Ramona Park Broke My Heart

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Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Two versions of the same photograph of a young Black boy with short hair and a white t-shirt, placed side by side over a black background. The one on the left is of the full head and upper torso, with a large line of damage running from the left ear to the right shoulder, and other smaller lines of damage over the forehead and shirt. The one on the right is of just the head but with the left side of the face removed, and with two similar large damage lines, one running horizontally across the hairline and the over vertically from the top of the head down over the left eye and cheek.
Studio album by
Vince Staples
ReleasedApril 8, 2022
GenreWest Coast hip hop[1]
Length41:02
Label
Producer
  • Brazzen
  • Coop the Truth
  • DJ Dahi
  • Frano
  • Johnny Juliano
  • Jonas
  • Kenny Beats
  • LBambino
  • LeKen Taylor
  • Mike Hector
  • Mingo
  • Mustard
  • Nami
  • Paul Castelluzzo
  • Reske
  • Saint Mino
  • Tommy Parker
  • Yori
  • Zack Sekoff
Vince Staples chronology
Vince Staples
(2021) 		Ramona Park Broke My Heart
(2022)
Singles from Ramona Park Broke My Heart
  1. "Magic"
    Released: February 14, 2022
  2. "Rose Street"
    Released: March 28, 2022

Ramona Park Broke My Heart (stylized in all caps) is the fifth studio album by American rapper Vince Staples, released April 8, 2022, through Motown Records and Blacksmith Records. The album was executive produced by Corey "Blacksmith" Smyth, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Michael Uzowuru, and Vince Staples himself.

Background and promotion[edit]

Ramona Park Broke My Heart is named after Ramona Park, the neighborhood of Long Beach, California where Staples grew up.[2][3] The album's first single, "Magic", was released on February 14, 2022,[4] with an accompanying music video following on March 7.[5] The album's second single, "Rose Street", was released on March 28.[6]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.8/10[7]
Metacritic82/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Beats Per Minute80%[10]
Clash9/10[11]
DIY[12]
Exclaim!9/10[13]
Gigwise9/10[14]
HipHopDX4.0/5[15]
NME[16]
Pitchfork8.0/10[17]
Rolling Stone[18]

Ramona Park Broke My Heart was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 10 reviews.[8] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[7]

Robin Murray from Clash enjoyed the album, saying, "A brave record that asks awkward questions both of its maker and his audience, Ramona Park Broke My Heart is a document of personal evolution and what its possible to bring along with you".[11] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas stated, "Staples goes even deeper into memory and self-reflection on Ramona Park Broke My Heart, presenting his pain, glory, and contradictory emotions in sharper definition while turning in some of his most engaging music to date".[9] Matthew Ismael Ruiz of Pitchfork said, "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".[17] Beats Per Minute critic Marc Griffin said, "Ramona Park Broke My Heart is an illusion; Vince Staples' latest LP finds him making far more ear-catching music than his previous effort, but the infectious beats and choruses are merely a facade".[10] Wesley McLean of Exclaim! praised the album, stating, "It's a near-perfect encapsulation of every enticing aspect of his previous work, wrapped into one project".[13] Writing for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams stated, "The production is clean, the rhymes imaginative and the rapper digs deeper than ever before. Yes, Vince Staples was a beautifully personal reflection from start to finish, but Ramona Park… deepens the listener's relationship with the rapper".[16]

Karl Blakesley of Gigwise said, "This is easily Vince's strongest and most ambitious work since Big Fish Theory. An album that sounds great, but also offers an intricately crafted and at times brutally honest portrait of his hometown, highlighting the maze of social traps from which he was lucky enough to escape".[14] In a positive review, Spectrum Culture's Aaron Paskin said, "Tragic accounts of violence surround a guarded Vince Staples, who raps not proudly but unapologetically about his dedication to the hustle, his anxiety, and ultimately his inability to love, all stemming from his tumultuous upbringing in Long Beach".[19]

Year-end lists[edit]

Select year-end rankings of Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Critic/publication List Rank Ref.
Clash Albums of the Year 2022
5
[20]
Complex The Best Albums of 2022
5
[21]
The Fader The 50 Best Albums of 2022
37
[22]
Mondo Sonoro Los 50 mejores discos internacionales de 2022
20
[23]
Okayplayer Okayplayer's 22 Best Albums of 2022
4
[24]
The Ringer The 33 Best Albums of 2022
33
[25]
Rolling Stone The 100 Best Albums of 2022
19
[26]
Rob Sheffield's Top 20 Albums of 2022
13
[27]
Vulture The Best Albums of 2022
2
[28]
Wired The 12 Best Albums of 2022
2
[29]

Track listing[edit]

Ramona Park Broke My Heart track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Beach"
Mingo1:07
2."Aye! (Free the Homies)"
  • Staples
  • Sean Matsukawa
  • Zack Sekoff
  • LeKen Taylor
Taylor3:05
3."DJ Quik"
2:20
4."Magic" (featuring Mustard)
3:46
5."Nameless"
  • Staples
  • Dylan Wiggins
  • Grace Alfaro
Brazzen0:48
6."When Sparks Fly"
  • Staples
  • Shahrooz Raoofi
  • Frano Huett
  • Francesca Bergami
  • Atupele Ndisale
Frano3:47
7."East Point Prayer" (featuring Lil Baby)
3:37
8."Slide"
  • Staples
  • Hebrew Malachai Richardson
  • Taylor
  • Mike Hector
  • Sekoff
  • Hector
  • Sekoff
2:18
9."Papercuts"
  • Staples
  • Natche
  • Paul Castelluzzo
  • DJ Dahi
  • Castelluzzo
3:01
10."Lemonade" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
  • Taylor
  • Yori
  • Joey Ram[a]
  • Matsukawa[a]
2:59
11."Player Ways"
  • Jonas
  • LBambino
  • Saint Mino
3:28
12."Mama's Boy"
  • Staples
  • McGill
  • Teixeira
  • Coop the Truth
  • Nami
2:19
13."Bang That" (featuring Mustard)
2:39
14."The Spirit of Monster Kody"
  • Staples
  • Drerup
  • Thomas Westly Lumpkins
  • Saint Mino
  • Tommy Parker
0:45
15."Rose Street"
  • Staples
  • Drerup
  • Lumpkins
  • Saint Mino
  • Parker
2:33
16."The Blues"
  • Staples
  • Dominguez
Mingo2:22
Total length:41:02

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • Track names are stylized in all caps.

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from liner notes.[30]

Musicians

  • Vince Staples – rap vocals
  • Sean Matsukawa – additional keyboards, additional vocals, guitar, percussion (2)
  • Zack Sekoff – additional keyboards, keyboard arrangements, guitar, percussion (2)
  • Mustard – additional vocals (4)
  • Nick Lee – horn (4)
  • Cory Henry – keyboards (4)
  • Dylan Wiggins – additional keyboards (5)
  • Reske – additional vocals (7)
  • Lil Baby – vocals (7)
  • Vision – additional vocals (8)
  • Ty Dolla Sign – rap vocals (10)
  • Nami – additional keyboards (11)

Technical

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[31] 99
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[32] 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[33] 193
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[34] 44
US Billboard 200[35] 21
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[36] 10

References[edit]

  1. ^ Olson, Ross (April 12, 2022). "Vince Staples Ramona Park Broke My Heart Review". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Kambasha, Michelle (April 8, 2022). "Vince Staples: Ramona Park Broke My Heart review". Crack. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Kimble, Julian (April 11, 2022). "The first rule to understanding Vince Staples? Don't even try". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Darville, Jordan (February 14, 2022). "Vince Staples and Mustard share new song "Magic"". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Callender, Brandon (March 7, 2022). "Vince Staples and Mustard share new video for "Magic"". The Fader. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Moore, Sam (March 28, 2022). "Listen to Vince Staples' new single "Rose Street"". NME. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Ramona Park Broke My Heart by Vince Staples reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Ramona Park Broke My Heart by Vince Staples Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Thomas, Fred. "Ramona Park Broke My Heart – Vince Staples". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Griffin, Marc (April 12, 2022). "Album Review: Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Murray, Robin (April 11, 2022). "Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart". Clash. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Davies Lombardi, Matthew. "Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart review". DIY. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ a b McLean, Wesley (April 8, 2022). "Ramona Park Broke My Heart Is the Quintessential Vince Staples Album". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Blakesley, Karl (April 5, 2022). "Album Review: Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart". Gigwise. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Ritchie, Matthew (May 6, 2022). "Vince Staples 'Ramona Park Broke My Heart' Illuminates The Nightmare Of American Neglect". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Williams, Kyann-Sian (April 7, 2022). "Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart review: rapper shows depth and versatility". NME. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (April 14, 2022). "Vince Staples: Ramona Park Broke My Heart Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  18. ^ Burford, Jayson (April 8, 2022). "Vince Staples' Ramona Park Broke My Heart Is (Almost) His Best Record Yet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Paskin, Aaron (April 20, 2022). "Vince Staples: Ramona Park Broke My Heart". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Albums of the Year 2022". Clash. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  21. ^ Rose, Jordan (December 1, 2022). "The Best Albums of 2022". Complex. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  22. ^ Raw, Son. "The 50 Best Albums of 2022". The Fader. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  23. ^ Jerez, Álex (December 1, 2022). "Los 50 mejores discos internacionales de 2022". Mondo Sonoro (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Turner-Williams, Jaelani (December 20, 2022). "Okayplayer's 22 Best Albums of 2022". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  25. ^ Murdock, Logan (December 6, 2022). "The 33 Best Albums of 2022". The Ringer. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  26. ^ Gage, DeWayne (December 1, 2022). "The 100 Best Albums of 2022". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  27. ^ Sheffield, Rob (December 22, 2022). "Rob Sheffield's Top 20 Albums of 2022". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  28. ^ Jenkins, Craig (December 7, 2022). "The Best Albums of 2022". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  29. ^ Parham, Jason (December 27, 2022). "The 12 Best Albums of 2022". Wired. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  30. ^ Ramona Park Broke My Heart (CD liner notes). Vince Staples. Motown and Blacksmith. 2022. B003545002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 18 April 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1676. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 18, 2022. p. 6.
  32. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 18 April 2022". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 18, 2022. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  33. ^ "Ultratop.be – Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  34. ^ "Vince Staples Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  35. ^ "Vince Staples Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  36. ^ "Vince Staples Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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