Chicago rapper Vic Mensa has just released a new seven-song project I TAPE, a formal follow-up to last summer’s acclaimed V TAPE. The new EP turns its focus to the injustices that Vic has long addressed in his work, both as an individual and through initiatives of his nonprofit organization SAVEMONEYSAVELIFE.
I TAPE showcases Mensa’s adept lyricism, detailing American dysfunction with a poignancy and articulation that few could match. Among the highlights are “Moosa,” about an incarcerated friend for whom Vic successfully petitioned to get parole 12 years early, “Shelter,” a powerful collaboration with music heavyweights Chance The Rapper and Wyclef Jean that unpacks the tangled web of poverty and criminal justice, and “FR33DOM,” which is paired with a new music video by Chris Simmons that just made its network premiere on BET.
“The I TAPE is a cry for freedom, a visceral look into the soul of a man in America,” states Vic Mensa. “Lyrically I wanted to explore themes of rebellion and incarceration, weaving real stories with hard truths.” Stream it below.
Elsewhere in music news, check out our interview with MAR.
