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Happy Vic Mensa day, everyone. His long-awaited Innanetape drops at 3 PM, and the release has all the makings of a capital-M moment. The project’s latest leak, “Lovely Day,” is a stupid-catchy romp full of piano jabs, rolling drums, and orange soda that comes complete with Top Gun, Rugrats, and Moulin Rouge jokes. If it evokes Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap, that’s because executive producer Peter Cottontale has a master plan. It’s also because Vic invented these flows before his best friend ever headlined a tour—and the inventor has mastered them. No longer do Vic’s rhythms feel unhinged. He’s tweaking but completely in the pocket. “Urban disturbin’ turban totin’ terrace smokin’ potent.” Which is to say that “Lovely Day” is a lovely single, but also that the 19-year-old goes savage.
