[RH Feature] Vic Mensa Takes Over The Innanetape
Photo By: Bryan Lamb
It's ten o'clock at night in late March and I’m fighting sleep. Sitting almost horizontal on a massive, black leather couch as my photographer, Bryan Lamb, and I watch Chance the Rapper racing back and forth from the booth behind us to the computer in front of us, occasionally taking frantic puffs from his cigarette.
His counterpart, Vic Mensa, lounges on a couch nearby, staring intently at a Macbook perched carefully on his lap, analyzing the first cut of the video for “DiditB4”, the lead single off his September 30 release, Innanetape directed by fellow Savemoney member Austin Vesely. The pre-rendered cuts are too quick for the computer and the screen stops on a scene of Mensa, in a white coat and goggles, holding a cow brain. “That shit was too raw, Austin drove to some farm to get it,” said Mensa.
By now, you've most likely heard of Chancellor Bennett, the 20-year-old artist who turned a ten-day suspension from high school into a pair of nationally-recognized mixtapes. You also likely have heard of Vic Mensa, the 20-year-old former front-man of the now-defunct Kids These Days who announced via an XXL interview in April that the band was done.
Together, the pair make up the leadership team of "Savemoney"-an eclectic collective of young artists, musicians, students and more based in Chicago that have helped elevate the city to the top of hip hop's collective consciousness. That rise was aided heavily by Chance’s April release, Acid Rap. Mensa’s Innanetape is poised to blow the roof off the Chicago scene.
[Album] Vic Mensa: "Innanetape"
Download INNANETAPE here --> Vic Mensa: "INNANETAPE"
Talk about a long wait. Today, Chicago's own Vic Mensa released the long overdue follow up to his 2009 solo debut mixtape, Straight Up EP, with the most highly-anticipated release since Chance The Rapper's Acid Rap in April. To step back into the solo spotlight, the Save Money member and former Kids These Days frontman gives us Innanetape, a truly different, at times experimental hip hop release from one of the most fully-formed artists in Chicago. Four years ago, Straight Up Ep served as the spark that lit the wick, leading to the eventual explosion of talent we've seen coming from the Second City over the past few years. At a raucous listening party sponsored by IllRoots and Adidas this past weekend at Lacuna Artist Lofts on the city's southwest side, Mensa performed much of the tape to eager fans, seeming to relish in the moment of limbo before the tape became publicly available. Executive produced by Peter CottonTale and Cam Osteen, it is a multi-genre project with features from Chance The Rapper, BJ The Chicago Kid, Rockie Fresh, Joey Purp and Tundercat that should appeal to a wide range of listeners. If tracks like "Diditb4", "Orange Soda" and "Lovely Day" are any inkling to what is in store, those fans shouldn't be disappointed. Mensa is widely credited with helping open the door for Chicago artists, and it's one he now walks through himself-with the potential to be one of the biggest stars to emerge from his hometown. With a city that has a history including Twista, Common and Kanye, that's saying something. Give Innanetape a listen below and keep it posted to RH all week for my continuing coverage on the release.
http://youtu.be/BewDnzmyZ5E
[RH First Glance] Thee Ramone: "Find Me"
Thee Ramone is a Ohio-bred 22 year old rapper/producer, currently preparing his debut project, Ramonever, due out October 18 for free. For now, check out this laid-back R&B-esque track, produced and arranged by Thee, and keep it locked for the full project.
[Video] Wteve Baker: "Tree Haus"
This is certainly one of the more interesting stories to come across the lines recently. The video for Wteve Baker's "Tree Haus," shot by Chicago's own Elevator allegedly was filmed on location at Wteve's grandfather's trailer in Kankakee, Il. A little strange, but not the weirdest thing we've ever heard. What made this setting choice a bit more interesting was the fact that his grandfather was mysteriously murdered there only weeks earlier. The trailer also allegedly had not been opened until Wteve and the Elevator crew showed up to film. The video has a chilly feeling and the verse is uniquely off-key and slanted which all comes together for a completely different aesthetic.
http://youtu.be/VsOrwkLfUZ8
[Video] Autre Ne Veut: “Ego Free Sex Free" + Tour
Autre Ne Veut has crept into the consciousness of avid music listeners earlier this year since releasing his self-produced debut album, Anxiety, earlier this year and heading out on a critically-acclaimed tour that saw the singer/songwriter make stops in Austin for SXSW, Chicago for Pitchfork and overseas for a European leg. For "Ego Free Sex Free" Ne Veut teams up with MocaTV for a truly elegant video, check it out below along with tour dates and ticket links.
[youtube id="bVZKab0sP2g"]
TOUR DATES:
10/03/13 @ Limelight – Milan, Italy
10/04/13 @ The Parish w/ Wild Nothing – Austin, TX More Info
10/05/13 @ Austin City Limits – Austin, TX More Info
10/12/13 @ Austin City Limits – Austin, TX More Info
10/25/13 @ Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, DC More Info
10/27/13 @ Mountain Oasis Festival – Asheville, NC More Info
11/19/13 @ Kazimier – Liverpool, UK More Info
11/20/13 @ Netil House – London, UK More Info
11/21/13 @ Green Door Store – Brighton, UK More Info
11/22/13 @ Hare & Hounds – Birmingham, UK More Info
11/23/13 @ Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK More Info
11/25/13 @ Rotown – Rotterdam, NL More Info
11/26/13 @ Botanique Rotande – Brussells, BE More Info
11/27/13 @ Trouw – Amsterdam, NE More Info
11/28/13 @ Fleche d’OR – Paris, FR More Info
[Video] Psalm One: "Need Love Too"
Psalm One is looking for love, at least in this Elijah Alvarado-directed video for her latest track, "Need Love Too" off her most recent release, Free Hugs. The Rhymesayers MC takes a seat for a trippy video dating service and some decent acting as well. Psalm has had a busy summer, performing at Millennium Park with Dessa and doing a set last month at North Coast Music Festival. Not sure where they got the b-roll but the cameo date seekers are hilarious. Psalm does her thing on the quick-paced sample heavy beat. Video below.
http://youtu.be/aUEGcClLzsQ
[RH Interview] Islands
Nick:The line up is the same as A Sleep & A Forgetting but the songs are all new! The direction is pretty different, too. A little harder, a little deeper, a little faster and a little darker.
Jake: How did Islands in it's current form come to be?
