Live Shots: Vince Staples hit the Warfield at a very poignant moment

Vince Staples, the Long Beach “anti-rap star rap star” (and, lately, TV regular) brought his quick-witted rhymes, deadpan absurdist humor, experimental beats, and community engagement to the Warfield on November 7 for his “Black in America” tour. Rapping in front of a US flag with a USA sweatshirt a couple days after the election brought an extra gravity to his lyrics and show—latest album Dark Times expresses a personal feeling of nowhere to turn in the current political environment, and tempers some of his rambunctious humor—with a dedicated crowd rapping along with every word of his hyper flow they could.