The Autobiography
by Vic Mensa
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. 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.
  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. 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.
  5. AllMusic
    Jul 28, 2017
    80
    Some references to proper nouns come across as either misplaced or forced, and the set could do with fewer strained fairground-rock choruses. These shortcomings are nonetheless too rare and slight to prevent The Autobiography from being a remarkable first album.
  6. Paste Magazine
    Aug 3, 2017
    75
    Vic Mensa’s new album, The Autobiography, is a lyrical, plainspoken hip-hop record that successfully taps into early-2000s alternative as it dissects Mensa’s personal struggles and larger social issues.
  7. Clash Music
    Aug 7, 2017
    70
    Although the succession of lukewarm tracks early on prevents this from being a flawless debut, Vic Mensa does enough to keep the album an engaging listen even in its misguided moments.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
  1. 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.… Full Review »
  2. 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.… Full Review »
  3. 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.… Full Review »
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