Vic Mensa has launched his long-awaited sophomore album VICTOR through Roc Nation. Govt produced by BongoByTheWay and largely self-produced in classes stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles to Ghana and past, the album is the product of a two yr interval of inward reflection and newfound sobriety for the achieved MC.
“This album is a narrative of redemption; trial and triumph, ache & glory,” states Mensa. “It was cast from the rubble of a foul crash, actually and metaphorically, and follows my journey into spirituality, a return to Chicago, a return to Ghana and a rediscovery of myself.”
The album’s themes are introduced additional into focus by the quilt art work, a life-sized portray by Terron Cooper Sorrells, which reimagines Mensa as Osiris, the Egyptian God of the Lifeless who was torn aside and stitched by collectively by his spouse Isis. It serves as a parallel to Mensa’s personal quest for redemption the place he has taken inventory of his position within the setbacks and trials he’s confronted whereas working inwardly and outwardly to attempt to have an effect on optimistic change by social work, sobriety, and delving into his cultural roots touring to and dealing in Ghana.
The album was preceded by a prolific run of singles, together with the Virgil Abloh-homage “Strawberry Louis Vuitton (feat.Thundercat & Maeta);” his reunion with longtime collaborators Likelihood the Rapper and G-Eazy “$WISH;” his love letter to Chicago Home music “Eastside Woman (feat. Ty Dolla $ign),” “Blue Eyes,” a deeply private monitor during which Vic breaks down the internalized insecurities he skilled rising up biracial whereas addressing the toxicity of Euro-centric magnificence requirements; and most just lately “LVLN UP.”
Vic will rejoice the album’s launch tonight (September 15) in Chicago with a particular hometown occasion labeled “The Mensa Melee” during which Vic will arrange a hoop and placed on a boxing exhibition soundtracked by the album.
The occasion was hinted at in a video Vic posted to his socials on Wednesday, September 13, with Omari Hardwick teaching Vic in a boxing ring whereas reciting “Sunday Morning Intro”—his monologue that opens the album. Subsequent he’ll decamp to California to carry out as direct assist for longtime buddy Likelihood the Rapper at Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium this coming Thursday, September 21.
Purchase or stream VICTOR.