came to learn about Vince Staples, and left wanting to look up more Rembrandt. AVAA!

[@CypressSaint]

AVAA. You are one of the most interesting and thought-provoking music reviewers on this platform. I have gotten several excellent book recommendations from you in the last 10 days. Keep up the good work Prof.

[@joaoamaral8528]

I think I may have found another layer to "Government Cheese". What do you say when you want to smile when taking a picture? "Cheese!" (don't forget to smile)

[@tvrmat]

As a Chinese Vince Staples fan who went through the Chinese language curriculum in China, @11:30 you just drew the line between two dots that I've never thought of connecting. Your field of studies and interpolation of things are truly appreciated -- subscribed.

[@natefrm3rdnation332]

The way you describe the Vince Staples show is hilariously accurate lol Always enjoy your insight and perspective Prof!

[@nafriadn]

AVAA. Your inquiry to the album with Tao Te Ching makes me think another way about this record, a positive one. At first, I thought what he thought to get that life like that is to hang 'like the n**** in the tree', like being dead is the ultimate way to be one to anything around you. That's how I interpreted it, looking at the cover. I feel like Vince trying to be truthful to himself but around him full of insincerity and hypocrisy, like on Justin or the part 'easier getting pussy than a hug' or how people see him as the money tree. He wants that genuine and honest connections with people, instead he, mostly, found otherwise. But by admitting that he just a grain of sand on the beach and no need to be hurried to get where he wants to be. Despite the title, I think this album really illuminating for me personally.

[@fhbawerilg]

Was watching your review of the Scaring the Hoes album and you were talking about the fusion of techno and hip hop and how it interests you. So i think you would love the album Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples AVAA

[@tadknuf7979]

He's gonna love my album if I ever make it

[@Thomas-xr8zt]

AVAA the beautiful thing about his artistry is how Vince not only tied this into his show but his entire discography. From production down to expanding on themes, lyrics and song titles. The 2013 Vince Staples fan is glad I stuck around.

[@wizenup]

Im supposed to be watching a lecture online for class rn. Instead Im watching this lecture. Worth it.

[@337bryce]

AAVA ! this is vince’s final album for the label he’s been on for over a decade. that made “freeman” a powerful statement at the end of the album to me, and now you! 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 POETIC DEVICES OVER ELECTRIC DEVICES

[@janelle7778]

AVAA! I adore Vince Staples and I’m here for all the commentary. I still keep Ramona Park close to my heart and you absolutely helped me get to that place with it.

[@CalebBrownlee-bf8lp]

I LOVE the drums on this album!

[@trevorroddy3773]

OVER AN HOUR? So excited to watch this, I’ve been infatuated with the album. avaa

[@StevieMikhael]

AAVA Kendrick Lamar Vs Drake battle brought me to this channel but i ended up staying and subscribing for your different perspective and insight thank you so much for this channel hearing a professor talking about these points is something i didn't know i needed. I would love to hear your opinion on Vince's Npr Performance

[@hallisb]

AVAA! Your analysis is not only incredibly in depth and scholarly in the best possible way, but as a fellow 40+ white hip hop, you do it with a level of respect and awareness of our positions as oursiders to this culture that is sadly often left unacknowledged by many other reviewers and critics of hip hop

[@jhonguedez1294]

AVAA. how i read "Justin" was that in the end when the other person comes in it is assumed that the girl has a man already and that's why Vince gets alarmed, all that to be revealed that it's her little cousin Justin, so the whole thing interprets as a story of Vince having a difficult time trusting women because of his past experiences. the verse is written just general enough so that it can be interpreted both ways. this album is amazing

[@Trixiethegoldenwitch]

Trainer Tips Nick is friends with a guy I used to podcast with, the youtube world is not so big! I gotta watch Vince's show. AVAA

[@bananaduck14]

This analysis is so beautiful, it really changed the way I looked at this album which in turn has honestly changed the way I look at life in many ways. The Taoist themes that you mentioned really speak to the feelings I often have that I've never been able to put words to. I dont think I ever fully appreciated the artistry and philosophy that's present in Vince's work until you discussed how intricate every detail in his art is, like the sample flip on black and blue. The comparisons you drew between the album and the show also have me rewatching the show and seeing how profound (and hilarious) it really is. AVAA, truly.

[@vincentbilodeau2467]

Ruff ruff!! Avaa but these last few videos have been especially awesome! Loved the fight for opacity in the Mach Hommy review and this discussion on daoism

[@victoriaoswaldino]

AVAA, fr This is my favorite video of yours so far, you might like the Complex interview Vince gave at Complex's That's Deep, it's funny af

[@Obs1d1ous]

bro this is amazing break down of Vinces album

[@ethanlockwood8195]

AVAA thank you for always bringing such an interesting perspective to your videos

[@dasher512]

This video was fantastic. This is one my favorite albums of all time, and I've listened to it countless times after it being out for only a few months, and yet you pointed out so many things that I didn't even consider. AVAA

[@professorskye]

Thanks. Isn’t it just great music?

[@zahkilovett]

@3:58 your right on, perfect comparison & great review of the album also

[@kl31n]

listening to a dope album and coming here for random but relevant side lore is starting to become a ritual for me

[@geeteejae]

AVAA! Loved this project, it reminds me of Mr Morale in how it examines love and trauma. Vince's music is very introspective, and its cool how you drew comparisons to other artists and art history. I care about Rembrandt!

[@mrant9317]

Anytime you talked about a track I just had to go back and listen to it again, it really is that good of an album. You're commentary is poignant as always, keep making these videos for a long time they are amazing. AAVA

[@EricTheSwede]

That part at the beginning about every song being a possible episode is so damn true. I visualized the entirety of 'Justin' as an episode..

[@zero-rh8nt]

"Find the beauty in the darkness like Rembrandt" AVAA

[@OSNLebuna]

Curb Your Enthusiasm meets Atlanta is very on point

[@terracottakim8234]

I feel the curb your enthusiasm reference, but it’s more than that, there are subtleties there that you pick up being a Black person watching it that I guess you all won’t get, especially when I know what Black men go through- like on the first episode when he was wrongly locked up why he didn’t tell his girlfriend - Like I understand that and that makes me sad for him and Black men, but I don’t think other people not in our culture would get that. Curb your enthusiasm, always felt privileged and whimsical in a way to me. This show was very heavy, like the episode when they’re at the amusement park … what that meant for me the way he treated the Black woman in the store meant something to me and her response as opposed to when he went to the chicken shop with the white guy who wouldn’t speak to him and the level of service he received. I think you just have to be in our community to get the Nuances and the eye-opening and heartbreaking concepts.

[@OSNLebuna]

@@terracottakim8234 hence the Atlanta reference

[@levibrown3222]

AVAA - gotta post one after really getting to watch some hours of you after the Kendrick pop. Your ability to connect and explain subtleties like you did with this album is just so awesome. I’m seriously hooked with your content thank you for being so passionate. Much love (Why is the acronym so tough lol)

[@khoisantsu5907]

Ron Burgundy reference at the beginning is dope!!!

[@karimsamuele]

I used to watch trainer tips, I watch most of your videos, and I love vince staples.

[@_kakfa]

AVAA!!! a laozi/taoism discussion was the last thing i expected from this review but i will never tire of the crazy literature / philosophy connections you make prof because it just means i have more i can learn about 😂 i love this record, i love that your review included a more expansive view of Vince as an artist right now. thanks!

[@dfwherbie8814]

AAVA I had no idea Vince Staples was Haitian. Looks like we are getting back-to-back dope drops from Haitian artists between Mach, him, and Kaytranada (dropping on the 7th). Anyway, dope album. Definitely one of my favorites for the year.

[@y2washere]

AAVA. Loved the Show and loved the album. Another strong addition to his catalogue.

[@kerosssene]

AAVA. I felt very seen as a long time Vince Staples fan who's grandmother also moved from Louisiana to the north who's specialty is crawfish ettoufee haha.

[@ComptonFunk]

Amazing review 🙏🏽

[@rendeldudy8252]

the best album analysis channel on KZbin , keep up the great work , FROM BELGIUM

[@ronanmcintyre]

I was in Belgium when I first listened to this album!

[@Nkanyiso_K]

This month is so stacked full of new music.

[@Nkanyiso_K]

10:15 After Grippy I think he know no shame 😅

[@carlo.notcarlos]

Hey man, i subscribed not only becuz i appreciate your vids. But u COMPLETELY sold me when u referenced Will Ferrell's "The human torch was denied a bank loan" quote. 😂😂😂 Even the fact that u threw it in there so casually. Lol! I feel like we're friends now. 😂😂😂

[@professorskye]

I figure references like that work best when they aren’t acknowledged. 😀

[@carlo.notcarlos]

@@professorskye they do! Lol

[@hypeyoungblood1252]

Best album of the year so far!!

[@337bryce]

AAVA!!!!! i’ve already listened to this album multiple times front to back, but you’re that guy man! so i do this: i listen to a track while reading the lyrics, pause the album and press play on your review. then i pause your review before you go to the next song, then i listen to a track while reading the lyrics, pause the album and press play on your review again. you break shit down like you write lyrics, you need to rap my guy. if ur ever interested in that department, get at me lol A A V A

[@revdogmarxist]

good shit man

[@llamapartyy]

Always listen to your reviews at work, keep it up !

[@josephobonyo2]

AVAA. On the song Fire from his EP "Hell Can Wait", he repeats the sentence "I'm probably finna go to Hell anyway" in the hook.

[@olzzydlzzy6750]

Can't wait to watch this at work

[@ShindoSteez]

Glad I could stumble upon your review

[@pennypack6406]

You would be a guest on Being Ian With Jordan’s podcast. OCD OVERLOAD. Throw Matt Mcuscker in there. Hurricane of conversation

[@hunterstickler1092]

was absolutely waiting for this analysis thank you so much and much love ❤❤❤

[@togu_mak245]

8:10 prof skye a real #GEEKER

[@noahberry7497]

im not sure if you did a breakdown of the show, but I can't find one anywhere. and id love to hear what you think all those little details in the show mean. found you during the drake kendrick incident. love your content. your views are always intriguing. AVAA

[@noahberry7497]

ohh. you just explained its on patreon

[@pro_fanity08]

AVAA 1. the clip that billy woods uses is off of his albums terror management which you have not reviewed and should. 2 vince referenced kanye on nothing really matters with “you worried bout the wrong things” which is cool 👍

[@fentanyljones6956]

Black Charlie Brown kinda blew my mind. Definitely on point.

[@JalenZachhM]

AVAA! And Ruff Ruff! Great video Skye🫶🙏

[@Ben-xj2rf]

Coming back to this video because I just relistened to the billy woods album where he sampled the James Baldwin Nikki Giovanni conversation. It was on Terror Management, which was from 2019, so I doubt you would have listened to/reviewed it (iirc you started reviewing woods in the 2020s with Haram?) unless you’ve been through the rest of woods’ discography on your own time.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Incredible album

[@itsmissinformation]

AAVA! also, the two of wu tang is an incredible autobiography

[@bsmoove05]

AVAA!!!!! Loved your take on this album

[@shaythecowboy]

i think this man might be my favourite person alive, truly the goat

[@invaderzeke]

ironically, he was on a song called Rembrandt w/ dreamville 5 years ago.

[@CLOCKWERKJERKZ]

Loved this one, his Self-Titled album was good for sure to. I think they exist in the same sonics.

[@teddy-fl6hm]

the second episode of the vince staples show is the best 20 minutes of entertainment maybe ever. avaa

[@PabloHernandez-rr1or]

AVAA, beautiful album

[@qnms101]

this might be the best video on the internet

[@Yyyram]

Ok as someone who’s a huge Vince staples fan and a follower of Daoism umm AVAA THIS WAS MADE FOR ME PROF!

[@zariahsilva]

AVA! pls listen to jhene aiko trip album if you can. or any of her projects. she also has a strong west coast vibe being from slauson and ladera heights, LA , same place as nipsey

[@kamperry4810]

As someone who has grown up their entire life in long beach around the north side area, It just goes to reflect the level of diversity within the culture comparing vince staples to snoop and sublime and the cultural impact it has on west coast music

[@03Martian]

AVAA! Been waiting for this!

[@thirdegreesmirk8838]

AAVA prof please upload your videos as podcasts on spotify 🙏🏼💯

[@simamkelewes3813]

AVAA! Wat do u think abt coles feature on grippy ??

[@ten51o]

you're a gem of the culture. don't let anyone tell you different.

[@abuslang5715]

government cheese could also work as some reference to smiling since we say cheese to get people to smile before taking a photo

[@hungrytim]

Anchorman reference got me 😆

[@pennypack6406]

I want to watch the professor react to the ‘Norf Norf, lady reaction’

[@genesisalejo3391]

“I don’t think they’re connected to Megan Thee Stallion but maybe” lmfaoooooo

[@XplainLuxury86]

AVAA being from southern Louisiana i always appreciate the french creole history. bonus.

[@AllTheArtsy]

If Vince Staples is Rembrandt, Kendrick might be JMW Turner. (Because both the latter are my preferred, even though all are of course amazing).

[@rubenvandebeek4441]

could you review Manger on McNickels? Its great

[@claudionyc]

avaa, and it's nothing even matters, not nothing ever matters, but you otherwise on point

[@jetswade_rapbot]

Not liking a song for lack of swearing sucks.. I was hoping of a possibility of you having one of my songs reviewed in the future, guess I'm out of luck in that regard now, love your channel though

[@professorskye]

That was 12 year old Skye who didn’t like radio

[@jetswade_rapbot]

@@professorskye all is forgiven.. lol 👍

[@337bryce]

AAVA🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 👂🏾“when sparks fly” by vince staples. &lemme know when you’ve experienced that song plzzzz

[@RayTheomo]

My personal Aoty.

[@frameddonut1056]

Hey, can anyone expand on what the Professor said at 9:48 ? Because I *felt* the truth in that (as someone who loves performing and is studying to be an actor), but I don't know if was able to logically process this part of the video. So if anyone can expand on that line of thought it'd be great!

[@professorskye]

I’ll do it ! Basically, the drive to be successful often comes from a place of feeling small. (I’m 100% speaking from personal experience) If I feel big enough in the world then I won’t feel so small in myself. Of course, it doesn’t work that way amd the answers are all within (as Vince says to his bank robber friend in Episode 2 of his show) But that drive can be useful and has led to a lot of great creations. Given the fact that rap is so competitive it means that it is constantly finding new ways to say “I’m the best” which is a very important sentiment, but one which usually derives from some insecurity.

[@frameddonut1056]

@@professorskye Oh, thanks for taking the time to answer my question! That helps me a lot with the little existential crisis your original quote sent me in 😅. Your videos are great Professor! You actually convinced me to listen to Steve Lacy, and I learn a lot from these philosophical moments in your videos, keep up the great work! Love from Brazil

[@Ben-xj2rf]

AVAA In modern Mandarin (“standard” chinese i.e. the official gov’t language) the Tao Te Ching would be pronounced closer to Dao De Jing. Its popular spelling as Tao Te Ching is a holdover from an older system of romanization (Wade-Giles) that is seen as less accurate than the current standard system of pinyin. Pinyin was only adopted in 1958 by China and in the 80s by the UN so it has only relatively recently started gaining popularity. Classic texts and popular figures have probably retained their older transliterations due to inertia

[@Ben-xj2rf]

Anyway my four years of high school chinese and two years in middle school have amounted to me knowing only this much

[@michaelrico4761]

New to the community, what does AAVA mean?

[@timotheusgilmore7247]

What’s up professor Vince is One of those Guys

[@Rayebae738]

AVAA. I could listen to Vince again.

[@oneswellfoop5022]

That Vince Stapler lmao

[@socity13]

AAVA!!! I also care about Rembrandt

[@squirellbrain]

never occurred to me that people didnt know about government cheese lol

[@travisrose9716]

AVAA 10 seconds in and we have an anchorman refrence

[@Met_One]

RUFF RUFF 🙏

[@gestalticavia322]

AVAA I'm going to chant Canibus at you until you at least acknowledge you have plans for a video on him. He has a couple shows coming up in June. Actually, it would be about the dopest thing for you to interview him. That's some added challenge because he hates interviews... But I think if he saw a couple of your vids, and understood you aren't your average dot dot dot, he might be more down. Just don't ask about beef, stay on his craft and he'll love you. 🤠

[@professorskye]

I’ve owned and liked his first album for decades 😀

[@gestalticavia322]

It's funny, I came by him the other direction. Other people I like keep referencing his music I'm finding. billy woods, Aesop, Apathy... Almost guaranteed if I like it in Hip Hop and it came after 2000, I can trace it back to Germaine. It's bananas.

[@OutsideDontClear]

Prof Skye making me realize I may be a Daoist.