As a featured artist on various high-profile tracks, Vic Mensa won fans over with his unique rapping style. But 2017 was all about him, dropping both an EP (The Manuscript) and more notably, his full-length debut, The Autobiography. The album harnessed his ability to deliver a compelling narrative on wax, and with his new video for the track "We Could Be Free," he proves that his storytelling on film is equally as powerful.
The clip opens with a glimpse into the miracle of life, a baby inside the womb. The pure innocence of that moment is quickly disrupted with a jarring display of police brutality during a protest. The contrast is a sharp opening statement that provides a biting critique on the current state of this country and the world-at-large. Watching the cycle repeat as we watch that infant grow from a boy to a young man is heartbreaking but impactful. Rather than focus solely on hate, the video is intentional about putting love and unity on display – showing different cultures, religions and families of all colors, as well as marginalized groups like LGBTQ and differently-abled. As Ty Dolla $ign can be heard singing, "One thing I believe I could learn is to see my enemy as my brother," Mensa's overall vision for a better world becomes crystal clear.
The visual serves as poignant follow-up to the song's stirring lyric video which cast a spotlight on the plight of the people in Palestine. Take a moment to watch both clips for "We Could Be Free" below. Afterwards, read Vic Mensa's passionate Time op-ed “What Palestine Taught Me About American Racism,” then join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #WeCouldBeFreeIf. The Autobiography is available for stream/purchase via all digital platforms.
