Vince Staples’ Atypical Long Beach Upbringing Comes To Life In A Mini-Documentary (Video)

In the latest episode of “The Neighborhood,” Complex zooms in on Long Beach, California lyricist Vincent Staples. The video takes the viewers on a casual stroll through the young MC’s old stomping grounds and let’s us get up close and personal with some of his childhood friends and family members. Vincent is know for being very vocal about the things he’s observed on the streets of his SoCal childhood (including several places), so it’s no surprise that his narration of the setting in his episode of “The Neighborhood” is just as open.

As he sits on his grandma’s couch (in Compton), the Def Jam Records artist notes that his “Blue Suede” video was filmed nearby. He also reveals that two of his friends in the background of that video are dead, another one is in jail, and he implies that he might have ended up the same way had his mom not “moved him away.”

Despite some of the negative truths shared in this segment, Vincent keeps an upbeat vibe as he elaborates on his neighborhood’s rich cultural background and reminisces about spending whole school days hanging out at the local mall.

Like Kendrick Lamar from Compton, J. Cole from Fayetteville, or Big K.R.I.T. from Meridian, do you think the LBC is part of what makes Vince so refreshing to the masses when they heard the acclaimed Hell Can Wait debut EP?

Related: Vince Staples Holds Open The Screen Door & Welcomes Us Into His World (Video)