RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART
Details
LP / Format
Sign In to rate and review
CRITIC REVIEWS
90
It's a near-perfect encapsulation of every enticing aspect of his previous work, wrapped into one project.
90
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.
90
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.
80
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.
80
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.
80
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.
80
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.
80
Ramona Park Broke My Heart is the latest in a line of Vince Staples albums that reveal the painful reality of watching your hometown disappoint you. It’s not that he’s mining his life for pain–he’s allowing the listener to witness the path he took to get here.
80
Staples has always been an accomplished storyteller, but here he leans into his past experience to create something that feels personal, unromanticised.
75
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.
70
It finds him at his most confident, if not most innovative, and maybe his most comfortable.
70
The Long Beach rapper’s fifth album is richly detailed, musically sharp, and vocally casual.
60
Ramona Park is both a more thorough and inconsistent exploration of the themes and sounds of Vince's self-titled album.
Vince Staples' "Ramona Park Broke My Heart" is another complex victory lap
This record is already under appreciated and it really does way more than people give it credit for
A major reason for the mixed reception is the expectation of Vince to return to the more energetic sound he had until “FM!” And if you are looking for that you will be disappointed. The only thing that is back is the gangster attitude. Leaving expectations out of the window we are left with a ... read more
This feels like ”Vince Staples” 2 to me.
I kinda feel the same way about “RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART” as I do his self-titled record: it’s solid and has some highlights but it’s kinda forgettable and not as energetic as I’d like. It’s a little long and the songs kinda get samey, but they’re all good and there are some really well written songs here. The production is also pretty good. I probably prefer “Vince Staples”, as it was ... read more
NO NUANCE REVIEW
It kind of loses steam in the second half, but this is the most I’ve liked a Vince Staples project since Big Fish Theory. This is like his self-titled project done right, a very personal project reflecting on his life and his upbringing while not Sounding completely asleep at the wheel. Plus, “When Sparks Fly” might be one of his best songs ever, incredibly story telling over gorgeous production. I wish we got some more of his energetic bangers that ... read more
Vince will always drop out of the blue and has a consistent formula what else is there to say.
Purchasing RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement
Track List
| 1 | THE BEACH 1:07 | 77 |
| 2 | AYE! (FREE THE HOMIES) 3:05 | 79 |
| 3 | DJ QUIK 2:20 | 73 |
| 4 | MAGIC 3:46 with Mustard | 79 |
| 5 | NAMELESS 0:48 | 68 |
| 6 | WHEN SPARKS FLY 3:47 | 87 |
| 7 | EAST POINT PRAYER 3:37 with Lil Baby | 71 |
| 8 | SLIDE 2:18 | 68 |
| 9 | PAPERCUTS 3:01 | 75 |
| 10 | LEMONADE 2:59 with Ty Dolla $ign | 77 |
| 11 | PLAYER WAYS 3:28 | 72 |
| 12 | MAMA'S BOY 2:19 | 70 |
| 13 | BANG THAT 2:39 with Mustard | 66 |
| 14 | THE SPIRIT OF MONSTER KODY 0:45 | 64 |
| 15 | ROSE STREET 2:33 | 78 |
| 16 | THE BLUES 2:22 | 74 |
Total Length: 41 minutes
Year End Lists
| #2 | / | Vulture |
| #2 | / | WIRED |
| #4 | / | Okayplayer |
| #5 | / | Clash |
| #5 | / | Complex |
| #13 | / | Rolling Stone: Rob Sheffield |
| #19 | / | Rolling Stone |
| #20 | / | MondoSonoro |
| #33 | / | The Ringer |
| #37 | / | The FADER |
More Lists
Please stay on topic. To go off topic, head to the General Chat.
Sign in to comment
3mo
def need to go back to this one. has vibes super similar to self titled(which I adore), but for some reason this one hasn't really clicked with me yet. I'm sure it'll come with time.
8mo
in retrospect, this is pretty good.
when sparks fly is magical though, one of his best songs for sure!!
when sparks fly is magical though, one of his best songs for sure!!
Added on: April 15, 2021