Vic Mensa and the (Attempted) Radicalization of Lollapalooza
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_cvOW6Wpk&w=640&h=426]
Throughout his set, Mensa refused to relent with his advocacy. He performed “Shades of Blue,” a song about the water crisis in Flint that harshly criticizes a government that allowed people to be poisoned in the name of profit. Lucy Stoole, a local drag artist and one of the hosts of Smart Bar's weekly Queen! party, appeared on stage to perform a mock wedding as two of the male actors passionately kissed during “Free Love,” a rousing call to arms for LGBT rights. At some point in between songs, Mensa stopped to address the audience, telling them that Lollapalooza isn’t very “accessible for people where I'm from,” on the city’s south and west sides. It wasn’t all politics though. Singles like “Danger” felt soaring while “U Mad” felt like a colossal warhammer that shook the audience into an absolute frenzy. So, the question remains. Can Vic Mensa radicalize a commercialized Lollapalooza? We’re not sure if that’s possible, but we’re sure glad that he tried.