The Adventures of Vic Spencer

The King Of Living providing all available ears and minds with the soundscapes of life.

[midnatt-marodor]

video: vic spencer “relapse”

album: vic spencer “the cost of victory” (bandcamp / spotify)

chicago-rapparen vic spencer har efter ett par år av lokalt features-arbete (vic mensa, kidz in the hall, tree) & egna projekt, börjat få väl förtjänad uppmärksamhet i år. han är en grinig & hilarious rapsnubbe med en distinkt kultiverad stil & flow som indikerar transparant underjordisk rap-fandom utan att buga åt nån som självklar husgud.

rapparens vis att förmedla frustrationer & irritationer på projektet “the cost of victory” påminner om många 90-tals akters i sina peaks. namn som främst organized konfusion, redman, the pharcyde. de var allsidiga akter som kunde rappa om vad som helst, behandlade varje låtkoncept med sin version av omsorg & värnade om hantverket lika mycket som dom värnade om sina rapstilar & röster. 

vic spencer delar samma sorts färdigheter & rap-filosofi men har en aggressivare disposition. hur & vad han argumenterar (med en uppdaterad underjordraps idiom) får sitt uttryck med lyricism som trycker på driv, seriositet, irritation & han betonar varje resonemang med vad han anser är passande idéer & tonfall. ämnena & känslorna informerar flow & energi i symbios, & när som helst kan de byta roll gentemot varann, & det kan vara i en rad eller fler för att sedan byta skepnad igen. hans flow är hastigt flexibel, & han rider nästan aldrig shotgun på trumrytmerna utan hoppar runt i olika flowmönster som ett pyrotekniskt spektakel. spencer är i total kontroll fastän han ibland låter som att spricka av ett ängsligt lekfullt sug efter att bara rappa för sakens skull.    

spencer är alltså bra på att jobba obegränsad inom de riktlinjer han bestämt sig att följa, vilket hjälper honom ha en uppfriskande släng av oförutsägbarhet inom dessa igenkännliga ramar. på “relapse” & albumet jobbar han med så många ytterligheter att hans tankar landar som den avgörande träslags-smällen på en piñata: “niggas say i can’t rap, i drop a bomb on his crib/ niggas claim they get money, that don’t make you a better person/ it just means you suck dick while you working”. med andra ord: pengar är väl bra, men bara för att du lärt dig ta order så gör det dig inte till en bra människa. att skriva ut det är dock inte lika minnesvärt poängterat som spencers elegant vulgära sätt, formulerat som att han vore en anti-kapitalistisk cam’ron.

lyricism likställs ofta som endast invecklat & subtilt, det kan vara det så klart, men spencers lyricism är rak & rå. övertydligheten levereras alltid med en självmedvetet bitter humor som bara går att insupa när man trycker på play. fast okej, övertydligheten kommer också ut i ord som i inledningen av “relapse” när spencer börjar med att säga “man fuck that job, or my life, i just quit today bitch. rap 100 % now motherfucka!”. eller när han efter att ha skrutit vilt om sina kapabiliteter drar den torra raden - “i just wiped your older sister of her feet/ of my appearance“. så seriöst & oseriöst att jag alltid är redo att dra mentala LOLs. jag är såld. hans “relapse” video har varit ut sen januari men har bara knappt 9300 visningar. tryck för fan play & prova antingen videon eller hela albumet direkt.

[vicspencer]

(via https://soundcloud.com/vicspencer/holy-grail-sulaiman?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=tumblr)

[vicspencer]

Vic Spencer - Spin Cycle

[vicspencer]

Vic Spencer - First Aid Kit (Official Video)

[williamhrkc]

On his recent release The Cost of Victory, Chicago MC Vic Spencer pours his heart out over what’s typically considered Boom Bap production. The tracks range from candid and personal to braggadocios, all in all providing a satisfying experience for any fan of hip hop and rap. Vic joined Jesse Menendez on The MusicVox to talk about his style, as well as some of the experiences that motivated the themes on this album. Catch Vic performing live Tuesday, 3/17 at The Empty Bottle. The MusicVox airs M-F 4-6 PM CT on 91.1 FM (CHI) / 89.5 FM (NWI) / www.vocalo.org

[withmygoodeye]

#stillplaying Vic Spencer - The Cost of Victory

[vicspencer]

Why You Should Pay Attention: Approaching his mid-30s, Vic Spencer is older than your average emerging rapper, and he embraces the irascible, grumpy persona in a way that's more entertaining than aggravating. He grew up on the distinct, personality-driven "lyrical" styles of the late Nineties underground — think Soundbombing-era Eminem or Redman — and though it's an old sound, Spencer approaches it in a fresh way.

David Drake for Rolling Stone Magazine

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-february-2015-20150219/vic-spencer-20150217

[vocalomusic]

On his recent release The Cost of Victory, Chicago MC Vic Spencer pours his heart out over what’s typically considered Boom Bap production. The tracks range from candid and personal to braggadocios, all in all providing a satisfying experience for any fan of hip hop and rap. Vic joined Jesse Menendez on The MusicVox to talk about his style, as well as some of the experiences that motivated the themes on this album.

Catch Vic performing live Tuesday, 3/17 at The Empty Bottle.

The MusicVox airs M-F 4-6 PM CT on 91.1 FM (CHI) / 89.5 FM (NWI) / www.vocalo.org

[radioonechicago]

February 12th, 2015 Join us for our weekly show featuring all Chicago music, Thursdays from 6-8pm on 88.7FM WLUW or streaming online at wluw.org!

Lamp- 6:00pm

Lamp is an experimental rock group from Chicago that combines electronics with oversized guitar sounds and frenetic vocal...

[vicspencer]

Weasel Sims - Real Nigga ft. Murf Dilly & Vic Spencer

[vicspencer]

Five albums in, and nearly a decade older than the rappers he’s associated with, Vic Spencer is fully aware of his stature. He, like anyone, could always be more popular or respected. He’s also better than he gets credit for now. Vic’s neither drill nor Kanye disciple, and not fitting into either category is as artistically freeing as it is commercially limiting coming from Chicago.

Will Nagle

http://gadsenrecords.com/2015/02/body-the-beat-embody-the-street-vic-spencer-the-cost-of-victory/

[petitepommefr-blog]

on a beau dire, pitchfork, c’est pratique. on peut critiquer la notation, l’élitisme, le poids du site dans l’émergence de tel ou tel album, mais on ne peut pas critiquer leur capacité à mettre en avant des albums d’artistes relativement méconnus. vic spencer, rappeur underground de chicago,...

[ratsonly]

Chicago Rap Reviews

I wrote about some new rap music from Chicago for Pitchfork this month.

Leather Corduroys, Season (RIYL: these guys are from Save Money so Chance, Vic, post-College Dropout/pre-808s Ye, N.E.R.D., Zappa)

Vic Spencer, The Cost of Victory (RIYL: Redman, Wu-Tang, DOOM)

[vicspencer]

Vic Spencer - Relapse (Official Music Video)

[vicspencer]

Vic Spencer: Winning In His Own Lane

Last week, I called Vic Spencer and he immediately told me some good news. His second daughter, Taylor Spencer, had been born earlier that day. Pleased that his baby was healthy, Vic Spencer didn’t want to get off the phone, even though he was heading home from the hospital.The Chicago native isn’t a new artist. At 33, Vic can considered a veteran among younger, rising artists like Save Money’s frontmen Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa. He made his official debut in 2009 with Vic Magorium's Hip-Hop Emporium, produced entirely by TDE favorites Nez & Rio. Spencer’s unorthodox style and strong voice immediately caught on with listeners who wanted something different from Chicago’s commercially successful drill scene and projects like 2012’s boom-bap heavy Walk Away Music and 2013’s dusky The Rapping Bastard helped him increase his visibility in a sea of potential rap stars. For the Brainiac Society member, his mission in music is simple: challenge himself to progress artistically and become Chi-Town’s version of a Sean Price or MF DOOM.

[vicspencer]

Vic Spencer: The Cost of Victory

Over the past five years, Vic Spencer has become one of the most respected figures in underground Chicago hip-hop. On his new album The Cost of Victory, Vic’s sense of control takes center stage.

[vicspencer]

Vic Spencer - The Cost Of Victory - Listen | Audiomack

Listen to The Cost Of Victory, an album from Vic Spencer. The anticipated fifth studio release from Chicago's Vic Spencer hits the public on 1.30.15. Buy now at vicspencer.bandcamp.com. Find it on iTunes, Spotify and other major outlets.  

For all press/booking inquiries contact [email protected]