Vince Staples sparked a debate online after revealing that he doesn't have a favorite song from his own catalog. For Vince, the reasoning is pretty simple: making music is his job.
"This is my job. They don't got a favorite burger when they flip them at McDonald's. I'm a working man," Vince explained in a recent interview clip.
That comparison didn't sit well with everyone. Some fans felt like comparing music to flipping burgers made it sound like Vince wasn't passionate about his art. Others argued that he's in a position most people dream of being in and should look at his career differently.
Vince saw the reactions and decided to spend some time going back and forth with fans on X.
Vince Staples Goes Back And Forth With Fans
When one person asked if he was "making art" or "making burgers," Vince joked, "A burger cost more than a song." Another fan told him that people simply want him to love the job they've supported him in. Vince responded by asking, "Why? Serious question. Let's have a dialogue I'm free this morning."
Eventually, the Long Beach rapper gave a longer explanation of where he was coming from. According to Vince, fans were placing their own ideas of success and fulfillment onto him.
"Y'all aren't mad that I don't have a favorite song," he wrote. "Y'all are mad because you assume I've reached a level of success and finances that people dream for, which is true."
He added that people seemed bothered because he doesn't view that success the way they expect him to. Still, Vince didn't appear too bothered by the criticism. In another post, he sarcastically asked fans what they wanted his favorite song to be so he could "add it to the lexicon."
The whole conversation is pretty on-brand for Vince, who has never been shy about challenging the way people view artists and celebrity. For him, calling music a job doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't care about it. He just doesn't seem interested in romanticizing the work simply because he's successful at it.
