Check Out Vic Mensa's New Track 'U Mad' Featuring Kanye West

By Justin Freeman in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 13, 2015 4:00PM

Vic Mensa photo via his Facebook page

It's been a pretty busy weekend. Somewhere in between Hillary formally announcing that she'll be running for president in 2016 and Drake's meme generating headlining set at Coachella in which he literally rapped in front of a giant owl without a shred of irony, ascending Chicago rapper Vic Mensa released his new single.

"U Mad" is the latest single from Mensa’s upcoming Street Lights EP and finds him trading rhymes with Kanye West in a game of one-upmanship as the two try to out-rowdy each other over a horn and bass heavy beat designed for the Uber ride to your favorite bar for a night of revelry. It was produced by local wunderkinds Smoko Ono as well as Stefen Ponce, who we recently interviewed. Kanye and Mike Dean also had a hand in the production.

The major criticism I have is the Ray Rice reference. I understand what he is trying to say (I'm so attracted to my partner, I want to have sex with this person in an elevator right away), I understand the wordplay and I understand he's trying to be a provocateur; but it comes off like he condones Rice's deplorable actions. Come on man, do better. You're better than that. I know you are.

Check it out below.

Mensa previewed a finished version of the single last week during a DJ set at Emporium and we remember him performing a rough, skeletal version of the song last year at his show at the Metro. "U Mad" comes on the heels of Mensa guesting on Kanye's new single, "Wolves," along with art pop savant Sia and performing it at Saturday Night Live's 40th telecast as a trio.

Vic Mensa's next performance in Chicago is Saturday, July 18 at the Pitchfork Music Festival.