These days, there are plenty of folks trying to be someone else for likes and follows. Vic Mensa, Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum selling rapper and Chicago native has been making his mark by being unapologetically himself for the better part of the last decade. Growth begets a deeper understanding of craft and Mensa is poised to rightfully assert himself with VICTOR LP.
Over the years the multihyphenate has used his platform to speak on issues both narrow and broad, unafraid to voice his opinion. As he nears his second full-length album,he possesses the brash boldness of his youth albeit with a refined understanding of the world.
Mensa has never been known to pull a punch, literally or figuratively. He’s habitually erred on the side of being an intimidatingly positive influence as long as anyone can remember.
Since he was young, music has served as a creative outlet and a vehicle for progressive ideals. As far back as a high school student, Mensa was acutely aware of two things: stages, studios and the intersection music and politics have in his hometown. He’s supported teacher’s unions, spoken out against police violence and led protests, his boots firmly on the ground from day one. It’s part of a cyclical motion: oneside feeding the other.
Mensa attacks life with the assuredness of someone confident in their stance, yet willing to learn beyond it. It explains his evolutionary journey as a musician. From frontman of a high school band that broke through to the dance and electronic stylings of his early work, to the gritty, dark undertones of his releases from 2017 onward, Mensa has explored a wide array of sounds, genres and expressions that are packaged into the multidimensional artist he is today.
2020 and 2021 saw Mensa’s artistic side grow immensely as well with the release of his highly personal V Tape & I Tape. Following a whirlwind beginning to his career including North American and European tours, signing to Roc Nation, performing alongside Sia and Kanye West on Saturday Night Live and more, Mensa found himself exploring music for a meaningful tone. He found that in the themes of redemption.
The thesis of his upcoming project, VICTOR LP is centered on one of its songs, “Law of Karma”. It represents a belief that the only way for upward movement is inward reflection. Long his biggest critic, Mensa has grown up between projects, finding himself more of a homebody, more focused than before and aided by the 20/20 perspective that hindsight allows.
Mensa literally jumped out the window (13 times!) in the lead up to his latest album. The video for the lead single “Strawberry Louis Vuitton“ features a skydiving guitar solo that won’t soon be forgotten. The track is an airy departure from recent releases, marking the exploration that has paced him throughout his career.
The single, featuring Thundercat and Maeta, was inspired by a fellow Chicago legend, Virgil Abloh.
“I made ”Strawberry Louis Vuitton” while watching one of Virgil's last LV films live, the one with Saul Williams. When I heard the sample it just spoke to me so I chopped it, made the beat and wrote the song on the spot. It was really a freestyle. When Virgil passed away I kind of felt like he had given this song to me; the gift that keeps on giving, in a way.”
Following in Abloh’s footsteps, Mensa has similarly grown the reach from his hometown. Teaming up with close friend and fellow artist, Chance The Rapper, the pair produced the Black Star Line Festival in Accra, Ghana in the Fall of 2022. The free event featured the pair along with Erykah Badu, Tobe Nwigwe and more and attracted over 52,000 fans. The festival was a rousing success covered by the likes of BET, MTV and more.
Mensa has a need to help others: his people, hurt people, folks in hard times, folks doing hard time: it doesn’t matter but it manifests throughout his work.
In 2017 he founded the SaveMoneySaveLife Foundation that has made advocating for the fellow man a central tenet of its operation. In the years since, SMSL has produced other programs like Street Medix that empowers young Chicagoans to learn basic EMT and triage skills.
Mensa has also put his weight behind Books Before Bars, a nonprofit providing Illinois prisons so far with over 1000 books, reaching individuals in 57 facilities across the US.
Mensa also founded 93Boyz, the state’s first and so far only black-owned cannabis brand. Mensa’s brand’s mission is to use a portion of profits to fund initiatives benefiting the communities that have traditionally been disproportionately affected by cannabis laws.
At this point in life, Vic Mensa has circled the world several times over off the strength of his talent. The latest chapter he’s writing however is a more carefully nuanced understanding of life. Manifesting in daily actions, big stage performances and everything in between, there’s one thing Mensa will always be: unapologetically himself.
“I used to have this fear of getting older. When I was going to be 25 that was old. But I feel like since I turned 28 I just started to have a deep gratitude,” said Mensa. “I feel grateful because I didn’t know I was going to be here. I didn’t have a way to explain this shit. I feel like I caught such a big ass blessing.”
