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.”
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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.