Vince Staples’ outspokenness makes for a musical rebellion. “Norf Norf” opens with haunting production and Vince Staples’ close up grabs the attention of the viewer. In black and white, we watch Vince go through the process of acting out being arrested by Long Beach Police Department. The video is not particularly artsy or dramatic, it shows the menacing plainness of arrest.
Vince’s rapping during these scenes of detainment feel like a confession at times because he’s being held. It’s as if he’s explaining himself to the viewer for his sake and that makes the video all the more interesting. In one scene he repeats the monotone hook, “I ain’t never ran from nothin but the police” while getting roughed up. In the end he settles in his cell staring almost blankly at the camera. The performance of this arrest begs the question why such an act is so normal for black people.