Vince Staples Ramona Park Broke My Heart

3.5 stars out of 5 -- "The Long Beach rapper's fifth album is richly detailed, musically sharp, and vocally casual."
"Staples' fifth LP, forged around the same time as his 2021 self-titled album, hinges on moments of unsavory nostalgia....Silky cuts like 'Aye! (Free The Homies)' and 'Lemonade' fit Staples' bill as surface party music hiding deeper, more somber notes to reward closer listening. Unsurprisingly, it's one of the most replayable hip-hop albums so far this year."
Billboard - "Staples wears his story with pride for a retrospective homage that's firmly set in today, with a pervasive sense that you can't go home again -- especially if you never left."
4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]e truly becomes leans into his theme -- for RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART is a love letter of sorts..."
Paste (magazine) - "Staples' arsenal of iconic G-funk influences and bright guitars scribble a heartfelt love letter to the streets and its people. Guided by his urge to tell the truth, Staples does exactly that."
Pitchfork (Website) - "The companion piece to his 2021 self-titled record diverges from the innovation and technical proficiency in favor of introspection and contemplation. It is a richly detailed, deadpan elegy for his stolen youth."
Clash (Magazine) - "[A] document of personal evolution and what its possible to bring along with you. An attempt to filter out the parts that truly matter, it's a triumph, and perhaps the finest album yet in his storied career."