Vic Mensa

Victor Kwesi Mensah (born June 6, 1993), known professionally as Vic Mensa, is an American rapper.[2] He was a member of the group Kids These Days, which broke up in May 2013, after which he released his debut solo mixtape Innanetape. Throughout his career, he's been signed to Virgin EMI Records, Def Jam Recordings, Capitol Records, and Roc Nation.

Vic Mensa
Mensa in 2015
Mensa in 2015
Background information
Birth nameVictor Kwesi Mensah
Also known asVino
Born (1993-06-06) June 6, 1993
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2009–present[1]
Labels
Member of
Formerly of
Websitevicmensa.com
Signature

Mensa is also a founder of the hip-hop collective Savemoney which includes frequent collaborator Chance the Rapper. Mensa's debut single "Down on My Luck" was released in June 2014, followed up by another single "U Mad" (featuring Kanye West) in April 2015.[3][4] His debut studio album, The Autobiography was released in July 2017, followed up with his second album Victor in September 2023. Despite limited mainstream success himself, he's collaborated with high-profile artists including Kanye West, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Wyclef Jean, and Skrillex, among others.[5]

Mensa has been involved in political activism and charitable efforts in his hometown of Chicago, being heavily outspoken on the issue of gun violence. He also is the founder of the SavemoneySavelife foundation, whose mission is to use art and entertainment to foster sustainable change, and funds three programs in Chicago centered on health and the arts.[6][7]

Life and career

1993–2012: Early life

Victor Kwesi Mensah was born on June 6, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois.[8] His father is from Ghana and his mother is a white American.[9] Mensa grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.[10] He attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and while a freshman, met Chancellor Bennett in passing (Bennett would later be known as Chance the Rapper).

Mensa began his career when he formed a band called Kids These Days in 2009. The band would eventually release two projects, an extended play titled Hard Times in 2011,[11] and a mixtape titled Traphouse Rock in 2012.[12]

2013–2014: Innanetape and XXL Freshman Class
Main article: Innanetape

Following the band's split up in May 2013,[13] Mensa performed with Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn at Albarn's 2014 performance at the Governors Ball Music Festival, where he performed the track "Clint Eastwood", filling in for MC Del the Funky Homosapien.[14] When announcing a tour for 2015, Mensa said that he has plans to collaborate with Albarn sometime in the near future.[15]

On September 18, 2013, it was announced, that Mensa would be joining J. Cole and Wale on the What Dreams May Come Tour.[16] Mensa would eventually release his debut mixtape, Innanetape, which was released on September 30, 2013.

Vic Mensa in 2014

Following the end of the What Dreams May Come Tour, he toured Europe with Danny Brown, for the beginning of February 21, 2014 and ending on March 8.[17] To cap off his rise to stardom, Mensa was chosen to be on the cover of XXL for the Freshman Class of 2014.[18] Mensa's debut single "Down on My Luck" was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2014.[19] On the same day, the music video for the song was released.[20] "Down on My Luck" was then released for digital download in international markets on June 6, 2014, by Virgin EMI Records.[21][22]

2015–2017: There's Alot Going On and The Autobiography
Main articles: There's Alot Going On and The Autobiography (Vic Mensa album)

On February 12, 2015, Kanye West debuted a song, titled "Wolves" at his Adidas Originals showcase. The song featured Mensa himself, along with Sia.[23] Mensa later performed "Wolves" alongside West and Sia on Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary Celebration three days later.[24][25] Mensa would later release an official collaboration with Kanye West, titled "U Mad" on April 10.[26] Eleven days later, Roc Nation announced that Vic had signed to its label, and a video of Mensa signing the deal alongside Jay-Z backstage at his On the Run Tour in Chicago was released on Tidal. Later on in 2015, Mensa received a nomination for Best Rap Song at the 58th Grammy Awards as a songwriter for co-writing Kanye West's single "All Day".[27]

On February 8, 2016, it was announced that Mensa, along with Travis Scott and iLoveMakonnen, will be a part of Alexander Wang's "WANGSQUAD" campaign.[28] On February 19, Mensa released a single, titled "No Chill" onto iTunes with Skrillex. It was produced by Skrillex and Jahlil Beats.[29] Mensa's collaboration on Kanye West's "Wolves", would eventuality be released after West updated the album's Tidal track list off his seventh studio album The Life of Pablo with a reworked version of "Wolves", which included previously removed guest vocals from Mensa and Sia, and separated Frank Ocean vocals into a separate track on March 16, 2016.[30]

On June 3, 2016, Vic Mensa released his second extended play titled, There's Alot Going On. With only one guest feature from Ty Dolla Sign, the EP tackled issues such as the Flint water crisis, the murder of Laquan McDonald, and self-inflicted wounds.[31] Mensa's EP debuted at number 127 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[32]

He and his friends were stopped by police for assumed stealing after his spending spree at Barney's of $4,000.[33] He has performed as the opening act during Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour in Europe.[34]

Leading up to the release of Mensa's debut studio album, he released his third extended play, The Manuscript on June 8, 2017.[35] Three days later, Mensa announced and revealed the album's title of his debut studio album titled, The Autobiography.[36] Mensa would release the lead single titled, "Wings" featuring Pharrell Williams and Saul Williams on July 13.[37] The Autobiography was released on July 28, 2017, through Roc Nation.[38] The album featured guest appearances from Weezer, Syd, The-Dream, Chief Keef, Joey Purp, Pharrell Williams, Saul Williams, Ty Dolla Sign, and Pusha T.[39] The album debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 15,000 copies first week.[40][41][32]

2018–2019: Hooligans and 93Punx

Mensa later went on and released his fourth extended play titled, Hooligans on December 14, 2018.[42] The extended play was supported by the singles: "Reverse" featuring G-Eazy and "Dark Things".[43][44]

In January 2019, Mensa formed a punk rock and rap band named 93Punx, they later released a cover of The Cranberries song "Zombie".[45] 93Punx later released their debut single, "Camp America", featuring children in cages in an ICE-inspired video.[46] The singles "3 Years Sober" with Travis Barker and "It's a Bad Dream" featuring Good Charlotte was followed up and released in July and August 2019 respectively.[47] Their self-titled album was released on August 23, 2019.[48]

2020-present: V Tape, Akilla's Escape, I Tape and Vino Valentino

Mensa returned in August 2020 with his first single of the year, "No More Teardrops", featuring Malik Yusef and Wyatt Waddell, a song tackling police brutality, street crime, corruption and the prison system. The song appeared on Roc Nation's compilation album, Reprise.[49] Mensa would later release his fifth extended play, V Tape, on August 21, 2020, which features from Snoh Alaegra, SAINt JHN, BJ Chicago Kid, Peter Cottontale and Eryn Allen Kane.[50]

Also in 2020, Mensa would take a leap into acting in the TIFF film Akilla's Escape, in which he played the character Prince.[51] The film would go on to be nominated for 8 Canadian Screen Awards subsequently winning 5 of them, including Best Original Screenplay[52]

On March 26, 2021, Mensa put out the album I Tape, again under Roc Nation. The album further explored the themes of the American Dream that riddled his prior works, discussing the shattering of expectations brought on by the reality of systematic abuse.[53] The album quickly garnered commendation from rap news outlets for its unabashed condemnation and meditation on racial injustice in America and its message of prison reform.[54] With tracks featuring Chance The Rapper and Wyclef Jean,[55] the album saw a good wave of popularity in the underground scene, and signaled a return to form for the rapper from a critical standpoint.[56]

Off the heels of I TAPE's praise, he would go on to release the 4 song EP Vino Valentino on Valentine's Day 2022.[57]

Controversy

In October 2018, as part of his BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, Mensa dissed late rapper XXXTentacion, referencing his domestic abuse charges and mocking his murder. Subsequently, he received backlash on social media as well as from other artists.[58] Additionally, Vic Mensa was criticized as hypocritical by radio host Charlamagne tha God, as Mensa had previously admitted to choking a woman.[59] Mensa later apologized on Instagram for dissing XXXTentacion in front of his mother, but stood by the lyrics, saying:

"Recently, I did a freestyle for the BET [Hip Hop] Awards cypher addressing and condemning rappers who unabashedly abuse women and those who stand up for them and even call them legends, I stand behind those statements. It was pre-recorded weeks ago, and I had no idea a grieving mother would be in the audience to honour her lost son. I never intended to disrespect her, and I offer my deepest condolences for her loss at the hands of gun violence. However, I vehemently reject the trend in Hip Hop of championing abusers, and I will not hold my tongue about it. I don't give a fuck about getting attention. I care about bringing awareness and holding people accountable for their actions".[60]

On January 15, 2022, Mensah was arrested at the Washington Dulles International Airport by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police after U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered a cache of drugs including LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, capsules and gummies. He was charged with felony narcotics possession charges.[61]

Artistry

In interviews with XXL and Complex, Mensa cited hip hop artists such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Earl Sweatshirt, A Tribe Called Quest, Timbaland, Eminem, Biggie Smalls, Missy Elliott, Lupe Fiasco, UGK, J Dilla, The Pharcyde, DMX, Nas, 2Pac, Hieroglyphics, De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan, Lil Wayne, Kid Rock, and Snoop Dogg as musical influences.[62][63] In 2013, XXL called his breakthrough mixtape Innanetape "lyrical nourishment" and commented on his ability to "bend words at will, cramming syllables into lines with obvious glee."[64]

Discography
Main article: Vic Mensa discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

  • 93Punx (with 93Punx) (2019)

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Nominated work Result
2015 mtvU Woodie Awards[65] Best Video Woodie "Down on My Luck" Nominated
2016 Grammy Awards Best Rap Song "All Day" (as a songwriter) Nominated
2018 NAACP Image Awards[66] Outstanding New Artist Himself Nominated

References
  1. "Vic Mensa — 25 New Rappers to Watch Out For". Complex. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  2. "5 Influential Rappers That Broke The Mental Health Stigma". The Huffington Post. July 27, 2016.
  3. Ramirez, Erika (April 22, 2015). "Vic Mensa Signs to Roc Nation". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. "Top Of The Year: The Deans List (Top 25 Artists of 2013)". January 15, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  5. Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Hip-Hop's Future Moguls: Post Malone, Cardi B And The Class of 2018". Forbes. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. Mensa, Vic (July 18, 2018). "Vic Mensa: 'I Am a Gun Owner, and I Vehemently Support Gun Control'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  7. Holmes, Charles. "Vic Mensa Explains How Gun Violence Has Affected His Life In New Op-Ed". MTV News. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  8. Madden, Sidney (June 6, 2016). "Happy Birthday, Vic Mensa!". XXL. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  9. McQuaid, Ian (August 4, 2015). "Vic Mensa: meet Kanye's punk protege". The Guardian.
  10. Spanos, Brittany. "How Rap Phenom Vic Mensa Cheated Death and Charmed Kanye". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015.
  11. Young, Alex (June 23, 2011). "Album Review: Kids These Days – Hard Times EP". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  12. Vitale, Alyssa (November 21, 2011). "Jeff Tweedy producing Chicago band Kids These Days' debut record". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  13. Buyanovsky, Dan (May 8, 2013). "Exclusive: Vic Mensa Announces End Of Kids These Days, Drops Solo Video". XXL. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  14. Young, Alex. (2014-06-09) Watch: Damon Albarn performs with De La Soul, Vic Mensa at Governors Ball. Consequence of Sound. Retrieved on 2016-01-08.
  15. Moskovitch, Greg (August 5, 2014). "Vic Mensa Confirms Early 2015 Tour". Music Feeds. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
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  17. C. Vernon Coleman (January 11, 2014). "Vic Mensa Joining Danny Brown For Upcoming European Tour – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
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  27. "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. December 7, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
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  31. "Vic Mensa Talks Emotional 'There's Alot Going On' EP, Encourages Fans to Vote". Billboard. June 3, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
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  45. Klinkenberg, Brendan (December 2019). "Hear Vic Mensa Cover 'Zombie' Honoring Cranberries' Singer Dolores O'Riordan". Rolling Stone.
  46. Stern, Marlow (June 14, 2019). "Exclusive: Vic Mensa's Shocking ICE-Inspired Rap Video Featuring White Kids in Cages". Retrieved June 15, 2019.
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  61. Rapper Arrested at Dulles Airport after CBP Officers Discovered illicit Narcotics Cache in Baggage U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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  64. Xxlmag.com. Xxlmag.com. Retrieved on 2016-01-08.
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  66. "NAACP Image Awards Nominees". Deadline. November 20, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
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