Rage

Album: The Autobiography (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Produced by Vic Mensa himself, alongside Mike Dean, this track finds the Chicago rapper recounting his battles with mental health, substance abuse and his legal troubles.

    These days I lose track of days
    Been years since I felt this way
    Count on me to rage


    Mensa explained to Clash: "The themes that are explored in there, the addiction themes and the legal struggles and the violence that I've experienced in my life are all things that can tear you down, it could break you down. It can eat away at your insides and to keep its innermost power. The song is an expression of raging through it all."
  • The five-minute video finds Mensa aboard a private jet that gets struck by lightning and plunges into the dark ocean. The Chicago rapper makes it out alive and emerges. stronger than ever.

    The plane crash is an overt metaphor for Mensa's personal struggles with addiction and mental health, from which he came through the other side, reborn. He told The Fader:

    "This music video and song were done before the rest of the album was recorded, and really laid the foundation for the emotions that would become The Autobiography."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.