''There's Alot Going On'' is the second

mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...

by American rapper

Vic Mensa Vic (; es, Vic or Pancracio Celdrán (2004). Diccionario de topónimos españoles y sus gentilicios (5ª edición). Madrid: Espasa Calpe. p. 843. ISBN 978-84-670-3054-9. «Vic o Vich (viquense, vigitano, vigatán, ausense, ausetano, ausonense) ...

. It was released on June 3, 2016, through

Roc Nation Roc Nation is an entertainment agency founded by Jay-Z in 2008. The company is headquartered in Manhattan and has additional offices in Los Angeles and London. Roc Nation comprises a comprehensive talent agency, sports agency, record label, mana ...

for retail. It serves as a prelude for his debut album, '' The Autobiography''.

Background

In this EP, Vic Mensa expresses his point of view about personal issues and recent events such as Flint Michigan's water crisis and the

murder of Laquan McDonald The murder of Laquan McDonald took place on October 20, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois. McDonald was a 17-year-old who was fatally shot by a Chicago Police Department, Chicago Police Officer, Jason Van Dyke. Police had initially reported that McDona ...

. Mensa even talks about himself suffering some self-inflicted wounds. The EP's

production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stati ...

was provided by Papi Beatz himself, along with the additional production such as Smoke Ono, Knox Fortune, Carter Lang, and Mensa himself. "Liquor Locker" features a guest appearance from

Ty Dolla Sign Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained major recognition in 2010 for his feature on Ameri ...

. The title of the EP comes from

Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKa ...

' music video for "

Don't Cry "Don't Cry" is a song by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, two versions of which were released simultaneously on different albums. The version with the original lyrics is the fourth track on ''Use Your Illusion I'', while the version with ...

Promotion

On February 13, 2016, Vic Mensa released a track, called "Danger". This track was posted, after it premiered at

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

's Yeezy Season 3 fashion show at the

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

. On June 6, 2016, which is Mensa's birthday, Vic Mensa released the music video for the title track, "There's Alot Going On". On October 22, 2016, he released the music video for "16 Shots".

Critical reception

Matthew Strauss of ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

'' gave the EP a 7.5 out of 10, calling it Vic Mensa's "best and boldest" work so far. Scott Glaysher of '' XXL'' said, "There are a variety of instruments used throughout, which is refreshing to hear in today's musical climate — no songs sound the same and all fat is trimmed." ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' placed it at number 39 on the "40 Best Rap Albums of 2016" list. ''

HipHopDX ''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head Of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. ''HipHopDX'' is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group. ...

'' named it as one of the best mixtapes of 2016.

Track listing

Notes * signifies a co-

producer Producer or producers may refer to: Occupations *Producer (agriculture), a farm operator *A stakeholder of economic production *Film producer, supervises the making of films **Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...

. * signifies an additional producer. * "16 Shots" features additional vocals by Alexandra Tamposi. * "New Bae", "Shades of Blue" and "There's Alot Going On" feature additional vocals by Mickey Shiloh.

Charts

References

External links

* {{Vic Mensa 2016 EPs Vic Mensa albums