Does Vince Staples Smoke?

Vince Staples is known for showing up to places alone. This isn’t just a turn of phrase — the 28-year-old Long Beach rapper doesn’t party, drink, or smoke. He’s someone who values solitude and personal space. After a performance, you’re more likely to see his tail lights than him sticking around. He typically arrives at events in his own car, often on the phone, sometimes making a collect call. This level of independence has been a staple of Vince’s life for years.

Even when he arrived for a Tuesday morning shoot, his approach was the same. He pulled up casually, pointed out that we were in the ‘hood’ of Marina del Rey, and immediately resumed his phone call, telling a friend which street he was on just in case anything happened. Later, he would engage in a conversation about the city of Paris, expressing how unimpressive he found it. This laid-back, no-nonsense demeanor is pure Vince Staples — a man who knows exactly where he stands.

During the pandemic, Vince spent more time alone than ever before. After touring relentlessly for years — almost 200 days a year — this was the longest he had spent at home. But even with the time off, he didn’t slow down. His latest album, Vince Staples, had just released, and he was already working on another project, Ramona Park Broke My Heart.

Beyond music, Vince has ventured into voice acting, starring in animated films and TV shows, and he’s currently working on a Netflix series, a comic book called Limbo Beach, and a podcast. Despite these creative ventures, he is quick to point out what he’s not: a musician chasing fame, a member of Odd Future, or someone aiming to be a household name. Vince has made it clear that his creative pursuits are about personal expression, not achieving conventional success.

Vince’s decision to live a more solitary life comes from a desire to break free from his past. Having grown up in an environment where gang culture was prevalent, he made a conscious choice not to bring any of that into his future. “I didn’t want to carry anything from my past into what I was trying to build,” he says. As a kid, he often found himself alone, and he learned early on that he didn’t need to be surrounded by people to be content. For him, solitude isn’t a sign of sadness or weakness — it’s a choice that empowers him to focus on his own path.

This sense of independence extends to how he views his surroundings. Growing up in California, Vince understands the complexities of life in his community. “If you spend your whole life in one place, your relationship with it is different,” he reflects. Bad things were once uncommon in his neighborhood, but over time, they became normalized. This perspective is often missed by those who don’t understand the reality of living in certain areas. For Vince, it’s not about glorifying the struggles, but about understanding how perceptions shape the way people react to their environment.

Vince’s views on home and community are deeply tied to his identity. He’s often reflected on how his upbringing in Long Beach shaped his understanding of the world. “People think L.A. is scary or dangerous, but it’s home,” he says. While many people from the outside look at L.A. with a sense of fear, Vince feels a deep connection to it. For him, it’s about knowing where you come from and how that shapes you. Even as he’s traveled the world and experienced different cultures, he remains grounded in the values of his neighborhood.

While Vince is often perceived as someone who’s detached or indifferent, this couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s a deeply thoughtful person who values personal growth and self-understanding. “The worst thing is when people are afraid of me for no reason,” he shares. This reaction — fear without understanding — is something Vince has had to deal with throughout his career. But rather than getting frustrated, he’s learned to navigate these moments with grace, understanding that people’s perceptions don’t define him.

Vince’s journey has been one of self-discovery. He’s spent years working through his own feelings, focusing on his growth as a person, not just an artist. As he continues to evolve, Vince remains committed to his personal philosophy: it’s okay not to conform, it’s okay to follow your own path, and most importantly, it’s okay to be true to yourself.

Vince Staples doesn’t smoke, drink, or party. He doesn’t feel the need to fit into the expectations that others place on him. His greatest challenge has always been getting to know himself, and that’s something he continues to work on every day.