Victor (Vic Mensa album)
| Victor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 15, 2023 | |||
| Length | 49:29 | |||
| Label | Roc Nation | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Vic Mensa chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Victor | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 7/10[1] |
| The Guardian |   [2] |
Victor is the second studio album by American rapper Vic Mensa. It was released on September 15, 2023, through Roc Nation.
Background and singles[edit]
The album was produced mainly by the rapper himself, along with executive production by BongoByTheWay.[3] He shared an album trailer and announced the record on August 21. The clip shows Mensa sitting shirtless in the center of an art gallery while artists around him paint and closes out with a portrait of him that one of the artists painted.[4] A few days later, Mensa revealed more details on the project. He explained that the album stems from the "rubble of a bad crash, literally and metaphorically" and follows his "journey into spirituality" as well as a return to Chicago, Ghana and to himself.[5]
The lead single "Strawberry Louis Vuitton" was released on January 27 and features Thundercat and Maeta. An accompanying music video was inspired by the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh.[6] On August 25, he released a single called "Blue Eyes", an "emotional" track that see Mensa talking about "heartbreaking admissions" and "damage inflicted by racism".[7] The final single preceding the album "Lvln Up", a "raw" and "reflective" song, was released on September 11 and was inspired by trip from Accra to Keta "through the Ghanian countryside".[8]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sunday Morning Intro" (featuring Omari Hardwick) |
|
| 1:48 |
| 2. | "Victor" |
|
| 3:14 |
| 3. | "Rumors" |
| 0:50 | |
| 4. | "Lvln Up" |
| 2:08 | |
| 5. | "The Weeping Poets" (featuring Jay Electronica) |
| 2:46 | |
| 6. | "Swear" |
| 2:51 | |
| 7. | "Swish" (featuring G-Eazy and Chance the Rapper) |
|
| 3:45 |
| 8. | "Sunset on the Low End" |
| 4:08 | |
| 9. | "Strawberry Louis Vuitton" (featuring Thundercat and Maeta) |
|
| 2:38 |
| 10. | "Southside Story" (featuring Common) |
|
| 3:16 |
| 11. | "Law of Karma" |
| BongoByTheWay | 3:49 |
| 12. | "Blue Eyes" |
| BongoByTheWay | 2:55 |
| 13. | "Blue Eyes (Interlude)" (with Rapsody) | Marlanna Evans |
| 1:13 |
| 14. | "Sunday Evening Reprise" (featuring Dixson and Lekan) |
|
| 2:08 |
| 15. | "All I Kno" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 16. | "Blessings" (featuring Ant Clemons and D Smoke) |
| 3:23 | |
| 17. | "14 Days" (featuring Mr Hudson) |
|
| 2:30 |
| 18. | "Eastside Girl" (Bonus Track; featuring Ty Dolla Sign) |
|
| 3:02 |
| Total length: | 49:29 | |||
Notes
- ^[c] signifies a co-producer.
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
- "Swish" is stylized as "$wish".
- "Southside Story" is stylized as "$outside Story".
- "Blessing" is stylized as "Ble$$ings".
Personnel[edit]
Musicians
- Vic Mensa – vocals
- Lekan – additional vocals (tracks 1, 16)
- Omari Hardwick – additional vocals (1)
- Elpadardo Allah – additional vocals (5)
- Johan Lenox – additional vocals (5, 9)
- Thundercat – additional vocals (9)
- BongoByTheWay – additional vocals (10)
- Aesha Dominguez – additional vocals (10)
- Lonnie Lynn – additional vocals (10)
- Brandon Mahone – additional vocals (10)
- Malik Yusef – additional vocals (10)
- Demibby – background vocals, guitar, piano (13)
- Subroza – bass, guitar (13)
- Anthony Clemons Jr. – additional vocals (16)
- Benjamin McIldowie – additional vocals (17)
Technical
- DJ Riggins – mastering, mixing
- Aesha Dominguez – recording (1–12, 14–17)
- Vic Mensa – recording (2–5, 7–11, 18)
- Rafe Noonan – recording (9)
- Rapsody – recording (13)
- Tyrone Griffin, Jr. – recording (18)
References[edit]
- ^ Lamond, Ana (September 15, 2023). "Vic Mensa – Victor". Clash. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Morris, Damien (September 17, 2023). "Vic Mensa: Victor review – scattershot second album from the rap maverick". The Guardian. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Hudson, Alex (August 25, 2023). "Vic Mensa Announces New Album 'Victor,' Shares Single "Blue Eyes"". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Mendez, Marisa (August 24, 2023). "Vic Mensa shares release date & trailer for new album 'Victor'". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Schube, Will (August 25, 2023). "Vic Mensa Shares 'Victor' Details, Shares New Single 'Blue Eyes'". uDiscover. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Hussey, Allison (January 30, 2023). "Vic Mensa and Thundercat Share New Song "Strawberry Louis Vuitton": Watch the Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (August 25, 2023). "Vic Mensa Previews "Victor" With New Single, "Blue Eyes"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Bernstein, Elaina (September 11, 2023). "Vic Mensa is "Lvln Up" on New Single". Hypebeast. Retrieved September 13, 2023.