I was born in Asokore, Koforidua in the eastern region of Ghana
And I started schooling in a one room school house
Now I can look back and say everybody was poor
But we didn't know we were poor because we had food all the time, a loving family
The main problem was trying to go fetch water because there was no running water in the house
The bathroom is somewhere there outside
We didn't have the clean shoes that ?verybody had
We didn't have good clothing
It wasn't particularly v?ry comfortable being under British colonial domination
And then I came to the United States in 1977
Just before the winter
Chicago then had a murder rate of around close to a thousand a year
It was a very violent city
That’s when it earned it's nickname as the Beirut on the lake
But again, that did not scare me
I went to 63rd
We used to say that 47th street was so dangerous that if you died, your parents may not come for your body
If you wanted to [?] the streets
Yeah, it was bad, but still, the city was home
When I had a son and I just thought that it’s better we stay in Chicago, to raise kids
The good thing about Chicago, is you learn the truth about America
There’s no sugar-coating nonsense at this time
I got scared though, I got scared because I thought you could be shot
And when you started to get in trouble, I started greying
I started greying very fast, my heart was beating, I was having nightmares because you were having real problems with the police
But in the meantime, I called to come and look for the police station, where my son could be
I was really, really scared that one of these days I may be called to the mortuary to identify your body
You know growing up in Chicago gave me a lot of heartache and headache
But around the time you did the Innanetape
The enthusiasm with which you handled that
And the friends around you
How mature they become
You know, all of it just made me like, okay, this kid's made it
I think my father in his grave would be very happy that I brought up some good kids in America
And particularly also I see it as a great success
If I leave I have very little regrets
Victor Kwesi Mensah, known professionally as Vic Mensa, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter born in Chicago in 1993. Raised in a family of Ghanaian descent, Mensa began his musical career at the age of 16, collaborating with local artists and releasing independent mixtapes. In 2013, he joined the hip-hop collective Kids See Ghosts, formed by Kanye West and Kid Cudi. Mensa is known for his introspective and politically charged rap style, often focusing on social issues such as social justice, inequality, and African American identity. Among his most representative tracks are "Down On My Luck", "16 Shots" and "We Could Be Kings". In 2017 he released his debut album "The Autobiography", followed by "Hooligans" in 2020. Mensa is a multi-faceted artist who also dedicates himself to music production, social activism, and humanitarian work.
In the realm of rock 'n' roll, there are few names as iconic as Queen, and within the Queen pantheon, Brian May stands out not only as a legendary guitarist but also as an astrophysicist with a profound connection to NASA.
Hip-hop, one of the most influential cultural movements of the 20th and 21st centuries, has recently reached a significant milestone - it's turning 50 years old.
Coachella Festival 2022: here we are. In two days the doors of one of the most anticipated musical events of the year will open, even more so after the last two years in which for very obvious reasons the live music sector has suffered a very important setback.
The 2022 Grammy Awards were the chronicle of an announced triumph: Jon Baptiste collected 11 nominations and won 5 Grammys, defeating all opponents. This was also the year of the very young Olivia Rodrigo, who managed to take home 3 Grammys, including the the best new artist.
Here is finally some good news, the Arcade Fire have finally revealed the title and release date of their new album, 5 years after the last one. For the fan of the group it has been a time that seemed eternal,
Do we want to define "I know you know me" a masterpiece? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt for at least two reasons. The first and most evident are the artists who interpret it: Caroline Spence and Matt Berninger, second for the deep and poetic text.
My favorite group when I was just a teenager were the Fugees, thanks to them a certain curiosity about english language was born in me. I wanted to know and understand the lyrics of their songs, it wasn't enough for me to be carried away exclusively by their beautiful music.
Sweden and the United States are two countries far from each other, thousands of kilometers separate them, the language, culinary and sporting traditions, I don't feel so categorical about the landscapes, not knowing all of America there may be states that have the same reliefs of the country of northern Europe, but on one thing I am sure
It has been talked about for almost 3 years, rumored and it is hoped that sooner or later they will arrive at a collaboration, and now we are satisfied: the Catalan singer Rosalia and the American musician Oneohtrix finally announce the publication of a piece together!
Jars Of Clay
One Bad Pig
Bud Powell
The Kingston Trio
Bill Haley & His Comets
Juggaknots
G. Love And Special Sauce
Tamara Walker
Oh Sees
Future Islands
Alice Peacock
A Change Of Pace