# FM!

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This article is about the album. For other uses, see [FM](/source/FM_(disambiguation)).

***FM!*** is the third studio album by American rapper [Vince Staples](/source/Vince_Staples), released on November 2, 2018, through [Blacksmith Records](/source/Blacksmith_Records) and [Def Jam Recordings](/source/Def_Jam_Recordings). The album is primarily produced by [Kenny Beats](/source/Kenny_Beats), with further production by Hagler, [Cubeatz](/source/Cubeatz) and KillaGraham, and features guest vocals from [Kamaiyah](/source/Kamaiyah), [E-40](/source/E-40), [Jay Rock](/source/Jay_Rock), [Kehlani](/source/Kehlani), [Earl Sweatshirt](/source/Earl_Sweatshirt), [Buddy](/source/Buddy_(rapper)) and [Tyga](/source/Tyga), among others.

## Composition

Over the course of an approximately 22-minute runtime,[2] the album is framed as a radio-station takeover, featuring recurring skits hosted by Los Angeles radio host [Big Boy](/source/Big_Boy_(radio_host)).[3][4] According to *[NPR Music](/source/NPR_Music)* staff writer Rodney Carmichael, "*FM!* uses [terrestrial radio](/source/Radio_broadcasting) — and longtime L.A. radio staple Big Boy's morning show — as a foil to offer subversive commentary on the ways and means [black music](/source/Black_music) is marketed for [mass consumption](/source/Consumerism). Even the features — Cali artists including [Kamaiyah](/source/Kamaiyah), [E-40](/source/E-40), [Buddy](/source/Buddy_(rapper)), [Kehlani](/source/Kehlani) and two diametrically opposed interludes from [Earl Sweatshirt](/source/Earl_Sweatshirt) and [Tyga](/source/Tyga) — present a range of extremes that deconstruct the static separating radio and Internet, alternative and pop."[5]

## Critical reception

*FM!* was met with widespread critical acclaim. At [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), which assigns a [normalized](/source/Standard_score) rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an [average](/source/Weighted_arithmetic_mean) score of 81, based on 16 reviews.[6] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.2 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[7]

Neil Z. Yeung of [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) gave the album a positive review stating, "Despite *FM!**s brevity, Staples jams so much into every bar that it fully satiates, all while still managing to end so abruptly that it comes as a surprise. The electrifying thrill of*****FM!*is a triumph for the rapper who remains at the top of his game".[8]*[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))**s Alphonse Pierre wrote, "Vince is at ease here, intertwining his personality into his somber celebration of Long Beach like never before. He's rapping his ass off, and hooks are mostly an afterthought. He dips in and out of inventive flows".[9] Chris Gibbons of *[XXL](/source/XXL_(magazine))* wrote: "*FM!* is definitely more centrally focused than either of those EPs [2014's *[Hell Can Wait](/source/Hell_Can_Wait)* and 2016's *[Prima Donna](/source/Prima_Donna_(EP))*]. And even if this is just an off-hand project Vince recorded quickly, it's a hell of a one-off album that's full of charm and lyrical depth paired with fantastic production. Tune in."[10] *[NME](/source/NME)* critic Dhruva Balram said, "Each idea is significantly different from the last and this latest album is an immersive look at the grizzly realities of millions".[11] Clayton Tomlinson of *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)* said, "Vince has managed to not only be acerbic but entertaining on his newest release. Its only drawback is its extremely short runtime".[12] Nick Flanagan of *[Now](/source/Now_(newspaper))* concluded: "With production duties primarily hot potatoed between Hagler and Kenny Beats, the beats and feel are consistent and strong while not getting in the way of Staples' flow, which is elastic and modern without losing an inch of his clarity and bluntness."[2]

Tommy Monroe of *[Consequence](/source/Consequence_(publication))* stated that "*FM!* features the rapper in his raw form and representing his love for the west coast. Whether you decide to hit play in chronological order or skip around, this album will have you bobbing your head at any point. *FM!* is a sunny day that not even being stuck in LA traffic can ruin".[13] Will Richards from *[DIY](/source/DIY_(magazine))* stated, "While *[Big Fish Theory](/source/Big_Fish_Theory)* saw the rapper centre stage, relentless and omnipresent, on *FM!* he lets us tune in to a calmer world, one which he dips in and out of when he pleases, filling in the blanks and staying in the fast lane".[14] Shea Serrano at [The Ringer](/source/The_Ringer_(website)) called the album "smart, and biting, and funny, and challenging, and a top-level examination of the caustic (and casual) existence of violence and death in an overlooked corner of America".[1]

Less enthusiastic was *[Vice](/source/Vice_(magazine))* magazine's [Robert Christgau](/source/Robert_Christgau), who expressed his disappointment in finding Staples "a lot better at tragedy than comedy" on the album. He rated it with a [one-star honorable mention](/source/Christgau's_Consumer_Guide:_Albums_of_the_'90s#Grading_key) while picking "Feels Like Summer" and "Fun" as highlights.[15]

### Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings of FM! Publication List Rank Ref. Complex 50 Best Albums of 2018 31 [16] Consequence The Top 50 Albums of 2018 21 [17] NME Best Albums of the Year 2018 30 [18] NPR Music The 50 Best Albums of 2018 36 [19] Okayplayer The Best Albums of 2018 14 [20] Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2018 26 [21] The Ringer The Best Albums of 2018 4 [22] Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2018 18 [23] Slant Magazine The 25 Best Albums of 2018 14 [24] Stereogum The Best Albums of 2018 14 [25]

## Track listing

All tracks produced by [Kenny Beats](/source/Kenny_Beats), except where noted.[26]

**Notes**

- signifies additional production

## Personnel

Credits for *FM!* adapted from vinyl liner notes.[26]

**Vocalists**

- [Vincent Staples](/source/Vince_Staples) – vocals (tracks 1–4, 6–8 and 11)
- [Earl Sweatshirt](/source/Earl_Sweatshirt) – vocals (track 5)
- [Tyga](/source/Tyga) – vocals (track 9)
- [Ty Dolla Sign](/source/Ty_Dolla_Sign) – additional vocals, transcription, contributor (track 1)
- Vonnie – additional vocals (tracks 1 and 11)
- James Larsen – additional vocals (track 2)
- Briana Lee – additional vocals (track 2)
- Adrian Tupas – additional vocals (track 2)
- Mila Tambaoan – additional vocals (track 2)
- Amos (Kaden) Chea – additional vocals (track 2)
- [Jay Rock](/source/Jay_Rock) – additional vocals (track 3)
- [E-40](/source/E-40) – additional vocals (track 7)
- [Kamaiyah](/source/Kamaiyah) – additional vocals (track 8)
- [Kehlani](/source/Kehlani) – additional vocals (track 11)
- [Buddy](/source/Buddy_(rapper)) – additional vocals (track 11)

**Technical personnel**

- Tyler Page – recording engineering (tracks 1–8 and 11)
- Michael Law Thomas – recording engineering (tracks 2, 4, 6–8 and 11)
- James Royo – recording engineering (tracks 1 and 5)
- Christian "CQ" Quiñonez – recording engineering (track 9)
- Oliver "Odrizz" Krueger – assistant recording engineering (track 6)
- Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixing
- Aria Angel Ali – mixing
- Cyrus "NOIS" Taghipour – assistant mixing

## Charts

Chart performance for FM! Chart (2018) Peak position

## See also

- *[The Who Sell Out](/source/The_Who_Sell_Out)*, a 1967 concept album by [the Who](/source/The_Who) framed as a [pirate radio](/source/Pirate_radio) show
- *[Dawn FM](/source/Dawn_FM)* (2022) by [the Weeknd](/source/The_Weeknd), which features a similar radio aesthetic

## References

1. Serrano, Shea (November 5, 2018). ["Vince Staples's 'FM!' Is the Rap Album of the Year"](https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/11/5/18062942/vince-staples-fm-review-album-of-the-year). [The Ringer](/source/The_Ringer_(website)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181107104347/https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/11/5/18062942/vince-staples-fm-review-album-of-the-year) November 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

1. Flanagan, Nick (November 8, 2018). ["Review: Vince Staples trims the fat on FM!"](https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/review-vince-staples-fm). *[Now](/source/Now_(newspaper))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181111000305/https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/review-vince-staples-fm/) November 11, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 10, 2018.

1. Breihan, Tom (November 6, 2018). ["Vince Staples 'FM!' Review: Efficient and Elemental"](https://www.stereogum.com/2021753/vince-staples-fm-review/franchises/album-of-the-week). *[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181106214306/https://www.stereogum.com/2021753/vince-staples-fm-review/franchises/album-of-the-week/) November 6, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

1. Li, Nicolaus (November 1, 2018). ["Vince Staples 'FM!' Album Is a West Coast Radio Station Takeover"](https://hypebeast.com/2018/11/vince-staples-fm-album-stream). Hypebeast. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181107104434/https://hypebeast.com/2018/11/vince-staples-fm-album-stream) November 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

1. Carmichael, Rodney (November 5, 2018). ["Vince Staples' 'FM!' Is A Potent Critique Of How We Consume Black Art (And It Slaps!)"](https://www.npr.org/2018/11/05/663623111/vince-staples-fm-is-a-potent-critique-of-how-we-consume-black-art-and-it-slaps). *[NPR Music](/source/NPR_Music)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210708191628/https://www.npr.org/2018/11/05/663623111/vince-staples-fm-is-a-potent-critique-of-how-we-consume-black-art-and-it-slaps) July 8, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2021.

1. ["FM! by Vince Staples Reviews and Tracks"](https://www.metacritic.com/music/fm!/vince-staples). [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181107002615/https://www.metacritic.com/music/fm!/vince-staples) November 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 10, 2018.

1. ["FM! by Vince Staples reviews"](http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/9634/Vince-Staples-FM.aspx). AnyDecentMusic? [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145334/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/9634/Vince-Staples-FM.aspx) December 6, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

1. Yeung, Neil Z. ["FM! – Vince Staples"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/fm%21-mw0003223816). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181115195032/https://www.allmusic.com/album/fm%21-mw0003223816) November 15, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 15, 2018.

1. Pierre, Alphonse (November 2, 2018). ["Vince Staples: FM!"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/vince-staples-fm). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181103131135/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/vince-staples-fm/) November 3, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 3, 2018.

1. Gibbons, Chris (November 20, 2018). ["Vince Staples Pays Homage to West Coast on 'FM!' Album"](http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2018/11/vince-staples-fm-album-review/). *[XXL](/source/XXL_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193659/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2018/11/vince-staples-fm-album-review/) November 27, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2018.

1. Balram, Dhruva (November 2, 2018). ["Vince Staples – 'FM!' review"](https://www.nme.com/reviews/vince-staples-fm-review-2396295). *[NME](/source/NME)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181102215241/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/vince-staples-fm-review) November 2, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 18, 2019.

1. Tomlinson, Clayton (November 6, 2018). ["Vince Staples: FM!"](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/vince_staples-fm). *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181107002603/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/vince_staples-fm) November 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

1. Monroe, Tommy (November 6, 2018). ["Vince Staples Shouts Out California on the Breezy FM!"](https://consequence.net/2018/11/album-review-vince-staples-shouts-out-california-on-the-breezy-fm/). *[Consequence](/source/Consequence_(publication))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181106213843/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/11/album-review-vince-staples-shouts-out-california-on-the-breezy-fm/) November 6, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

1. Richards, Will (November 5, 2018). ["Vince Staples – FM!"](http://diymag.com/2018/11/05/vince-staples-fm-album-review). *[DIY](/source/DIY_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181107104232/http://diymag.com/2018/11/05/vince-staples-fm-album-review) November 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

1. Christgau, Robert (December 21, 2018). ["Robert Christgau on Lupe Fiasco, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, and Vince Staples"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/robert-christgau-on-lupe-fiasco-meek-mill-lil-wayne-and-vince-staples/). *[Vice](/source/Vice_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191351/https://www.vice.com/en/article/9k4j8z/robert-christgau-on-lupe-fiasco-meek-mill-lil-wayne-and-vince-staples) July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2021.

1. ["50 Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.complex.com/music/best-albums-2018/vince-staples-fm). *[Complex](/source/Complex_(magazine))*. December 5, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181206104131/https://www.complex.com/music/best-albums-2018/vince-staples-fm) December 6, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

1. ["The Top 50 Albums of 2018"](https://consequence.net/2018/12/top-50-albums-of-2018/4/). *[Consequence](/source/Consequence_(publication))*. December 2, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193255/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/12/top-50-albums-of-2018/4/) December 5, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

1. ["Best albums of the year 2018"](https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/best-greatest-albums-of-the-year-2018-2419656). *[NME](/source/NME)*. December 13, 2018. [Archived](https://archive.today/20190111173128/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/best-greatest-albums-of-the-year-2018-2419656) January 11, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2018.

1. ["The 50 Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/671206637/the-50-best-albums-of-2018-page-2). *NPR*. [NPR Music](/source/NPR_Music). 4 December 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204142648/https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/671206637/the-50-best-albums-of-2018-page-2) December 4, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

1. ["The Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.okayplayer.com/music/what-were-the-best-albums-of-2018.html). [Okayplayer](/source/Okayplayer). December 21, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181221121315/https://www.okayplayer.com/music/what-were-the-best-albums-of-2018.html) December 21, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2018.

1. ["The 50 Best Albums of 2018"](https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-50-best-albums-of-2018/?page=3). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. December 11, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181211131624/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-50-best-albums-of-2018/?page=3) December 11, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 11, 2018.

1. ["The Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/12/4/18124867/best-albums-2018). [The Ringer](/source/The_Ringer_(website)). December 4, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181214065616/https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/12/4/18124867/best-albums-2018) December 14, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 11, 2018.

1. ["50 Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-albums-2018-764071/vince-staples-fm-764131/). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. December 13, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032324/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-albums-2018-764071/vince-staples-fm-764131/) December 16, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2018.

1. ["The 25 Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-albums-of-2018/P3). *[Slant Magazine](/source/Slant_Magazine)*. December 11, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171712/https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-albums-of-2018/P3) December 15, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 11, 2018.

1. ["The Best Albums of 2018"](https://www.stereogum.com/featured/the-best-albums-of-2018/). *[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)*. December 4, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181205141709/https://www.stereogum.com/featured/the-best-albums-of-2018/) December 5, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

1. *FM!* (Vinyl liner notes). [Blacksmith Records](/source/Blacksmith_Records) and [Def Jam Recordings](/source/Def_Jam_Recordings). 2019. 602577295430.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [FM!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM!) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM!?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.