— Multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY-nominated rapper/producer Vic Mensa has officially released a new short film titled,“Blue Eyes.”
Vic Mensa’s “Blue Eyes” is a short film that doubles as a music video for the powerful track he debuted on his sophomore full-length album, VICTOR via Roc Nation.
Filmed and directed by longtime friend and collaborator, Andre Muir — director of the similarly moving and thought provoking video for Vic’s “Shelter” featuring Chance the Rapper. Shot in Jamaica, “Blue Eyes” captures the pain and emotion associated with the deeply personal track in which Vic breaks down the internalized insecurities he experienced as a biracial kid and addresses the toxicity of Euro-centric beauty standards.
“The song ‘Blue Eyes’ is one of the most personal I’ve ever made and illustrates the impact of European beauty standards on the mind of the African, using my experience and that of my aunt who recently passed from the effects of skin bleaching.” — Vic Mensa
The short film features cinematic shots of Vic freeing himself being drowned in a river, Jamaican locals explaining the history of skin bleaching, and a female lead shown wearing a blond wig which she later removes symbolizing the freeing of oneself from these toxic standards.
Last week, Samsung hosted an early screening and panel conversation at their 837 event space, granting attendees an early preview before the film made its premiere on BET’s Times Square billboard. Moderated by Larry Osei-Mensah, Vic and Andre Muir discussed the panoply of topics and issues that acted as inspiration for the short film.
Last month, Vic shared a video of his parents listening and reacting to “Blue Eyes” for the first time — an emotional clip in which his mother is visibly moved to tears. Prior to this the song made its televised debut in a cathartic performance on the Tamron Hall Show. Vic also sat for a revealing interview on the show, in which he discussed self-discovery, sobriety, and more.
Watch the entire “Blue Eyes” film and listen to VICTOR right here.