Two years after Laquan McDonald was killed at the hands of law enforcement, Vic Mensa releases the powerful video for his politically-charged single “16 Shots.”
“On this day in 2014 Laquan McDonald was murdered by the Chicago Police,” tweeted the Chicago MC. “We have not forgotten & will continue to fight for justice #16Shots.”
Roles are reversed in the visual, which features police officers being frisked with their hands on the hood of a squad car. Vic takes control, as the one who’s cuffing the officials.
“16 Shots” is a standout from Mensa’s There’s Alot Going On project, which the rapper spoke with Rap-Up about in August.
“’16 Shots’ specifically was inspired by my time in the streets of Chicago after the murder of Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke,” he explained. “I’ve been getting harassed and fucked with by police since I was 11 or 12 years old. … So ’16 Shots’ is a record I’ve been wanting to make for years.”
Vic will present his new video at the Justice for Laquan Rally! CPAC Now! Protest & March in Chicago’s Millennium Park tonight. Fans can take action by pledging to vote to end police brutality in the upcoming election.
Watch “16 Shots” below.