Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa

Vic Mensa Live in 2014
Background information
Birth name Victor Kwesi Mensah
Born June 6th 1993
Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s)
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2009–present[1]
Labels Roc Nation, Virgin EMI Records
Associated acts
Website vicmensa.com

Victor Kwesi Mensah[2] (born June 6, 1993), better known by his stage name Vic Mensa, is an American hip hop recording artist from Chicago, Illinois.[3] He was a member of the group Kids These Days, which broke up in May 2013. Following their breakup he released his first major mixtape INNANETAPE. Vic Mensa is also founder of the hip-hop collective SAVEMONEY with frequent collaborator Chance The Rapper. His debut single "Down On My Luck" was released in June 2014 by Virgin EMI and it achieved international success. [4]

Life and career

Early life and beginnings

Vic Mensa was born in Chicago, Illinois to a father from Ghana and a White mother. His mother, Betsy Mensah, works in the Chicago Public Schools system, and father, Edward Mensah, an economics professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.[5] As a child, he recalls rock and roll as some of his earliest music memories that included The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Miles Davis. It was not until fifth grade that Mensa started to take a liking to rap and hip-hop music.[6] Mensa was a good student who attended the Whitney Young Magnet High School, but got caught up in shoplifting and dealing marijuana. However, his musical aspirations cut short his days as a hustler.[5]

In July 2010, Mensa released his debut solo project titled Straight Up as a Ruby Hornet exclusive.

2013–14: INNANETAPE

In 2013, following the break-up of the band Kids These Days, Mensa announced that he would be pursuing a solo career.[7] He then made an appearance on Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap,[8] and announced plans to release a mixtape named INNANETAPE.[1] He released his second solo mixtape INNANETAPE on September 30, 2013.[9] The mixtape features guest appearances by Ab-Soul, Thundercat, Chance The Rapper and Rockie Fresh. Production was handled by Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, Tae Beast, Hit-Boy, The Maven Boys, Michael Uzowuru, and Christian Rich among others.[10][11] The mixtape was downloaded over 35,000 times in the first month after its release.[12]

Mensa also performed with Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn (Mensa is a long-time fan of Gorillaz) at Albarn's performance at the Governor's Ball where he performed the track "Clint Eastwood", filling in for MC Del the Funky Homosapien.[13]

On September 18, 2013, it was announced that Mensa would be joining J. Cole and Wale on the What Dreams May Come Tour.[14] Following the end of the tour, he toured Europe with Danny Brown beginning on February 21, 2014 and ending March 8, 2014.[15] To cap off his rise to stardom, Mensa was also chosen for the 2014 XXL freshman class.[16] On May 12, 2014, his first official single "Down On My Luck" was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United Kingdom.[17] That same day, the music video for the song was released.[18] "Down on My Luck" was then released for digital download in international markets on June 6, 2014 by Virgin EMI Records.[19] It is the first single from his debut EP Street Lights.[20]

2015–present

On February 12th, 2015, Kanye West debuted his second song from his upcoming album, called "Wolves", featuring Vic Mensa and Sia, during his first adidas Originals x Kanye West fashion show, titled YEEZY SEASON 1. The song is the first track of West's next album. Mensa performed "Wolves" alongside West and Sia on Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary Celebration on February 15th, 2015.

On April 10th, 2015, Vic Mensa released his single "U Mad", featuring Kanye West, on Soundcloud.

On April 21, 2015, Roc Nation announced that it had signed Vic Mensa to its label, via a video announcement that shows the rapper signing contracts alongside Jay Z. [21] Jay Z also tweeted an iTunes link to Mensa's single featuring Kanye in the process. He also announced new album Traffic in an interview, and stated it will have "Down On My Luck" and "U mad" on the album. [22]

Artistry

Influences

In interviews with XXL and Complex Mensa cites rap artists like Timbaland, Jay Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Eminem, Biggie Smalls, Missy Elliot, UGK, J Dilla, Nas, The Pharcyde, 2Pac, & Hieroglyphics as well as rock artists like Jimi Hendrix, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Gorillaz & Nirvana among his influences.[23][24]

Musical style

Mensa has received a wide range of recognition for his lyrical ability. In 2013, XXL called his breakthrough mixtape Innanetape "lyrical nourishment" and commenting on his ability to "bend words at will, cramming syllables into lines with obvious glee". [25]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Mixtapes

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B		 US
Rap		 AUS BEL
(FL)		 BEL
(WA)		 UK
"Down On My Luck" 2014 — — — —[lower-alpha 1] 55 62 37 Traffic
"U Mad" (featuring Kanye West) 2015 — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B		 US
Rap		 AUS BEL
(FL)		 BEL
(WA)		 UK
"Fast Life" (Asher Roth featuring Vic Mensa) 2014 — — — — — — — RetroHash
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Down On My Luck" did not enter the ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles, but peaked at number 16 on the Australian Top 40 Urban Singles chart.[26]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Nominated work Result
2015 mtvU Woodie Awards[27] Best Video Woodie "Down On My Luck" Nominated

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vic Mensa — 25 New Rappers to Watch Out For". Complex. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  2. ↑ "Vic Mensa - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  3. ↑ "Vic Mensa profiled". Chicago Tribune September 5, 2013. 17 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "OK-Tho.com's Top 25 Artists of 2013" http://www.ok-tho.com/2014/01/top-of-year-deans-list-top-25-artists.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Greg Kot (2013-11-30). "Vic Mensa profile; Chicago rapper Vic Mensa interviewed". Chicago Tribune. Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  6. ↑ "Vic Mensa on "Real Late with Peter Rosenberg"". YouTube. 2014-02-18. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  7. ↑ "Vic Mensa Goes Solo". Rolling Stone October 1, 2013. 17 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Acid Rap". Audiomack April 30, 2013. 13 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Vic Mensa teases INNANETAPE". MTV September 20, 2013. 17 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Vic Mensa Vic Mensa - INNANETAPE". Complex September 30, 2013. 17 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Jackson, Dan (2013-09-30). "Vic Mensa Releases 'INNANETAPE' Mixtape Featuring Chance The Rapper, Ab-Soul And Rockie Fresh - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  12. ↑ INNANETAPE - Datpiff.com
  13. ↑ http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/06/watch-damon-albarn-performs-with-de-la-soul-vic-mensa-at-governors-ball/
  14. ↑ "Vic Mensa Joins J. Cole's 'What Dreams May Come Tour'". Illroots. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  15. ↑ C. Vernon Coleman (2014-01-11). "Vic Mensa Joining Danny Brown For Upcoming European Tour - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  16. ↑ Sia, Nicole (2014-05-05). "XXL Freshmen 2014 Cover Revealed - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  17. ↑ "BBC Radio 1Xtra Playlist". Archived from the original on May 12, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Isaiah Rashad - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  19. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Down On My Luck - Single by Vic Mensa". Itunes.apple.com. 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  20. ↑ Montanez, Eric (2014-05-12). "Vic Mensa – Down On My Luck". Hypetrak. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  21. ↑ "Vic Mensa Signs To Jay Z’s Roc Nation". BallerStatus.com. April 21, 2015.
  22. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.33518/title.vic-mensa-signs-to-roc-nation
  23. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-freshmen-2014/2014/05/vic-mensa-2/
  24. ↑ http://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/who-is-vic-mensa
  25. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2013/10/vic-mensa-innanetape-mixtape-review/
  26. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 40 Urban Singles Chart". ARIA. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  27. ↑ "mtvU Announces '2015 mtvU Woodie Awards' Nominees". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.

External links