The Artful, Subdued Translations of Modern Pop

Apr 18, 2022 7:00 AMYoung artists like Latto, Vince Staples, and Doechii are subtly persuading listeners to rethink the way music genres can be interpreted.

Vince Staples’ fifth and newest full-length, Ramona Park Broke My Heart, came out earlier this month. Photograph: Steve Jennings/Getty Images

It is a matter of translation. Artists have used a number of techniques to interpret the human experience. The most skillful practitioners nurtured innovation with an inquisitive ear, distilling the summits and cavernous ravines of love, ecstasy, rage, and anguish with beauty and unmistakable talent. The 28-year-old rapper adds to the tradition by adding a mid-album cut from Vince Staples on Ramona Park Broke My Heart.