Vince Staples has revealed that he failed dozens of acting auditions before landing his own Netflix series, The Vince Staples Show.
In an interview with Sway’s Universe on Saturday (February 17), the Long Beach-born rapper re-lived some of his acting failures and outlined the perseverance it took to get his new show on the air.
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Staples explained that “everyone shit” on him and his idea, noting that “every” production company turned down his pitch but offered to place music in the shows they were working on.
After enough rejection, Staples realized he wasn’t ready for his own show, so he began auditioning as an actor. Watch him discuss this time beginning at the 13:22 mark.
“We auditioned probably every other week for three, four years, we didn’t get one call back,” the Big Fish Theory rapper explained.
Even after The Vince Staples Show was already in development, the rapper was still told by people working on the show that his acting still wasn’t up to par. Kenya Barris, the co-executive producer, pulled him to the side and advised him to take classes.
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So five or six days a week, Staples would attend the writers’ room for The Vince Staples Show from 8am to 5 or 6pm, and then take an improv class in the evening.
All of the hard work paid off in spades for the “Norf Norf” rapper.
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Rappers like Killer Mike and N.O.R.E. gave Vince Staples high praise following the release of his Netflix show.
In response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that announced the arrival of The Vince Staples Show, Staples asked users, “Who’s watching?” Mike enthusiastically wrote: “Me!”
He also hailed Vince as a “genius” after a fan asked him whether the Long Beach rapper-turned-actor and producer solicited advice from him when negotiating his deal with Netflix.
“He ain’t need my advice,” the Atlanta native replied. “That N-gga a Genuine Genius! Umma friend and a fan. Cuz got this!!!!”
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Fellow rap veteran N.O.R.E. also gave The Vince Staples Show his stamp of approval by boldly proclaiming it as the best TV show in the world right now.
“Vince staples got the best show on earth!!!” the Drink Champs host said on X.
