Vic Mensa for Grailed: The Rapper Turned Rockstar Talks Us Through His Style Journey

Vic Mensa is many things—a rapper, a punk rock frontman, an activist, a DIY-designer but, above all, a voice. Mensa has a knack for making brash statements that while not often well-received, always make an impact. Though his career began in the shadow of another great Chicago M.C.—friend and associate Chance The Rapper—in the six years since he released his solo debut, the Southside native has made impressive accolades of his own. Following 2013's breakout INNANETAPE, Mensa quickly navigated the hip-hop landscape, inking a deal at Jay-Z's Roc Nation and collaborating with Kanye West before dropping a major label debut and earning a Grammy nomination to boot. Yet, with each release, the rapper became increasingly self-aware, shifting his flow and preferring to rap about domestic violence and mental health rather than drug use and lavish spending. This transformation from rising star to voice for social justice came to head with his most recent release, 93PUNX. Somewhere between a DIY-Punk label and a new musical project, 93PUNX is Mensa's answer to a a drastically shifting musical and political landscape. As influenced by rock as he is by hip-hop, Mensa's style has always been a major focal point, and as he transitions to the next stage of his career, we sat down with the political face of Chicago hip-hop to discuss his new endeavor, his evolving style and the pieces he's parting with, all in the name of what comes next. Check out Vic Mensa's exclusive sale with Grailed here