Big Fish Theory Explained

Big Fish Theory
Type:studio
Artist:Vince Staples
Cover:Vince-Staples-Big-Fish-Theory.jpeg
Alt:Low quality photograph of a goldfish's head
Genre:
Label:
Producer:
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Big Fish Theory is the second studio album by American rapper Vince Staples. It was released on June 23, 2017, through 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 Christian Rich, 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, ASAP Rocky and Kučka.

Staples promoted Big Fish Theory with a tour through Canada and the United States, the Life Aquatic Tour. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, and debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard 200. It 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.[3] Staples met Zack Sekoff, the album's primary producer, through Staples' DJ Westside Ty.[4]

Music and lyrics

Style and influences

Big Fish Theorys sound was inspired by Detroit techno.[5] Los Angeles producer Zack Sekoff, who has production credit on five of the songs on the album, sourced inspiration when on a semester abroad in London from artists such as Burial, James Blake, Novelist, Wiley and Zomby.[4]

Composition and lyrics

Big Fish Theory is a hip hop album,[6] with several publications noting that the album leans toward electronic club music genres such as house and Detroit techno.[6] [7] [8] The album contains "terse and percussive" beats.[9] 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". Similarly, Justin Moran of Out said the album "fuses avant-garde electronica with aggressive hip-hop"[10] and HipHopDX described it as "one of the more avant-garde projects backed by Def Jam".[11] "Crabs in a Bucket" has wind, a police siren, ambient tape hiss, vocal chops and synthesizers. "Party People" has "stuttering" and syncopated tom-toms.[9]

Big Fish Theorys lyrics are nihilistic[6] and touch on politics,[7] [12] suicide,[6] racism[13] and success and fame.[12] NME said: "[Staples'] bleak lyrical brilliance is perfectly matched by Big Fish Theorys 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." AllMusic described the record as "a skittish thought piece wrapped around the nucleus of the Chicago footwork sound". Brian Josephs of Spin thought that "Big Fish Theorys 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 Fantasys tortured look at fame".[14]

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.[15] [16]

On January 3, 2017, Staples announced that he would release a song called "BagBak" on February 2, 2017.[17] 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".[18] [19] He also announced that Big Fish Theory would be released on June 23, 2017.[20] [21] On June 8, he released his third single, "Rain Come Down",[22] as well an accompanying music video.[23] On June 11, he released the album's artwork and an Instagram photo of the 12-song track list.[24] [25] Billboards Tatiana Cirisano listed the "clever" artwork, which depicts a "frightened-looking guppy", as one of the best of 2017.[26]

Critical reception

Big Fish Theory was met with widespread critical acclaim. 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. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

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". The A.V. Clubs 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." 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".[27] 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". The Guardians Kate Hutchinson stated that the record "makes for a challenging, dystopian listen, the blade runner to everyone else's replicant".

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 Theorys experimental production". 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." Rolling Stones 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." The Line of Best Fits 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".[28] Sputnikmusic praised the album, calling it the best hip hop album of 2017.[29]

Year-end lists

Publication! scope="col" class="unsortable"
ListRank
The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Clubs 20 Best Albums of 2017
BillboardBillboards 50 Best Albums of 2017
ComplexThe Best Albums of 2017
ConsequenceTop 50 Albums of 2017
Entertainment WeeklyThe 25 Best Albums of 2017
The IndependentThe 30 Best Albums of 2017
NMENMEs Albums of the Year 2017
PitchforkThe 50 Best Albums of 2017
Rolling Stone50 Best Albums of 2017
StereogumThe 50 Best Albums of 2017

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.[30]

Track listing

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's official liner notes.[3]

Musicians

Production

Design

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Get the Fuck Off My Dick" by Vince Staples Review. Pitchfork. March 9, 2018. March 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180310054450/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/vince-staples-get-the-fuck-off-my-dick/. March 10, 2018. live.
  2. Web site: How Vince Staples Found His Bold New Sound on 'Big Fish Theory'. Complex. Skelton. Eric. June 28, 2017. August 13, 2020.
  3. Web site: Big Fish Theory digital booklet. Universal Music Group. June 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170809213659/http://cache.umusic.com/_sites/_halo/vincestaples/VinceStaples_DigitalBooklet.pdf. August 9, 2017. live.
  4. Web site: How Vince Staples Found His Bold New Sound on 'Big Fish Theory'. Pigeons & Planes. Skelton. Eric. June 28, 2017. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170702170412/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2017/06/vince-staples-big-fish-theory-producer-interview. July 2, 2017.
  5. Web site: Vince Staples' Big Fish Theory Leaves the Street Stories of Summertime '06 Behind. LA Weekly. Bennett. Sarah. May 31, 2017. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930182036/http://www.laweekly.com/music/vince-staples-big-fish-theory-leaves-the-street-stories-of-summertime-06-behind-8279531. September 30, 2017. live.
  6. Web site: Album Review: Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory. June 26, 2017. Consequence. June 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170626053442/https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/06/album-review-vince-staples-big-fish-theory/. June 26, 2017. live.
  7. Web site: Vince Staples: The Big Fish Theory. PopMatters. June 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170626164657/http://www.popmatters.com/review/vince-staples-the-big-fish-theory/. June 26, 2017. live.
  8. Web site: Review: Vince Staples, Big Fish Theory. Pretty Much Amazing. June 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170802124628/https://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/vince-staples-big-fish-theory. August 2, 2017. live.
  9. Web site: Vince Staples' new album Big Fish Theory, reviewed.. Hamilton. Jack. Slate. June 26, 2017. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170929100458/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2017/06/vince_staples_new_album_big_fish_theory_reviewed.html. September 29, 2017. live.
  10. Web site: Vince Staples Samples Hari Nef on Pounding Album Highlight, 'Yeah Right' . June 23, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170623145710/https://www.out.com/music/2017/6/23/vince-staples-samples-hari-nef-pounding-album-highlight-yeah-right . June 23, 2017 . live .
  11. Web site: Review: With "Big Fish Theory," Vince Staples Swims Laps Ahead Of Convention . . June 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170630041438/http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2955/title.review-with-big-fish-theory-vince-staples-swims-laps-ahead-of-convention . June 30, 2017 . live .
  12. Web site: Album Review: Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory. Drowned in Sound. Sharpe. Christopher. June 27, 2017. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930175722/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19982/reviews/4151134. September 30, 2017. live.
  13. Web site: Review: Vince Staples's 'Big Fish Theory' Attacks Groupthink. The Atlantic. Kornhaber. Spencer. June 23, 2017. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930175126/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/06/vince-staples-big-fish-theory-review-groupthink/531234/. September 30, 2017. live.
  14. Web site: Review: Vince Staples – 'Big Fish Theory' . . June 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170626193235/http://www.spin.com/2017/06/vince-staples-big-fish-theory-review/ . June 26, 2017 . live .
  15. Web site: Vince Staples Plots Massive Life Aquatic Tour. Rolling Stone. Blistein. Jon. November 29, 2016. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930175042/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/vince-staples-plots-massive-life-aquatic-tour-w452723. September 30, 2017. live.
  16. Web site: Vince Staples Announces the Life Aquatic Tour With Amazing Poster. Pitchfork. Strauss. Matthew. November 29, 2016. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001030859/https://pitchfork.com/news/70096-vince-staples-announces-the-life-aquatic-tour-with-amazing-poster/. October 1, 2017. live.
  17. Web site: Goddard. Kevin. Vince Staples – BagBak. HotNewHipHop. February 2, 2017. July 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701201610/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/vince-staples-bagbak-new-song.1972783.html. July 1, 2017. live.
  18. Web site: Vince Staples Announces 'Big Fish Theory' Release Date, Drops "Big Fish" Video. Ortiz. Edwin. May 18, 2017. Complex. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170531014108/http://www.complex.com/music/2017/05/vince-staples-announces-big-fish-theory-release-date-big-fish-video. May 31, 2017. live.
  19. News: Vince Staples Drops 'Big Fish,' Announces 'Big Fish Theory' Release Date. Josephs. Brian. May 18, 2017. Billboard. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170522213505/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7800873/vince-staples-big-fish-single. May 22, 2017. live.
  20. Web site: Vince Staples Announces New Album Big Fish Theory. Phillips. Amy. May 18, 2017. Pitchfork. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525012158/http://pitchfork.com/news/72066-vince-staples-announces-new-album-big-fish-theory/. May 25, 2017. live.
  21. News: Vince Staples Previews New LP With Striking 'Big Fish' Video. Blistein. Jon. May 18, 2017. Rolling Stone. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170523034028/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/vince-staples-previews-new-lp-with-striking-big-fish-video-w482998. May 23, 2017. live.
  22. Web site: Lilah. Rose. Vince Staples – Rain Come Down Feat. Ty Dolla $ign. HotNewHipHop. June 8, 2017. July 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170627024503/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/vince-staples-rain-come-down-feat-ty-dolla-sign-new-song.1974492.html. June 27, 2017. live.
  23. Web site: Goddard. Kevin. Vince Staples Feat. Ty Dolla $ign "Rain Come Down" Video [New Video]]. HotNewHipHop. June 23, 2017. July 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170625222733/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/vince-staples-feat-ty-dolla-sign-rain-come-down-video-new-video.42101.html. June 25, 2017. live.
  24. Web site: Instagram photo by @vincestaples. Instagram. June 11, 2017. July 1, 2017. bot: unknown. https://archive.today/20170701115552/https://www.instagram.com/p/BVMhmIDgVeR/. July 1, 2017.
  25. News: Vince Staples Details New Album Big Fish Theory Credits: Kendrick Lamar, Justin Vernon, Damon Albarn, More. Sodomsky. Sam. June 17, 2017. Pitchfork. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170618165620/http://pitchfork.com/news/vince-staples-details-new-album-big-fish-theory-credits-kendrick-lamar-justin-vernon-damon-albarn-more/. June 18, 2017. live.
  26. Web site: Cirisano . Tatiana . December 27, 2017 . 25 Best & Worst Album Covers of 2017 . May 22, 2022 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: Egan. Liam. Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory. Clash. June 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170622074709/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/vince-staples-big-fish-theory. June 22, 2017. live.
  28. Web site: Thompson. Erik. Vince Staples makes an assertive artistic statement for turbulent times. The Line of Best Fit. June 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623012557/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/vince-staples-big-fish-theory. June 23, 2017. live.
  29. Web site: Review: Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory . Sputnikmusic . February 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171001123055/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/74130/Vince-Staples-Big-Fish-Theory/ . October 1, 2017 . live .
  30. Web site: Tart. Chris. Charts Don't Lie: July 6. HotNewHipHop. July 6, 2017. July 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711042842/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/charts-dont-lie-july-6-news.34644.html. July 11, 2017. live.

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