Few artists have had such a precipitous rise between projects as Vic Mensa, whose last release, 2013’s INNANETAPE, might as well be ancient history at this point. In between he’s infiltrated the dance music world via songs with artists like Kaytranada and Skrillex, earned the respect of the rap world via honors like a XXL Freshman cover and numerous blackout TV and radio freestyles, and built a reputation for himself as Kanye West’s next mentee. The world waited breathlessly for a year for their collaboration “Wolves.” His own Kanye-assisted single “U Mad” did some impressive numbers, too. The Chicago rapper has kept busy, releasing a mixtape’s worth of music, signing to Roc Nation, and getting involved with local political protests surrounding Chicago police misconduct, which is one place we found him last year while filming Noisey Chicago for VICELAND.
But there hasn’t been a project until now. On the heels of releases from his SaveMoney peers Sterling Hayes, Chance the Rapper, and Joey Purp, Vic has shared There’s a Lot Going On. The cover echoes the political bent that Mensa’s public persona has taken on in recent months, framing him as a target. “Danger,” the song he shared a few months ago at Kanye’s The Life of Pablo Madison Square Garden listening event is here, as are six others, with production by go-to collaborators Papi Beatz and Smoko Ono, as well as Knox Fortune, Carter Lang, and Vic himself. Ty Dolla $ign is featured on “Liquor Locker.”
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Vic hinted on Twitter that the EP/mixtape is the prelude to an album on the way this summer. It’s now available for streaming/on sale digitally. Check it out here, along with the tracklist below.
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