Vic Mensa has disputed his previous landlord’s claims about him owing unpaid rent, while alleging that they actually put his family in danger.
According to a court docket obtained by HipHopDX, the rapper (real name Victor Mensah) is scheduled to appear in landlord-tenant court on August 25 to answer for 3936 S Indiana LLC’s eviction request.
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The initial claim for eviction was filed on Tuesday (July 25), and the rapper is allegedly behind more than $8,000 in unpaid rent.
Check out the filing below:
The attorney for 3936 S Indiana LLC, however, is airing his grievances out in the press, issuing a statement TMZ about the case.
The landlord’s attorney, George Georgopoulos, is lamenting that the owner “is left holding the bag of paying real estate taxes, maintenance, and other costs for the building while Vic Mensa continues to use and occupy the space without paying rent.”
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A rep for Vic Mensa, however, has disputed this, and claimed that the rapper’s steps were necessary to ensure the safety of his girlfriend and his family.
“The negligence of this landlord put the lives of Vic Mensa’s family in danger, particularly his girlfriend who was alone when their home in Chicago was broken into by an armed serial rapist who we later learned had AIDS and a long history of attacks against women,” the rep told HipHopDX.
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“Luckily she is safe, and the intruder was incarcerated. There was zero security on the building and the landlord refused to install any amidst numerous requests, so Vic moved as he wasn’t under any lease obligations to remain in the unit. The landlord was in violation of multiple Chicago Renters Rights codes and instead of taking accountability he’s attempting a money grab to collect rent from after the break-in occurred when Vic wasn’t even living in the building anymore.”
Subsequent research provided by the Chicago Police Department revealed that the intruder, Justin Ware, does indeed have multiple arrests and convictions, including a 2015 conviction as a violent sex offender.
Landlord-tenant woes aside, Vic Mensa isn’t afraid to use his fame to shed light on the housing crisis in the United States — and, more specifically, in his hometown of Chicago.
Back in February, Mensa slept in a tent under the city’s viaduct with a group of individuals giving out meals to the homeless and giving those who don’t permanently live outside a humbling experience with chilly temperatures dropping into the mid-30s.
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The 29-year-old came out to support the event organizer, Englewood Barbie, who is looking to raise $1million to build a shelter for the unhoused.
“We outside tonight in Chicago sleeping underneath the viaduct raising money to help my homegirl Englewood Barbie build her own shelter to provide for the unhoused of Chicago,” Mensa said.
“It’s cold as fuck but it’s wild to think that people have to live outside every night. In the wintertime, people freeze to death so we’re taking this moment to honor that experience and do our part to work to make the city a better place.”
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On the music side of things, Vic Mensa has teamed up with Ty Dolla $ign for a new single, “Eastside Girl,” which arrived on Friday (July 28) — check it out here.
This story was updated at 7:30 p.m. PT on July 28, 2023, to include an exclusive statement from Vic Mensa’s representative, and to include Justin Ware’s rap sheet provided by the Chicago Police Department.
