Thirteen years after introducing listeners to Vic Mensa’s world, INNANETAPE is getting another moment.
The Chicago artist brought the 2013 mixtape to major streaming platforms today (September 30) and fans are happy about it. The release gives longtime listeners a chance to revisit an early favorite while making the project easier to discover for those meeting Mensa through his later work.
Originally released following his time with Chicago band Kids These Days, INNANETAPE captured an artist exploring his identity without settling into one sound. Hip-hop, jazz, soul, alternative and electronic influences shared space across the project, which featured Chance the Rapper, Ab-Soul, BJ The Chicago Kid, Thundercat and others.
For Mensa, returning to that music also means revisiting the person who created it.
“I can honor that kid who made it without being confined by who he was,” Mensa said in the release announcement.
Mensa Shares Mixtape
That perspective gives the anniversary a purpose beyond nostalgia. An early project can document where an artist started without defining everything they become. For newer listeners, the streaming release offers a route back to the experimentation that helped establish Mensa’s solo career.
The return also extends to the stage. Mensa has announced the INNANETOUR, an intimate four-city run through London, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. A dedicated digital archive brings together merchandise, exclusive content and updates connected to the project.
According to the announcement, a new full-length album is planned for 2027.
For now, INNANETAPE puts an important chapter of Mensa’s catalog back within reach, inviting listeners to hear his beginnings with fresh ears.
Check it out below:
