Show Preview: Vic Mensa, Towkio

[SON OF YEEZUS] Vic Mensa became a man in 2015. He performed with Kanye West on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special, and inked a deal with Jay Z's Roc Nation. For a 22-year-old rapper from the South Side of Chicago, those are the kind of endorsements that change lives. But even before his formative year, Mensa had been in the spotlight, as the frontman and wordsmith of Kids These Days, a seven-piece, Roots-reminiscent group of ambitious and talented music-school kids, playing a blend of blues, jazz and rap.

Kids These Days broadcasted Mensa’s rhymes nationally, yielding an album produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and a live performance on Conan. By 2010, they were the industry’s act to watch, and fated to bring back live-band hip-hop. Nostalgic backpack-rap fans rejoiced. But after five years of touring and recording, seven heads weren’t working as one anymore. Dreams diverged, and creative differences meant Mensa went solo. It was a valuable transition, allowing the young rapper the opportunity to release 2013’s Innanetape, a project that proved he could manage the spotlight on his own. Mensa formed an identity as a playful young artist committed to bright vibes, clever wordplay and versatile production. But when West—once an overly ambitious kid from Chicago himself—called Mensa up to the big leagues, his already far-reaching sound began to rapidly mature. Mensa is on the road gearing up for his Roc Nation debut, Traffic, and recent singles “U Mad” and “I Been” reflect a lot of post-Yeezus tendencies, with sharpshooting one-liners and dark, industrial production. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. 8:30 pm Thursday, Aug. 27. $20 advance, $23 day of show. All ages. 

WWeek 2015