Vic Mensa is a bit of a shape-shifter. If you’ve followed the Chicago native since his Kids These Days era, you know he doesn’t just stick to one lane. He pivots. He jumps from acidic, house-influenced rap to gritty social commentary and then suddenly drops a punk-rock EP. Because his discography is so scattered across mixtapes, EPs, and studio albums, putting together a definitive Vic Mensa songs list is actually harder than it looks. It’s not just about the hits. It’s about the evolution.
Chicago produces a specific kind of artist. You have the soul-sampling warmth of Kanye and the gospel-infused joy of Chance the Rapper, but Vic always felt like the darker, more industrial edge of that movement. He’s the guy who will give you a club anthem like "U Mad" and then pivot to a devastatingly honest track about mental health or police brutality. Honestly, his versatility is probably why some people find him hard to pin down.
The Essentials: Starting Your Vic Mensa Songs List
If you’re just getting into him, you have to start with the "Innanetape" era. That 2013 project is essentially the blueprint for what most fans consider his classic sound. Tracks like "Orange Soda" are mandatory. It’s breezy. It’s nostalgic. It captures that specific Chicago summer energy that feels both urgent and laid back.
But then you have to look at the Kanye West association. When "U Mad" dropped, it felt like Vic was about to become the biggest rapper on the planet. The horns are aggressive. The energy is chaotic. It’s a mosh pit song, plain and simple. Yet, if you only listen to that, you miss the nuance. You miss the lyricism that earned him a spot on the XXL Freshman Class.
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A lot of people forget about his work with SaveMoney, the collective that also birthed Chance. If you go back to songs like "Cocoa Butter Kisses"—where he arguably had the best verse—you see a different side of his pen. He’s technical. He’s witty. He uses internal rhymes in a way that feels effortless.
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- "Down on My Luck" is another weird one, but in a good way. It’s deep house. In 2014, rappers weren't really doing that. Vic was ahead of the curve, leaning into the Chicago house scene long before it became a trendy pivot for mainstream artists.
- "Holy Holy" features Ab-Soul and is a masterclass in storytelling. It’s somber. It’s about loss. It’s the kind of song that stays with you after the music stops.
- "16 Shots" is probably his most important political statement. Written in response to the killing of Laquan McDonald, it’s angry and visceral. It isn't a song you play at a party; it's a song you listen to when you need to feel the weight of reality.
Why the Order of a Vic Mensa Songs List Matters
Context is everything with Vic. You can’t just shuffle his discography and expect a cohesive experience. If you go from the punk-rock sounds of 93Punx straight into the soulful vibes of Victor, you’re going to get whiplash. The man contains multitudes.
Take "The Autobiography" for example. That 2017 album was supposed to be his big "coming of age" moment. Songs like "Say I Didn't" show a vulnerable side that most rappers are too afraid to touch. He talks about the mistakes, the ego, and the fallout of fame. It’s messy. It’s real. That’s the thing about Vic—he doesn’t try to be a polished superhero. He’s fine with being the villain or the victim in his own story, as long as it’s true.
Navigating the Mixtapes vs. The Albums
Most hardcore fans will tell you the mixtapes are better than the albums. Is that true? Kinda. There’s a raw energy in There’s Alot Going On that felt missing from some of his later, more experimental work. The title track of that EP is essentially a seven-minute confession. He talks about his relationship issues, his drug use, and his career frustrations. It’s exhaustive.
- "Liquor Locker" - Great for a late-night drive.
- "Reverse" - Features G-Eazy and is a straightforward radio play.
- "Shelter" - A powerful collaboration with Wyclef Jean and Chance the Rapper.
- "Machiavelli" - Shows his ability to flex on a purely lyrical level.
You see the variety there? He can do the pop-rap thing, the conscious thing, and the "I’m the best rapper alive" thing all in the span of three years.
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The Evolution into the "Victor" Era
In recent years, we’ve seen a shift. The 2023 album Victor felt like a return to form for many. It felt like he finally reconciled all those different versions of himself. Songs like "Blueberry Eyes" or "Strawberry Louis Vuitton" (featuring Thundercat) show a more mature, refined artist. He’s not shouting to be heard anymore. He knows who he is.
He’s also leaned heavily into his Ghanaian heritage. This isn't just a surface-level aesthetic choice. It’s reflected in the rhythms and the collaborations. It adds a layer of global perspective to a Vic Mensa songs list that was previously very Chicago-centric. It’s growth. You love to see it.
Understanding the Controversy and the Comeback
You can't talk about Vic without mentioning the friction. He’s had public beefs. He’s made comments that rubbed people the wrong way. For a while, it felt like the headlines were louder than the music. But if you actually sit down and listen to the tracks he's released since 2020, there’s a sense of accountability. He isn’t hiding from the past. He’s writing through it.
Actionable Steps for Building Your Playlist
If you want to experience the full range of Vic Mensa, don't just stick to Spotify’s "This Is Vic Mensa" playlist. It’s usually too skewed toward the hits. Instead, follow this path to get a real feel for his artistry.
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Start with the "Innanetape" to understand his roots and the "bop" culture of Chicago. Then, move to the "There’s Alot Going On" EP to see his transition into more serious, political, and personal territory. From there, jump to "The Autobiography" to hear his attempt at a grand narrative. Finally, spend some time with "Victor" to see where he is now—sober, focused, and musically diverse.
Don't skip the features either. His guest spots on tracks like Kanye’s "Wolves" or Kaytranada’s "Drive Me Crazy" are essential. They show how he functions as a piece of a larger puzzle. He’s a collaborator as much as he is a solo artist.
For the best listening experience, look for his live performances on YouTube, specifically the unplugged versions or his NPR Tiny Desk concert. You’ll hear the grit in his voice that sometimes gets smoothed over in the studio. It changes the way you hear the lyrics. It makes the "Vic Mensa songs list" feel less like a collection of files and more like a living history of a guy trying to find his way in a chaotic industry.