In the wake of the recent heat around Chance the Rapper, it might be easy to forget that not only is the emcee’s hometown of Chicago a hotbed of inventive rap talent, but his SAVEMONEY crew also proves a hive of creative young artists. In the past few months, Kids These Days’ Vic Mensa has begun to strike a clearer path as a solo artist, now delivering the cheerful video for his new single “Orange Soda.”
Over a soulful groove that sounds like the sort of jazz-inflected R&B the Neptunes occasionally dipped a toe in, Vic bursts, dances, and sings, showing the sort of effortless versatility that typifies SAVEMONEY’s approach to rapping. It’s certainly of a piece with the earthy, nostalgic sound of Chance’s Acid Rap, but it manages to distinguish itself by even from Vic’s band-backed past by leaning hard into smooth funk–without losing the energy that keeps SAVEMONEY tracks modern. A perfect fit to accompany a summer in the sun.
