Big Fish Theory

Big Fish Theory
Studio album by Vince Staples
Released June 23, 2017 (2017-06-23)
Studio
  • EastWest, Los Angeles, CA
  • The Torch, Los Angeles, CA
Genre
Length 36:04
Label
Producer
Vince Staples chronology
Prima Donna
(2016)		 Big Fish Theory
(2017)
Singles from Big Fish Theory
  1. "BagBak"
    Released: February 2, 2017
  2. "Big Fish"
    Released: May 18, 2017
  3. "Rain Come Down"
    Released: June 8, 2017

Big Fish Theory is the second studio album by American rapper Vince Staples. It was released on June 23, 2017, by ARTium Recordings, Blacksmith Records and Def Jam Recordings. Featuring an avant-garde style that leans toward electronic club music genres such as house and Detroit techno, it contains production work from Zack Sekoff, Sophie, Ray Brady, Jimmy Edgar, GTA, Justin Vernon and Flume, among others; as well as vocal contributions from a variety of artists including Kilo Kish, Kendrick Lamar, Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, Damon Albarn, Ray J and ASAP Rocky.

Staples promoted Big Fish Theory with a tour through Canada and United States, the Life Aquatic Tour. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, and debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard 200. The album was supported by three singles: "BagBak", "Big Fish" and "Rain Come Down".

Recording and production

The majority of Big Fish Theory was recorded at EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, except for "Ramona Park Is Yankee Stadium" and "BagBak", which were recorded with producer Ray Brady at The Torch, also in Los Angeles.[2] Staples met Zack Sekoff, the album's primary producer, through Staples' DJ Westside Ty.[3]

Music and lyrics

Style and influences

Big Fish Theory's sound was inspired by Burial, James Blake, Novelist, Wiley and Zomby.[3] Despite all of these artists being English, Staples apparently wanted the album to have a Detroit techno aesthetic.[4]

Composition and lyrics

Big Fish Theory is a hip hop album,[5][6] with several publications noting that the album leans toward electronic club music genres such as house and Detroit techno.[5][7][8][9][10] The album contains "terse and percussive" beats.[11] Rolling Stone characterized the album as an "avant-garde dance record that takes stock of his current loves, victories, politics and — most noticeably — interest in the cutting edge of electronic music."[12] Similarly, Justin Moran of Out said the album "fuses avant-garde electronica with aggressive hip-hop"[13] and HipHopDX described it as "one of the more avant-garde projects backed by Def Jam."[14] "Crabs in a Bucket" has wind, a police siren, ambient tape hiss, vocal chops and synthesizers. "Party People" has "stuttering" and syncopated tom-toms.[11]

Big Fish Theory's lyrics are nihilistic[5][6] and touch on politics,[9][15] suicide,[5] racism[16][17] and success and fame.[7][8][15] NME said: "[Staples'] bleak lyrical brilliance is perfectly matched by Big Fish Theory's experimental production. He's always had a taste for harsh electronic funk, and he embraces that creative urge more eagerly than ever. There's slo-mo techno, dystopian G-funk, field recordings, growling industrialism; abstract, icy grooves more indebted to Berlin than Atlanta."[6] AllMusic described the record as "a skittish thought piece wrapped around the nucleus of the Chicago footwork sound.[18] Brian Josephs of Spin thought that "Big Fish Theory's whiplash sonic shifts and industrial makeup will make comparisons with Kanye West's Yeezus easy. However, it may have more in common with The Life of Pablo, which combined elements of Yeezus' avant-garde structure with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's tortured look at fame."[8]

Release and promotion

On November 29, 2016, Staples announced he would go on a 2017 tour in promotion of Big Fish Theory, the Life Aquatic Tour, alongside Kilo Kish. It began on February 24, 2017 in San Diego, California, and ended on April 9 of the same year, in Phoenix, Arizona.[19][20]

On January 3, 2017, Staples announced that he would release a song called "BagBak" on February 2, 2017.[21] On May 18, in an interview on Zane Lowe's show Beats 1, he announced the title of his upcoming album and released an accompanying single, "Big Fish".[22][23] He also announced that Big Fish Theory would be released on June 23, 2017.[24][25] On June 8, he released his third single, "Rain Come Down",[26] as well an accompanying music video.[27] On June 11, he released the album's artwork and an Instagram photo of the 12-song track list.[28][29]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.4/10[30]
Metacritic89/100[31]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
The A.V. ClubA−[32]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[33]
The Guardian[16]
NME[6]
The Observer[34]
Pitchfork8.7/10[7]
Q[35]
Rolling Stone[12]
ViceA−[36]

Big Fish Theory received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 89, based on 25 reviews.[31] AllMusic critic Neil Z. Yeung thought that "Big Fish Theory cements Staples' status as one of the most talented and forward-thinking voices in rap in the late 2010s."[18] The A.V. Club's Clayton Purdom stated: "On Big Fish Theory, an album about the guilt that comes with transcending one's home, Staples finds a better language still."[32] Liam Egan of Clash described the album as "a record that not only sees Vince taking risks and progressing forward as an artist, but also another astounding example of what hip-hop should and can be in 2017."[37] Eric Renner Brown of Entertainment Weekly thought that Big Fish Theory "surpasses expectations, with incisive lyrics and beats that spurn current trends for a set that sounds unlike anything else in hip-hop right now."[33] The Guardian's Kate Hutchinson stated that the record "makes for a challenging, dystopian listen, the blade runner to everyone else's replicant."[16]

Joe Madden of NME stated that Staples' lyrics are "emotionally calibrated for 2017: antsy, alienated and occasionally overcome with nihilistic despair at the state of the world. And his bleak lyrical brilliance is perfectly matched by Big Fish Theory's experimental production."[6] Pitchfork gave it the title of "Best New Music" with writer Sheldon Pearce stating that "Big Fish Theory feels like a natural progression" and further added: "Amid the gleaming productions, he's still exploring darkness."[7] Rolling Stone's Christopher R. Weingarten stated: "sure, it's less focused than the reportage of 2015's Summertime '06, but the varying emotions and outlooks mark a full step forward into becoming a multi-layered, genre-crossing, emotion-spilling pop auteur in the vein of West, Drake or Childish Gambino."[12] The Line of Best Fit's Erik Thompson wrote that "on this record it is clear that Staples is making his own assertive artistic statement for these turbulent times, while also firmly establishing himself as one of the brash, singular voices that is going to be leading the music world into the chaotic, unpredictable future."[38] Sputnikmusic praised the album, calling it the best hip hop album of 2017.[39]

Year-end lists

Publication Rank Ref.
The A.V. Club
9
Billboard
18
Clash
14
Complex
14
Consequence of Sound
4
Entertainment Weekly
7
Exclaim!
2
HipHopDX
10
The Independent
16
Newsweek
14
NME
15
Now
5
Pitchfork
7
PopMatters
21
Rap-Up
16
Rolling Stone
28
Rough Trade
70
The Skinny
8
Stereogum
18
Variety N/A

Commercial performance

Big Fish Theory debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard 200 with 24,000 album-equivalent units, of which 14,000 were pure album sales.[60]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's official liner notes.[2]

Big Fish Theory
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Crabs in a Bucket"
  • Sekoff
  • Vernon[a]
3:17
2."Big Fish"
Christian Rich3:18
3."Alyssa Interlude"
Sekoff2:38
4."Love Can Be..."
GTA2:58
5."745"
Jimmy Edgar3:47
6."Ramona Park Is Yankee Stadium"
  • Staples
  • Raymond Edward Brady III
Ray Brady0:51
7."Yeah Right"
3:08
8."Homage"
Sekoff2:53
9."Samo"
Sophie2:54
10."Party People"
  • Staples
  • Sekoff
Sekoff2:58
11."BagBak"
  • Staples
  • Brady
Brady2:41
12."Rain Come Down"
Sekoff4:41
Total length:36:04

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • "Crabs in a Bucket", "Ramona Park is Yankee Stadium" and "Homage" feature additional vocals by Kilo Kish
  • "Big Fish" features additional vocals by Juicy J
  • "Love Can Be..." features additional vocals by Kilo Kish, Damon Albarn and Ray J
  • "Yeah Right" features additional vocals by Kendrick Lamar and Kučka
  • "Samo" features additional vocals by ASAP Rocky and Kilo Kish
  • "BagBak" features additional vocals by Ken Rogers
  • "Rain Come Down" features additional vocals by Ty Dolla Sign

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's official liner notes.[2]

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[61] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[62] 91
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[63] 161
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[64] 19
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[65] 60
Irish Albums (IRMA)[66] 39
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[67] 28
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[68] 48
UK Albums (OCC)[69] 58
US Billboard 200[70] 16
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[71] 11
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[72] 7

References

  1. ↑ ""Get the Fuck Off My Dick" by Vince Staples Review". Pitchfork. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Big Fish Theory digital booklet" (PDF). Universal Music Group. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Skelton, Eric (June 28, 2017). "How Vince Staples Found His Bold New Sound on 'Big Fish Theory'". Pigeons and Planes. Complex. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  4. ↑ Bennett, Sarah (May 31, 2017). "Vince Staples' Big Fish Theory Leaves the Street Stories of Summertime '06 Behind". LA Weekly. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Album Review: Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Consequence of Sound. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Madden, Joe (June 22, 2017). "Vince Staples – 'Big Fish Theory' Album Review". NME. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Pearce, Sheldon (June 23, 2017). "Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "Review: Vince Staples – 'Big Fish Theory'". Spin.
  9. 1 2 "Vince Staples: The Big Fish Theory". PopMatters.
  10. ↑ "Review: Vince Staples, Big Fish Theory". Pretty Much Amazing.
  11. 1 2 Hamilton, Jack (June 26, 2017). "Vince Staples' new album Big Fish Theory, reviewed". Slate. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 Weingarten, Christopher R. (June 23, 2017). "Review: Vince Staples Embraces the Electronic Avant-Garde on 'Big Fish Theory'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Vince Staples Samples Hari Nef on Pounding Album Highlight, 'Yeah Right'". Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Review: With "Big Fish Theory," Vince Staples Swims Laps Ahead Of Convention". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  15. 1 2 Sharpe, Christopher (June 27, 2017). "Album Review: Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 Hutchinson, Kate (June 23, 2017). "Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory review – dazzling flow makes grim truths glitter". The Guardian. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  17. ↑ Kornhaber, Spencer (June 23, 2017). "Review: Vince Staples's 'Big Fish Theory' Attacks Groupthink". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 Yeung, Neil Z. "Big Fish Theory – Vince Staples". AllMusic. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  19. ↑ Blistein, Jon (November 29, 2016). "Vince Staples Plots Massive Life Aquatic Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  20. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (November 29, 2016). "Vince Staples Announces the Life Aquatic Tour With Amazing Poster". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (February 2, 2017). "Vince Staples – BagBak". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  22. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin (May 18, 2017). "Vince Staples Announces 'Big Fish Theory' Release Date, Drops "Big Fish" Video". Complex. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  23. ↑ Josephs, Brian (May 18, 2017). "Vince Staples Drops 'Big Fish,' Announces 'Big Fish Theory' Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  24. ↑ Phillips, Amy (May 18, 2017). "Vince Staples Announces New Album Big Fish Theory". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  25. ↑ Blistein, Jon (May 18, 2017). "Vince Staples Previews New LP With Striking 'Big Fish' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  26. ↑ Lilah, Rose (June 8, 2017). "Vince Staples – Rain Come Down Feat. Ty Dolla $ign". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  27. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (June 23, 2017). "Vince Staples Feat. Ty Dolla $ign "Rain Come Down" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Instagram photo by @vincestaples". Instagram. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  29. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam (June 17, 2017). "Vince Staples Details New Album Big Fish Theory Credits: Kendrick Lamar, Justin Vernon, Damon Albarn, More". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Reviews and Tracks for Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples". Metacritic. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  32. 1 2 Purdom, Clayton (June 23, 2017). "Vince Staples drops his second straight classic". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  33. 1 2 Brown, Eric Renner (June 23, 2017). "Vince Staples paves new sonic ground on the stellar Big Fish Theory". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  34. ↑ Empire, Kitty (June 25, 2017). "Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory review – good vibrations and gunfire". The Observer. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  35. ↑ Howe, Rupert (August 2017). "Let It Flow". Q (375): 111.
  36. ↑ Christgau, Robert (July 15, 2017). "Robert Christgau on JAY-Z's '4:44,' Vince Staples 'Big Fish Theory,' and More". Vice. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  37. ↑ Egan, Liam. "Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Clash. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  38. ↑ Thompson, Erik. "Vince Staples makes an assertive artistic statement for turbulent times". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Review: Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Sputnikmusic.
  40. ↑ "The A.V. Club's 20 best albums of 2017". The A.V. Club. December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Clash Albums Of The Year 2017". Clash. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  43. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2017". Complex. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Top 50 Albums of 2017". Consequence of Sound. November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  45. ↑ "The 25 Best Albums of 2017". Entertainment Weekly. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  46. ↑ "Exclaim!'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums". Exclaim!. December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  47. ↑ "HipHopDX's Best Rap Albums Of 2017". HipHopDX. December 29, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  48. ↑ "The 30 best albums of 2017". The Independent. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  49. ↑ "The 17 Best Albums of 2017: Kendrick Lamar, Lorde and Other Favorites". Newsweek. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  50. ↑ "NME's Albums of The Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  51. ↑ "The 10 best albums of 2017". Now. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  52. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  53. ↑ "The 60 Best Albums of 2017". PopMatters. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  54. ↑ "Rap-Up's 20 Best Albums of 2017". Rap-Up. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  55. ↑ "50 Best Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  56. ↑ "Albums of the Year". Rough Trade. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  57. ↑ "The Skinny's Top 50 Albums of 2017". The Skinny. November 29, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  58. ↑ Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  59. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2017". Variety. December 15, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  60. ↑ Tart, Chris (July 6, 2017). "Charts Don't Lie: July 6". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  62. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  63. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  64. ↑ "Vince Staples Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  65. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  66. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Vince Staples". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  67. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  68. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  69. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  70. ↑ "Vince Staples Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  71. ↑ "Vince Staples Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  72. ↑ "Vince Staples Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
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