Vic Mensa went deep in depth about solidifying his spirit and the meat he had with DJ Akademiks up to now, through a brand new interview.
The Chicago native sat down for a prolonged profile with Paper, during which he spoke closely about his inventive and private journey thus far. Going again to Ghana, the place his father’s household nonetheless resides, has been very important. “I’ve been capable of construct some fairly phenomenal issues utilizing that privilege and deal with it as a chance to play that function to be the bridge between Black America and Africa,” Mensa mentioned.
Whereas the There’s A Lot Going On artist has been striving in direction of bettering himself on all fronts, he did contact upon a current second, a clip the place he publicly known as out media persona DJ Akademiks for exploitation of the Chicago drill scene, and violence re-emerged. Mensa mentioned it got here from a private connection.
“As a result of a child that I grew up with and went to karate with once we had been 5 years outdated ended up being a road n***a, gang banging, etcetera. He was additionally a really gifted rapper. When he received killed, there was music concerned, there have been huge drill artists concerned, and I heard about it on Akademiks’ parasitic platform. In order that’s why I used to be upset,” he mentioned.
Mensa prefaced that by talking at size concerning the variations between the rising drill scene in Ghana and what already exists in Chicago. “Their music largely displays their realities, which aren’t the identical as American drill realities. Ghana is a really peaceable place. Individuals don’t get killed like that. There’s a number of wrestle although, so their music is rooted in wrestle,” he remarked.
The previous Ye collaborator additionally spoke about his dedication to sobriety, which helped him confront numerous moments in his previous and recalibrate his relationships. He additionally mentioned how he’s come to simply accept being labeled a acutely aware rapper. “I can by no means be mad on the thought of being a acutely aware rapper. The reality is simply that I’m a multifaceted individual,” Mensa mentioned.
Vic Mensa additionally spoke about his foray into punk music and the way he and Probability The Rapper linked up together with Erykah Badu and different artists to arrange and carry out on the Black Star Line Pageant that came about in January.
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Photograph: Momodu Mansaray / Getty
