Long Beach emcee Vince Staples has been a staple in hip-hop since the early 2010s, and although he isn’t an artist who heavily promotes his music and embarks on arena tours, the lyricist has a legion of loyal fans and, during an interview with radio host Big Boy on Real 92.3 in Los Angeles, Staples explained why he as braggadocious as his peers.
Speaking about flaunting his wealth with jewellery and designer clothing, Staples explained that the financial situation of his fanbase doesn’t require him to show off his house or cars because it isn’t relatable to them.
According to the West Coast musician, presenting as he did before fame by not wearing jewellery and an excessive amount of designer garments means that his fans appreciate him for his music and not his wealth, making it a more authentic relationship.
Opening up about his fans and what he shares on social media, Staples explained, “If I know my consumer base and the people that supporting me is making minimum wage, I’m not going to show them a big old house, I’m not going to show them me on vacation, I’m not gonna show them a car or watch, I’m not going to do that personally.”
He continued, “I use it more so to have a direct line of communication with them because that’s the power of artists, like when you sign a record deal or any kind of contract [it’s] for visibility, it’s for people to connect you with your consumer base, that’s their job.”
Staples elaborated on the music industry’s current state, explaining how everything has transitioned to the internet and admitted artists have to be in some sense of “commerce” with their fans. However, he insisted it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant.
Many of Staples’ counterparts, such as Lil Uzi Vert and Trippie Redd, are extremely eager to show off their wealth, with MCs such as Lil Uzi Vert paying his $24million to have a pink diamond placed on his forehead. You can hear Staples speaking about his approach to flaunting in the video below.