Fresh off of his recently-aired BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher, Vic Mensa is addressing the murky controversy that unfolded earlier this month in a new song. The issue tackled in “Empathy” stems from Mensa’s un-edited verse aimed at deceased rapper XXXTentacion and his own admission of domestic abuse.
“Only time you bear arms is in a wife beater, loser/Your favorite rapper’s a domestic abuser,” he spit in the edited version, which aired last night (Oct. 16). While some would argue that addressing the issue of domestic abuse in hip-hop is important, several others chastised the Chicago rapper, who reportedly admitted to choking his ex-girlfriend.
In “Empathy,” he addresses his transgression, rapping “Got a call from my ex, she forgive but she can’t forget/As a man we don’t understand the damages we’ve sewn just by stringing her along…”
“And everybody heard the song,” he continues. “I f**ked up, admit that I f**ked up/But I ain’t do that though, so I wanna judge, but I sound like an a**hole.”
Mensa acknowledged the controversy surrounding the freestyle after news of his dig at X made the rounds. While he sent condolences to the ? musician’s mother, who was in the audience at the event, he stood by his bars and the point he tried to make.
Listen to “Empathy” below.
In response to all the controversy… 🎵 Empathy pic.twitter.com/V76BVAiYYQ
— vino valentino (@VicMensa) October 17, 2018
READ MORE: Watch Vic Mensa’s Alleged XXXTentacion Diss At The 2018 BET Hip-Hop Awards