Big Fish Theory
by Vince Staples
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Jun 23, 2017
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 376 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 334 out of 376
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 376
  3. Negative: 18 out of 376
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  1. RapCrapTrap
    Jun 28, 2017
    0
    This is a very mixed bag of an album, plain and simple. My main gripes with the album is that at some points the beats, while often very catchy and experimental, the beats themselves can often be almost overproduced. The way the beats can change every seconds is interesting and cool, but this often outshines the rappers and can almost be a diversion from what is supposed to be a mainThis is a very mixed bag of an album, plain and simple. My main gripes with the album is that at some points the beats, while often very catchy and experimental, the beats themselves can often be almost overproduced. The way the beats can change every seconds is interesting and cool, but this often outshines the rappers and can almost be a diversion from what is supposed to be a main event. My other gripe is that Vince's main messages are nothing new, with it criticizing those who believe they are too big for those around them, which is a tired subject that is often talk about by underground or "backpack" rap. Despite these negatives though, I think that this is a very good album. Vince and most of his guests bring energy and great flows, with their lyrics not being amazing but par for the course, which is made up for by the energy brought by the beat and the rappers. While this is a good project, there are obvious flaws to me that make this a very solid project but not the next current classic, but I will admit that Vince has great amounts of potential, and could probably go toe to toe with even his greatest contemporaries with new and more nuanced ideas and lyrics, assuming he progresses on his next album.… Expand
  2. MR_headphones
    Aug 14, 2017
    3
    vince staples - big fish theory
    mini review
    different doesn't equal good crabs in the buckets: 4/10 crap beat big fish: 4/10 bad beat alyssa: 1/10 boring love can be: 2/10 terrible beat and mind numbing droning singing 745: 5/10 745 doesn't rhyme with 745 yeah right: 8/10 kendrick homage: 2/10 who the hell made this beat it sounds like sombody made this in 5 minutes without    vince staples - big fish theory
    mini review

    different doesn't equal good

    crabs in the buckets: 4/10 crap beat
    big fish: 4/10 bad beat
    alyssa: 1/10 boring
    love can be: 2/10 terrible beat and mind numbing droning singing
    745: 5/10 745 doesn't rhyme with 745
    yeah right: 8/10 kendrick

    homage: 2/10 who the hell made this beat it sounds like sombody made this in 5 minutes without even mixing or listening to it

    samo: 3/10 boring
    party people: 5/10 nothing
    bagback: 2/10 boring and loud
    rain come down: 4/10 boring

    i don't hear anything appealing there is nothing here but terrible production bad singing and mediocre rapping

    worst: alyssa, bagbak, love can be, homage, samo
    best: yah right

    overall i give it a strong 3 what did you think of this thing    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Album of 2017
43
#43 Most Discussed Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. The Wire
    Aug 9, 2017
    90
    What’s most thrilling about Big Fish Theory is that it doesn’t sound leftfield or challenging; instead it provides a scintillating snapshot of both the state of the art and the untold history of underground black music for the past 30 years. [Aug 2017, p.65]
  2. DIY Magazine
    Jul 10, 2017
    80
    By weaponising his introspection and pushing his impeccably high standards outwards, Vince Staples delivers an incredible State of the Union address on rap today.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    Jul 6, 2017
    80
    This lean, tightly structured follow-up ramps up the intensity. Built around raw, electronic productions, it also showcases his ability to rhyme with devastating candour over wildly varying beats. [Aug 2017, p.111]
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