Vic Mensa - Shelter feat. Wyclef Jean, Chance The Rapper [Video]

Photography by Danielle DeGrasse-Alston

Chicago rapper and activist Vic Mensa collaborates with Wyclef Jean and Chance The Rapper for their poignant song, ‘Shelter’, a track that represents a call to action to change the unjust and oppressive systems in America.

Shelter’s incisive verses are inspired by injustices close to Vic’s heart, including the incarceration of Julius Jones, who is on death row despite compelling evidence to back his innocence, as well as the wrongful deaths at the hands of police; Breonna Taylor, Philando Castille, and Elijah McClain, among many others. ‘Shelter’ arrives paired with a cinematic and meaningful music video by director Andre Muir, a moving visual metaphor for the perilous impact that Covid-19 has had on the Black community.

Reflecting the track, Vic Mensa explains, “Shelter is a spiritual note, a healing frequency... It was inspired not by Hollywood or Paris, but by what's going on on the ground - in the real world, with the real people."

The video’s caption on YouTube includes the following description of Julius Jones’ story:

‘Donate to help Julius Jones:

Julius was 19 years old at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a basketball scholarship when he was wrongly arrested and charged with first degree murder. Julius will be executed by the State of Oklahoma for a crime he did not commit. Viola Davis’ “The Last Defense” docuseries closely-examines and exposes the flaws in Julius’ case. All donations to this fundraiser will go directly to his cause.’

Watch the powerful video here: