Vic Mensa and Chance the Rapper publicly addressed a long-standing rift during the first episode of The Vic Mensa Show, holding an emotional conversation about jealousy, career competition and past decisions. Their reconciliation matters because the two Chicago artists were early collaborators in the SAVEMONEY collective, but had avoided discussing the grievances that emerged as their careers diverged in the 2010s.

Mensa said he had become jealous of Chance’s success following the releases of Acid Rap and Coloring Book, and apologised for his resentment. Chance said he had already forgiven Mensa, then apologised for declining to have him open on a proposed Acid Rap-era tour; he admitted his stated concern about their equal standing masked a reluctance to share the stage. Mensa said the missed opportunity had hurt deeply because he was struggling financially at the time, including searching for small amounts of money in couch cushions and his sister’s piggy bank.