Vic Mensa Reunites With Chance the Rapper for “Shelter”

The new Vic Mensa single also features vocals from Wyclef Jean.

For years, Vic Mensa and former schoolmate Chance the Rapper made music under the umbrella of the Chicago collective SaveMoney. In 2014, the two were named members of the XXL Freshman Class. In recent years, the two have both parted ways and made amends. On Friday, they dropped their latest collaboration, “Shelter.” Watch the stirring official video directed by Andre Muir below.

“Shelter” features vocals from Wyclef Jean and production from frequent collaborators Smoko Ono and Peter Cottontale. The two reflect on victims of gun violence, domestic abuse, police brutality, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the homeless population in America.

“What kinda nation lynch Elijah McClain?” he raps, “and send us to the Middle East to die for the flag, they drive us insane to sell us medication. We demand reparations and they tell us ‘have patience,’ instead of cash payments we get minimum wages. They give us the Black Plague, then send us a white savior.”

Back in August, Vic returned to his rap roots with the seven-track V Tape. The project featured production from Thelonious Martin, C-Sick, Hit-Boy, Stefan Ponce and TRAKGIRL.

On this coming Tuesday, February 9, Vic Mensa will join Okayplayer for the first of three live conversations for series PASSAGE: The Practice of Healing. The theme for Vic’s conversation will be how the collective as a people can benefit from tapping into history and ancestral wisdom to bring about change to break generational traumas. RSVP for the virtual conversation here.