We all know raps current household names. Youve got Drake, J.Cole, and Kendrick Lamar currently running with the torch. And yesterdays greats are still are going strong today including Jay-Z, Eminem, Pusha-T and to some extent, Kanye West.
And then youve got the youngbloods like Vince Staples who are steering clear of the monotonous trap music that is dominating the radio. Fans of Vince Staples are fans for good reason - hes fearlessly innovative, socially conscious, and totally relatable.
For 2019, fans and new listeners of Vince Staples alike are in for a treat. Were talking about a tour! The Smile, Youre On Camera Tour is rolling out in just a few weeks and you wont want to miss it.
Vince Staples Tour Details
Smile, Youre On Camera is a North American tour that kicks off on February 1st and wraps up on April 3rd. Theres no official setlist yet, but you can check the tour dates and guests below. Tickets are now on sale, so if youve been dying to see Vince live, make sure to get your tickets now!
Smile, Youre On Camera Tour Dates
* (with Buddy)
# (with JPEGMAFIA)
02/01/2019 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto*
02/02/2019 Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren*
02/04/2019 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater*
02/06/2019 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues*
02/09/2019 San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre*
02/10/2019 Houston, TX @ House of Blues*
02/12/2019 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle*
02/13/2019 Tampa, FL @ The RITZ Ybor*
02/14/2019 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution*
02/15/2019 Orlando, FL @ Plaza Live*
02/18/2019 Norfolk, VA @ Norva*
02/19/2019 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore*
02/21/2019 New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom*
02/22/2019 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club*
02/25/2019 Boston, MA @ House of Blues*
02/26/2019 New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall*
02/28/2019 Montreal, QC @ Mtelus*
03/01/2019 Ithaca, NY @ State Theatre #
03/02/2019 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall #
03/03/2019 London, ON @ London Music Hall #
03/05/2019 Toronto, ON @ Rebel #
03/06/2019 Cleveland, OH @ Agora #
03/08/2019 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts #
03/09/2019 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe #
03/10/2019 Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak #
03/12/2019 Chicago, IL @ The Riv #
03/15/2019 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave #
03/16/2019 Saint Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre #
03/18/2019 Denver, CO @ The Ogden #
03/20/2019 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
03/22/2019 Vancouver, BC @ Harbour Convention Center #
03/23/2019 Portland, OR @ Roseland #
03/25/2019 Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo #
03/29/2019 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater #
03/31/2019 Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo #
04/02/2019 San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park*
04/03/2019 Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater*
Smile, Youre On Camera Tour Guests
Vince Staples can come across as a lone wolf, especially with the creative lanes hes taking with his music. But he knows when to enlist some help, and hes bringing along two other exciting rap talents on the tour: Compton rapper Buddy and Baltimore-based JPEGMAFIA.
Buddy is a 25 year-old rapper who was signed by Pharrell Williams when he was just in his teens. He is known for his diverse palette of musical styles, ranging from mellow and optimistic to gritty and even anthemic. JPEGMAFIA is a 29 year-old rapper known for his more offbeat and experimental style with abstract sonics and satirical lyrics (most apparent on his latest album, Veteran).
Vince Staples Tour Background
Vince Staples 2019 tour will support his latest surprise-release, FM!, a concept album released in November 2018 to widespread acclaim. It is the follow-up to his highly successful 2017 release, Big Fish Theory, and was produced mainly by Kenny Beats and Hagler. FM! features guest artists Earl Sweatshirt, Kehlani, Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga.
Vinces work ethic is matched by few rappers or musicians. Hes been on a streak, releasing a new project every year since 2014. And all of them have received positive reviews or critical acclaim. Hes clearly got the midas touch.
In terms of his musical style, Vince routinely blends personal tales of gang affiliation and street life with social commentary about the follies of American culture. While his subject matter largely stays within that category, his delivery and the production he raps over changes with virtually every album.
For example, FM! contains elements of Bay-area hyphy music - a style pioneered by west coast legend E-40. However, his 2017 release, Big Fish Theory, fused rap with dance, house, and electronic music. If theres one thing to take away from Vince Staples, its that you never know what hes going to offer you next. But with his success rate, its not like thats a bad thing.
What To Expect at a Vince Staples Concert
If youve never been to a Vince Staples show, then its time you experience one for yourself. Those who have seen him live tend to describe his shows as being full of energy with Vince bouncing around stage. He will sometimes introduce new material and is great at interacting with an audience, spurring them on to chant whatever mantra he wants them to.
Heres an even more interesting look at what a Vince Staples concert feels like. It involves the story of a VICE contributor who thought it was a good idea to bring his parents to a Vince Staples show back in 2015.
Vince Staples Fans, Rejoice
With the eclectic Mr. Staples soon hitting the stage, you wont want to miss out on your opportunity to get tickets. Theyre selling out fast. Its not at all surprising considering Vinces rising star power and the two other talented guests on the tour. With a long list of EPs, LPs, and genre-busting anthems under his belt, you owe it to yourself to see his art live. You wont regret it!