Has Vic Mensa Given Us The Song Of The Summer?

Last year, the song that defined the summer and the shape of music to come was ‘Need U’, by Duke Dumont. The flood-gates of popular house music that had been opened by Rudimental and Disclosure were now swinging wide open, and the 12 months since have been ruled by the likes of Gorgon City, Jess Glynne and Clean Bandit. 

There has yet to be an established song of the summer quite yet though if anthems from summers past are anything to go by, we’ve got a pretty good formula. Breezy energy, lyrics to remember, a possible dancefloor banger. Something with intelligence but doesn’t take itself too seriously. A really great video will probably help too.

Step forward Vic Mensa, a young (he’s 21) American rapper whose very UK sounding track ‘Down On My Luck’ is a delicious blend of throwback house-hop. Complete with a video that’s part Friday night drinks part Groundhog Day, MTV caught up with Vic to talk about what makes ‘Down On My Luck’ so special. 

MTV: Hey Vic. So ‘Down On My Luck’ is doing pretty well in UK, it’s reaching out to people who might not think to listen to hip hop. 

Vic Mensa: I’m very excited. I love the fact that the song luck is able to touch more of a broad audience than a lot of music. I think it’s cool because I’ve always felt and preached that I think music is not a limited thing. I love the fact that people can understand music purely based off an energy. It’s a lot of love to me. 

MTV: There’s so much energy from the song that comes when watching the video, too. 

Vic Mensa: The song and the video have really lived together since the video came out. The video has a life of its own, and I’m glad for that. I’m glad the vision and the idea came out so well, and that people dig the video. It’s only made the song better, and made the idea and the vibe of the song more understandable. 

MTV: Why do you think it’s done so well? It’s got over a million hits on youtube now.

Vic Mensa: It feels magical! It has a certain energy that is entrancing, and people dig it. I first wrote the lyrics in California, so probably last summer. 

MTV: What’s the response when people hear it live?

Vic Mensa: Since it’s come out there’s definitely been a big difference when I drop it. People know it. It’s been a really magical experience- people will start dancing immediately.

MTV: What’s the atmosphere of your live shows like?

Vic Mensa: It covers a lot of emotional ground. At times it crosses the threshold of pure madness! Sometimes it crosses the mundane into a real spiritual experience. 

Down On My Luck is released in the UK on the 27th of July. Vic Mensa plays Reading & Leeds Festival, August Bank Holiday Weekend