On the first day of autumn, Vic Mensa decided to say so long to summer with his brand new single “The Taste” — featuring fellow Chicago native and frequent collaborator BJ The Chicago Kid.
This new track comes after the release of several singles throughout 2021, as well as Mensa’s 7-track mixtape, I Tape, which he dropped in March of this year.
Mensa often references his hometown of Chicago in many of his songs — and in “The Taste” — we find him paying tribute to the nuances and beauties that lie within his city.
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊
— vino valentino (@VicMensa) September 22, 2021
𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙀 ft. @BJTHECHICAGOKID & @PapiBeatz
link: https://t.co/JNKPGg2aXV
art by @nikkowashington pic.twitter.com/ZeerJdeVTm
One thing that has always separated Mensa from other artists is his extreme versatility, often showcasing both his singing and lyrical prowess in differing tracks. In this tasteful summer-sounding jam, Mensa harmonizes about some of his favorite things to do in the city’s summertime — making references to a skating rink on 87th Street, Navy Pier and Lake Shore Drive.
We could make up at The Rink on 87th Street
Maybe one time, let’s couples skate
We could light up the night, like it’s the Fourth of July
Let’s go to Navy Pier
Ring me like Bears ‘85, I’m running back every time
Girl, I’ll be your sweetness
Vic Mensa & BJ The Chicago Kid — “The Taste”
The visualizer for the track has a homemade video feel to it, displaying Mensa and his significant other enjoying their time together in the Chicago sunlight.
With Vic releasing more and more music as the year goes on, here’s hoping the Chicago-bred rapper has some more “tracks” up his sleeve in 2021.
Listen to Vic Mensa’s new single “The Taste” below!
Cover art made by Nikko Washington