Vic Mensa Gifts Chicago Black Woman-Owned Bookstore a Check To Cover Remaining 2024 Rent

VIC MENSA GIFTS CHICAGO BLACK WOMAN-OWNED BOOKSTORE A CHECK THAT TO COVER REMAINING 2024 RENT

Vic Mensa is doing more good in his hometown of Chicago after yet another donation to a deserving Black-owned small business. 

Shadow and Act reported that this month, Mensa visited Da Book Joing, a local Black woman-owned bookstore, where he gifted them a check for $7,200 to lend a helping hand and ensure their shop doesn’t shutter like many small businesses. Now it’s interesting, the bread came via Mensa’s cannabis brand 93 Boyz. The weed business is supposedly the first Black-owned marijuana brand available for public consumption in Chicago. As for the $7,200 donation will cover Da Book Joint’s remaining lease payments for 2024, as reported by Afrotech.

The bookshop’s co-owners, Verlean Singletary and Courtney Woods, founded the store in 2007 with the goal of assisting the youth based on the Southside of Chicago to enhance their literacy and provide a safe place to enjoy their lives. Da Book Joint offers a wide variety of books and hosts events like their “annual book fair with free books and school supplies, book club meetings for the Chicago chapter of NoName Book Club, and Book and Brunch that includes a catered breakfast, a discussion about books, and a free publication to take home for kids, youth and adults” from the Shadow and Act report. 

Da Book Shop owners and team appreciated Mensa’s contribution, which came unexpectedly, as they posted the pics on the Gram showing an extensive yellow check thanking him and their supporters. “Hey family! This has officially been the best Wednesday ever! We are thankful. We are honored. We are grateful. We are truly living a dream right now,” from the IG caption. “Thank you so much to @vicmensa and his entire @93boyz team for blessing us today by covering our rent for an entire year. Thank you for seeing our mission and helping us stand in our purpose. You are that breath of fresh air we needed. His generosity ensures our doors stay open for all book lovers and dreamers. This act of kindness touches our hearts deeply and reaffirms the power of community and support.” 

The post went on to say, “Thank you, Vic Mensa, for lighting up our world with hope and generosity! 📚💖 More official photos and videos coming! We can’t wait for you to see the phenomenal interview we filmed today!” Here’s the post with the shout out to Vic for lending a helping hand. 

The post Vic Mensa Gifts Chicago Black Woman-Owned Bookstore a Check To Cover Remaining 2024 Rent first appeared on The Source.

The post Vic Mensa Gifts Chicago Black Woman-Owned Bookstore a Check To Cover Remaining 2024 Rent appeared first on The Source.

Steelo Brim & VIC MENSA Pair Up Again For “N**** Dreams”

The Chicago streets are on fire! No, thankfully not a real one. But it is because VIC MENSA and Steelo Brim are back together for a new single. These two underrated lyricists are here with “N**** Dreams” a motivational and hype track about going after your goals and becoming proud of who you are. For Steelo this is his first piece of solo material since last July’s “Margiela.”

Hopefully, this is also the start of a new album rollout for him. It has been about two years since the release of Steelo’s debut Eldorado Excursions. That project featured Buddy, Arin Ray, VIC, Dej Loaf, Leon Thomas, PRICE, Chuck English, and more. As we said, these two are no strangers to each other and they both speak very highly of each other.

Read More: Killer Mike, Bun B, & More Reach Out To Maxo Kream Following Father’s Death

Listen To “N**** Dreams” By Steelo Brim & VIC MENSA

In the press release, VIC MENSA could not help but give Steelo Brim his flowers. “Beyond being a friend, Steelo has an amazing ear for production, a unique perspective and has been a covert architect of culture for over a decade now. One of the first young art collectors I knew, [Steelo] brings that taste level to his creativity and that’s something I always connect with.” This was a release that the lead artist “felt appropriate for Black History Month.” Brim says, “The title is also ‘sarcastic’ in the sense of we can wish and dream of more, and yet, we are still just ‘N****s,’ lol.”

What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “N**** Dreams,” by Steelo Brim and VIC MENSA? Is this their best song together, why or why not? Could you see them making a collaborative album together? Who had the stronger performance and why? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Steelo Brim and VIC MENSA. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.

Quotable Lyrics:

I used to have dreams of whipping a tangerine Lamborghini
Pushing up through the p where the gang members is kings
It’s complicated, skating that boi like Avril Lavigne
In the trenches surrounded by fiends
Look
I always had dreams of interrupting generational poverty

Read More: Mariah The Scientist Reacts To Fan Quoting Leaked Young Thug Jail Video

The post Steelo Brim & VIC MENSA Pair Up Again For “N**** Dreams” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Vic Mensa and Alycia Pascual-Peña Join ‘Bel-Air’ Season 3 on Peacock

Vic Mensa and Alycia Pascual-Peña Join ‘Bel-Air’ Season 3 on Peacock

Bel-Air is bringing in a couple of new stars for the third season. Deadline reports the rapper turned-actor Vic Mensa and Alycia Pascual-Peña are boarded to the reimagining of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air series on Peacock. The new cast members will have recurring roles of Quentin (Mensa) and Amira (Pascual-Peña). Notably, there isn’t much intel on how they will impact the story, but they will be coming into a series that is arguably one of the biggest success stories on Peacock.

Bel-Air stars Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones. Justin Cornwell, Karrueche Tran, and Jovian Wade are returning in recurring roles.

Creator of the original viral trailer Morgan Cooper and Will Smith executive produce along with series showrunner and writer Carla Banks Waddles. Also serving as executive producers are Terence Carter, James Lassiter, and Miguel Melendez, including original sitcom producers Benny Medina, Quincy Jones, and Andy & Susan Borowitz. Andy Reaser is also an executive producer with JaNeika James and JaSheika James. Production companies are Westbrook Studios and Universal Television.

The post Vic Mensa and Alycia Pascual-Peña Join ‘Bel-Air’ Season 3 on Peacock first appeared on The Source.

The post Vic Mensa and Alycia Pascual-Peña Join ‘Bel-Air’ Season 3 on Peacock appeared first on The Source.

Vic Mensa’s 93Boyz, Cast of ‘The Chi’ and The Delta Partner for Feed The Block Initiative in Chicago

93Boyz FeedTheBlock TheChi 1

Global recording artist, actor, and community organizer Vic Mensa and 93Boyz and ‘The Delta’ extended their Feed The Block / Warm The Block initiative in Pilsen over the weekend (1.26). The collaborative effort aimed to assist the unhoused community by providing warm meals, toiletries, and cold-weather essentials.

Joining Mensa were cast members from Showtime’s The Chi, including Jason Weaver, Luke James, Jacob Latimore, and Hannaha Hall. The warm meals were generously supplied by a local black-owned restaurant, ‘The Delta.’ The Feed The Block / Warm The Block initiative, initiated by Mensa and Eldridge Williams, owner of ‘The Delta,’ emphasizes resource investment to support underserved and disenfranchised communities, embodying Mensa’s commitment to community service.

“Feed The Block is an initiative we’ve been doing through 93Boyz, my cannabis company, since the onset of winter in Chicago,” Vic Mensa says regarding Friday’s giveback. “The cold months in this city can be brutal, exacerbating the already dire circumstances that thousands of unhoused people face in Chicago every year. By partnering with a local Black-owned restaurant called The Delta, we’ve been able to serve countless meals to those in need as well as provide warm clothing and supplies such as sanitary products, toiletries, etc. A primary pillar of 93Boyz ethos has always been reinvestment into community; Feed The Block is one of our many ways of giving back.”

The post Vic Mensa’s 93Boyz, Cast of ‘The Chi’ and The Delta Partner for Feed The Block Initiative in Chicago first appeared on The Source.

The post Vic Mensa’s 93Boyz, Cast of ‘The Chi’ and The Delta Partner for Feed The Block Initiative in Chicago appeared first on The Source.

VIC MENSA Destroys His “On The Radar” Freestyle Appearance: Watch

Hip-hop’s output this year has been one of the more questionable runs in recent memory. That is not to say that nothing exciting has happened. A fair amount of mainstream artists have dropped albums. However, not all of them have been universally well-regarded. It seems the opposite can be said about Chicago’s own, VIC MENSA. The 30-year-old artist also reentered the fray back in the middle of September. He did so with his self-titled sophomore LP, Victor. Overall, critics and fans have been sharing similar thoughts on the veteran’s release.

On top of that, VIC continues to be heavily involved in the freestyle space. This year alone, he has dropped some serious heat for L.A. Leakers and On The Radar Radio. His first appearance with the latter in 2023 was about three months ago. Recently, VIC came back for more, this time in collaboration with Lyrical Lemonade.

Read More: Mariah Carey Faces Breakup Rumors After Touring Without Her Boyfriend

VIC MENSA Murks The Beat

On this one, MENSA goes in on a smooth boom-bap-like beat. The instrumentation has a jazzy element too and he just goes off on it. He switches his flows quite frequently on it, adding to the dynamic aspect. It is time more and more people put respect on his off-the-dome abilities. VIC is definitely back.

What are your initial thoughts on VIC MENSA’s “On The Radar” Freestyle? Is this the best appearance for On The Radar this year, why or why not? Is he the most underrated artist from Chicago? Where does he rank amongst freestylers all time? Is Victor still in your rotation? If so which songs are still doing it for you? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around VIC MENSA. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.

Read More: Cardi B Claims That Country Music Is Taking Over The Charts

The post VIC MENSA Destroys His “On The Radar” Freestyle Appearance: Watch appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

WATCH: Vic Mensa Releases Short Film and Music Video for “Blue Eyes”

Vic Mensa Releases Short Film and Music Video for "Blue Eyes"

Vic Mensa has released a poignant short film/music video for his track “Blue Eyes” from his sophomore album, VICTOR. Directed by longtime collaborator Andre Muir, the film was shot in Jamaica and delves into the emotional depth of the song.

The short film captures Vic’s exploration of his biracial identity, addressing the internalized insecurities he faced growing up and confronting the toxicity of Euro-centric beauty standards. The visuals include cinematic shots of Vic breaking free from symbolic struggles, locals in Jamaica discussing the history of skin bleaching, and a female lead shedding a blond wig, symbolizing liberation from harmful standards.

“The song ‘Blue Eyes’ is one of the most personal I’ve ever made and illustrates the impact of European beauty standards on the mind of the African, using my experience and that of my aunt who recently passed from the effects of skin bleaching,” Vic said.

You can see the “Blue Eyes” release below.

The post WATCH: Vic Mensa Releases Short Film and Music Video for “Blue Eyes” first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Vic Mensa Releases Short Film and Music Video for “Blue Eyes” appeared first on The Source.

VIC MENSA Lays Down Two Amazing Freestyles Over Classic Beats On L.A. Leakers

Chicago rapper VIC MENSA is having an underrated 2023. It fits him, seeing as he has been an unheralded talent ever since his first tape, There’s Alot Going On. He has quite a few projects since then, but only one of them classifies as an album. That was his debut in 2017, The Autobiography. But, Vic waited a whole six years later to put out his sophomore release, Victor. It is a big deal for him because of the wait, but also because of the big features. Rapsody, Common, Thundercat, Chance the Rapper, Jay Electronica and more appear on it.

Fans are taking a liking to the new release from MENSA because of the personal themes laced throughout the tracklist. Now, the multi-talented artist is continuing to ride this momentum throughout the rest of the year. Power 106 Los Angeles has seen some outrageous freestyles on their radio station and they just got to witness MENSA murder some classic instrumentals. The two beats he rapped over include “What It Feels Like” and “Get Down.”

Read More: Blueface Wants “Generational Wealth” For Jaidyn Alexis & Their Two Sons

Listen To VIC MENSA Absolutely Shut Down L.A. Leakers

The latter of the two is a Nas song from ’02, while the first is from Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle’s collaboration. HipHopDX, grabbed some bars from both freestyles and they are fire. On “What It Feels Like,” VIC raps, “I ain’t lying on the beat, been scarred but I became king / Alexander Graham Bell the way my name ring / From here to China, my spirit is in alignment.” Then, on “Get Down,” he continues to spit. “That’s a concealed and carry / I move with military when I go in to march, like the end of February / I’m a king, I need three wives— the more, the merry / At the ADMAX, screaming ‘Free Jeff Fort and Larry.

What are your initial thoughts on VIC MENSA’s two freestyles at L.A. Leakers? Is he one of the best off-the-dome rappers in recent memory? Are you enjoying VIC’s newest project, Victor? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest freestyles, as well as the latest breaking news around the music world.

Read More: Fat Joe’s Advice For 52-Year-Old Aspiring Rapper: “Stay Retired”

[Via]

The post VIC MENSA Lays Down Two Amazing Freestyles Over Classic Beats On L.A. Leakers appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

WATCH: Vic Mensa Tackles JAY-Z and Nas Beats on Power 106 Freestyle

Vic Mensa Tackles JAY-Z and Nas Beats on Power 106 Freestyle

In a recent visit to Justin Credible at Power 106, Vic Mensa showcased his lyrical prowess with a freestyle over the iconic Nas’ “Get Down” and JAY-Z’s “What It Feels Like” beat.

The performance follows the release of his sophomore album, VICTOR, and is a powerful reminder of why he’s a Roc Nation signee. Mensa’s elite lyricism was on full display, leaving listeners captivated by his skills and reaffirming his status as a top talent in the industry. This freestyle is a testament to Mensa’s artistry and dedication to the craft.

Vic Mensa unleashed his long-awaited sophomore album, VICTOR, under the Roc Nation banner on Sept. 15. Executive produced by BongoByTheWay and predominantly self-produced during sessions spanning from Chicago to Los Angeles and even Ghana, the album represents a two-year journey of introspection and newfound sobriety for the accomplished MC.

 “This album is a story of redemption; trial and triumph, pain & glory,” says Mensa. “It was forged from the rubble of a bad crash, literally and metaphorically, and follows my journey into spirituality, a return to Chicago, a return to Ghana and a rediscovery of myself.” 

The album’s thematic depth is vividly portrayed through its striking cover artwork, a life-sized painting by Terron Cooper Sorrells (@ronronart), depicting Mensa as Osiris, the Egyptian God of the Dead, who was torn apart and reassembled by his wife Isis. This mirrors Mensa’s own quest for redemption, where he has assessed his role in the setbacks and trials he’s faced. He has been working tirelessly both internally and externally to drive positive change through social work, sobriety, and a deep exploration of his cultural roots, which led him to Ghana.

Preceded by a string of impactful singles, VICTOR includes collaborations with various artists, including Chance the Rapper, G-Eazy, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. With its profound themes and diverse influences, this album marks a significant milestone in Vic Mensa’s musical journey, showcasing his evolution as an artist and a person.

You can hear the album below.

The post WATCH: Vic Mensa Tackles JAY-Z and Nas Beats on Power 106 Freestyle first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Vic Mensa Tackles JAY-Z and Nas Beats on Power 106 Freestyle appeared first on The Source.

Vic Mensa Details Embracing Sobriety on the Road to His New Album ‘VICTOR’

Vic Mensa Details Embracing Sobriety on the Road to His New Album 'VICTOR'

Vic Mensa pulled up on Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1 to speak about his new album VICTOR. During his time on the platform, Vic Mensa detailed his desire to get sober.

“I definitely have a different sense of clarity and a different sense of focus than I’ve ever had before,” Mensa said. “And I think a lot of that came from sobriety for real. And so I’m two years sober, I just passed that milestone about a week ago. Alcohol, and weed, and pills, and all that type of s**t. I started practicing Islam in that same point in time. And above all, I made a decision to cut out all the shit in my life that was not actively serving a purpose, not actively bringing me towards my goals.

“And I come to realize that a lot of those things that created issues in my life were just ways of running from something, ways of masking some emotion, or hiding some insecurity, forgetting about it for a few minutes. And facing fear though is what takes you to another level.”

Earlier this month, Vic Mensa has unleashed his long-awaited sophomore album, VICTOR, under the Roc Nation banner. Executive produced by BongoByTheWay and predominantly self-produced during sessions spanning from Chicago to Los Angeles and even Ghana, the album represents a two-year journey of introspection and newfound sobriety for the accomplished MC.

“This album is a story of redemption; trial and triumph, pain & glory,” says Mensa. “It was forged from the rubble of a bad crash, literally and metaphorically, and follows my journey into spirituality, a return to Chicago, a return to Ghana and a rediscovery of myself.” 

The album’s thematic depth is vividly portrayed through its striking cover artwork, a life-sized painting by Terron Cooper Sorrells (@ronronart), depicting Mensa as Osiris, the Egyptian God of the Dead, who was torn apart and reassembled by his wife Isis. This mirrors Mensa’s own quest for redemption, where he has assessed his role in the setbacks and trials he’s faced. He has been working tirelessly both internally and externally to drive positive change through social work, sobriety, and a deep exploration of his cultural roots, which led him to Ghana.

Preceded by a string of impactful singles, VICTOR includes collaborations with various artists, including Chance the Rapper, G-Eazy, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. With its profound themes and diverse influences, this album marks a significant milestone in Vic Mensa’s musical journey, showcasing his evolution as an artist and a person.

The post Vic Mensa Details Embracing Sobriety on the Road to His New Album ‘VICTOR’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Vic Mensa Details Embracing Sobriety on the Road to His New Album ‘VICTOR’ appeared first on The Source.

‘The Chi’: Here’s The Music You Heard In Season 6, Episode 8

(WARNING: Spoilers for this week’s The Chi episode will be found below.)

The Chi season six arrives at its midseason point where we stumble upon crucial moments for the show’s characters. Kevin is ready to move to Los Angeles to continue his pursuit of a video game career. This also means that he and Maisha have reached a big point in their relationship, one that results in them exchanging “I love you”s rather than breaking up due to the distance. Rob and Emmett decide to take their shot to kill Douda, but that goes horribly wrong, leaving Victor to clean up the mess, or so it seems at the end of this episode. We also watch Papa deal with his grief which leads to surprising decisions like pursuing a career as a pastor and breaking up with Kenya. Jake decides to move into Kevin’s old apartment, which leads to a disagreement between him and Jemma. They’re able to work through it, but a move by Britney to appeal to Jemma sparks another argument between them.

The events mentioned above in the eighth episode of Showtime’s The Chi season six, titled “Who Shot Ya,” are soundtracked by songs that help to accentuate the emotions behind each scene. You can find a list of them below and details about the scenes the records played behind.

The following records were provided thanks to the Showtime Entertainment Public Relations team. Some records are unreleased and will not be on streaming until a later date. Check back for updates on a release.

BJ The Chicago Kid — “Comin From Chicago”

BJ The Chicago Kid’s track plays around the 1:45 mark as Kevin rides the train in Chicago and reflects on his final moments in his hometown by looking back at key moments from his past. They include memories with Maisha, others with Kevin and Papa, his family, Emmett, and more.

Quan — “Big Booty”

We hear this record around the 5:30 mark during a sex scene between Emmett and Keisha. It happens during a bit of a stalemate between the couple, but this moment of intimacy is sparked by Emmett’s willingness to take a week off to handle things at home so that Keisha can search for a job.

Durand The Rapper — “Leave Me Alone”

This song plays around the 8:20 mark as Kevin packs up his luggage for his move to Los Angeles. He’s interrupted by a man who arrives at the apartment to collect his furniture. Kevin says the guy is here a few days early, and though the man doesn’t believe him at first, Kevin proves that he’s still early. That doesn’t matter because the man still decides to take the future, saying they’ll be out of business by the time Kevin’s actual appointment comes around.

Penzilla — “You Or Me”

Around the 11:18 mark, this song plays after an argument between Emmett and Keisha after they had sex. Emmett believed their moment in bed was Keisha’s way of saying sorry, but she quickly corrected him and said it was a thank you for him taking a week off of work. She adamantly expresses that she’s still upset over Douda’s money being in their house and doubles down on her request to Emmett to fix their situation.

The scene then transitions to Smokey’s where we see that Papa has returned to work. Kenya approaches him, surprised that he’s back to work so soon. Papa apologizes for taking out the frustrations about his father’s death on her but stands firm on his decision to not continue a relationship with Kenya.

Alonda — “Ocean Flow”

This record can be heard around the 21:02 mark as Kevin, Papa, and Jake take their bikes out to the Chicago streets for one final ride before Kevin’s departure. It’s all smiles as once again, they reminisce on the memories they made together.

Rapsvmm — “Physical”

We hear this record around the 25:06 mark at the end of a conversation between Keisha and Nuk. We transition to Jake who lets Jemma know that he will be moving into Kevin’s apartment. She assumes the apartment is for both of them, but Jake says the apartment is a place for him. This starts an argument as Jake says they’re too young to live together and Jemma counters by asking how that logic doesn’t apply to them having sex. She eventually storms out and Jake lays down on his bed.

Amari Noelle as Britney — “Her”

This song plays around the 29:39 mark during Britney’s studio session which Jemma is sitting in. The two are vibing to Britney’s new song and Britney approaches Jemma for a dance, and the two eventually share a kiss, but Jemma breaks it off. Jemma sets a boundary and calls for a professional relationship between the two.

Arrow Benjamin & Marley Waters — “Reign”

Around the 33:36 mark, this record plays after a sweet moment between Keisha and Kevin. They eventually go on a jog through their neighborhood as they used to do in past seasons.

BChe — “Camera Ready”

This record can be heard around the 37:12 mark as the going away party for Kevin begins. All of his family and friends are there as they eventually share a toast to really get the party started.

Aerin — “Energy”

We hear this record around the 37:51 mark during a meeting between Zay and Rob’s mother. She tries to recruit Zay to work for her while giving him a warning that something might happen to Douda.

Dot Marv — “I’m Going In”

This song plays around the 40:03 mark as we check back into Kevin’s going away party and see a sweet moment between Lynae and Kevin. They both thank each other for being supportive and bringing the best out of each other and Lynae makes Kevin promise to come back and visit.

A. Rich — “Life Of The Party”

Around the 40:53 mark, this song plays after a tearful speech from Kevin where he thanks all family and friends for their support and love. This leads to an even more emotional moment between Kevin and his mom as they share a tight embrace as the party continues.

Vic Mensa — “$outhside Story” Feat. Common & Malik Yusef

Vic Mensa’s new track plays around the 53:41 mark as Kevin packs up his last items and heads out of his apartment, finally ready for his move to Los Angeles. He turns out the lights and fights back tears once again before stepping out of the apartment for the last time.

New episodes of ‘The Chi’ are available through the Paramount Plus With Showtime plan on Fridays at 3am EST/ 12 pm PST. Weekly episodes also air Sundays on Showtime at 9pm EST/PST.