Vince Staples: Tiny Desk Concert

Bobby Carter | July 21, 2026
Following the second song of his set, Vince Staples does a call out. “I just wanna see something. If you know who George Jackson is, in the crowd, raise your hand!” The Long Beach emcee goes on: “What about Bobby Hutton?” No one raises their hand. He continues saying the names of slain members of the Black Panther Party, also mentioning Larry Kimmons, who was shot and killed by a Pepperdine University security guard in 1969. The song “Go! Go! Gorilla,” details the Black community’s fear of law enforcement. It was a tense moment that carried throughout the entire Tiny Desk concert.

Staples’ evolution has been remarkably rapid over the past decade. His wit and unintentional humor have made most of his interviews must-see TV. In 2024, he took that talent to real TV, launching The Vince Staples Show on Netflix.

Then there’s the consistent album output. Each project showcases his ability to push boundaries; his two most recent albums, in particular, present a fully realized artist. The sonic shift is in no way shocking if you’ve been following along. The subject matter, too, has been broadened: He’s now addressing the issues that have plagued his community, psyche and well-documented origin. Here, he’s assembled a vibrant young group of musicians to play selections from this year’s Cry Baby and a highlight from 2024’s Dark Times.

SET LIST
“Blackberry Marmalade”
“Go! Go! Gorilla”
“White Flag”
“Shame on the Devil”
“Only in America”

MUSICIANS
Vince Staples: vocals
Jennifer Haack: guitar, background vocals
Mikaiah Lei: guitar, background vocals
Chloe Haack: bass, background vocals
Myles Martin: drums, background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer/Mix: Josephine Nyounai
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Josh Newell, Felix Contreras
Photographer: Alanté Serene
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#nprmusic #tinydesk #vincestaples

Support for NPR Music comes from Capital One. Proud supporters of NPR Music and the Tiny Desk Contest. What’s in your wallet? Learn more at Capital One dot com.

NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts is a popular video series featuring live, intimate music performances by diverse artists, from major stars to up-and-coming musicians, recorded in the small workspace of Bob Boilen’s NPR office in Washington, D.C.brought to you by SloppBoxx.Com.

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