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The Autobiography
by
The Autobiography Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length studio release for the Chicago rapper features guest appearances from Chief Keef, The Dream, Joey Purp, Pusha T, Syd, Ty Dolla $ign, Weezer, Pharrell Williams and Saul Williams.
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Top Track

We Could Be Free
We could be free If we only knew we were slaves to the pains of each other One day, I believe I'd learn To see my enemy as my brother Then we could... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Jul 31, 2017
    80
    Previous songs have hopped around topics and genres(dance music, bombastic Kanye collaborations; here are arresting departures like the slow, hyper-modern torch song Coffee & Cigarettes or the closing electronic rock ballad Rage.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 3, 2017
    80
    It’s a scattershot album gelled together by Mensa’s emotionally frank lyrics, which reveal a complex persona.
  3. RapReviews.com
    Feb 6, 2018
    80
    At its best--on "We Could Be Free"--"The Autobiography" adds to this reputation. At its worst, the album still sounds very good; aside from a pair of tracks that evince a teenaged boy's understanding of love, sex, and women (both of which--"Homewrecker" and "Gorgeous" -- are musically pleasant enough), there are just two more that rubbed me the wrong way. And that's mostly because they have a sound that is currently on-trend, which me feel old and out-of-touch.
  4. Rolling Stone
    Jul 28, 2017
    70
    Most emotionally rich may be "Heaven on Earth," which interpolates Aughts trip-poppers Lamb: It starts as an Eminem-style letter to a dead friend, features a second verse of the friend writing back and closes with Mensa rapping as the person who killed him, trying to understand his fear and guilt.
  5. Pitchfork
    Jul 31, 2017
    69
    Mensa is also writerly. His bars can sound productively picked at and pored over, or clunky and pent-up when overly pampered. The Autobiography splits those tendencies down the middle, casting its star as a remarkable, easy-to-digest rapper with an affinity for half-baked wordplay.
  6. PopMatters
    Aug 25, 2017
    60
    With a few misfires and a fairly traditional take on narrative set aside, Mensa’s Autobiography is still so well-crafted that it makes (almost) every track worthwhile.
  7. The 405
    Jul 28, 2017
    50
    As Vic Mensa will continue to be one of hip-hop's most buzzed about figures, his full-length Roc Nation debut is a patchy tale of contemporary rap, as Mensa tries to find the line between intimate self-confessions and "inspirational" anthems.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. octovix
    Jul 30, 2017
    10
    This is an amazing album, possibly my favorite so far this year, I've listened to it front to back about five times. The album really touchedThis is an amazing album, possibly my favorite so far this year, I've listened to it front to back about five times. The album really touched me, from Vic talking about his experience at Lollapalooza to the talk of his homewrecker ex-girlfriend. This is one of the few albums that has captivated me enough to let me listen so many times all the way through.… Expand
  2. adult
    Jul 29, 2017
    10
    Wow. This album was simply amazing, and it's definitely up there with DAMN. for rap album of the year. I have listened to it front to back aWow. This album was simply amazing, and it's definitely up there with DAMN. for rap album of the year. I have listened to it front to back a few times now and each song is as solid as the last.… Expand
  4. Venqo
    Aug 25, 2019
    10
    This album is great i love his versatility and hes also a really lyrical artists and this album is just so enjoyable
  5. isbel
    Jul 29, 2017
    9
    Really nice debut album. The collabs are good. Aside from a slight misfire here and there, Vic makes me excited to look forward what he doesReally nice debut album. The collabs are good. Aside from a slight misfire here and there, Vic makes me excited to look forward what he does in his career ahead.… Expand
  6. clem666
    Mar 3, 2021
    7
    Fresh and striking! Vic Mensa obviously had so much to say on that long autobiography. So much that it often sounds like he is out of breathFresh and striking! Vic Mensa obviously had so much to say on that long autobiography. So much that it often sounds like he is out of breath on his long songs. On this project it feels like Vic is to be counted in this impressive list of rappers who seem to be obliged to rhyme on every single measure. There are way too few moments where he let the music speak, making the majority of his tracks sound like a never-ending lyrics delivery.

    Hopefully he has to decency to serve some really deep lyrics and strorytelling to us. He also managed to invite incredible guests as Pharrell Williams, The-Dream and Pusha T amongst others. For the best and the worst. Production is quite interesting especially when it allows Vic to sing (rather than rap) like in 'Memories on 47th Street'. There are here numerous amazing samples and interpolation worth the trip.    … Expand
  7. CPaccini
    Jul 29, 2017
    6
    The Autobiography is rather boring throughout the full hour of its run time. I am still confused why Vic is a rapper, his singing voice is theThe Autobiography is rather boring throughout the full hour of its run time. I am still confused why Vic is a rapper, his singing voice is the element of his music that grabs my attention the most, and based on the singing performances in this project, he isn't a bad singer.… Expand

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