Despite the fact that Vic Mensa has been lending bars to a lot of work by others, one could argue that he has never been so sure of his own sound. With his debut album Traffic imminent, Mensa has released a cheeky freestyle, Heir to the Throne, before he heads off on tour.
Mensa has worked on several projects by other artists this year, including a re-imagining of Future’s Codeine Crazy, as well as a homage to his new boss in the form of freestyling over Just Blaze’s Roc Boys beat from Jay Z’s American Gangster album. And how can we forget his collaboration with Kanye West, U Mad, which provoked mixed reactions. Despite not being creatively responsible for the entire songs, he has developed a voice over the year that is strong and incredibly provocative.
Heir to the Throne, is a nod to Biggie’s classic Who Shot Ya, and pulls punches, declaring a new hierarchy in the hip-hop world. In a few liberating lines, Mensa completely sheds his old skin as an artist dictated by the opinions of others.
“I don’t wanna do no photoshoots. No articles. This is the new beginning of a new dynasty… You should be very scared.” (ed note: fair enough, Vic, man, no more articles – good thing we spent some time with you earlier this year then. Check it out here.)
He goes on to poke fun at rappers who reject the reworking of their own beats.
“ASAP gave me some game he said I’m iller than any of these rap niggas who will try to revise me. That’s why I never listen. I don’t respect tradition.”
Mensa has proved time and time again that he is an artist to watch out for. We can only wait in avid anticipation for his full album.