Free Love

### Composer(s)

Ashley Frangipane, Malik Yusef Jones, Brandon McCartney, Khalif Diouf, Victor, Mensah

### Producer(s)

Vic Mensa, Smoko Ono, Arin Ray, Papi Beatz

"**Free Love**" is a song performed by Vic Mensa featuring Le1f, Halsey, Lil B, and Malik Yusef. It was released independently on June 27, 2016 exclusively on the online audio distribution platform Soundcloud to pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando Nightclub Shooting.

## Background

The song was released Pride Day 2016, a day where the world celebrates LGBTQ+ identities. The song deals with the social justice progress of the LGBTQ+ rights movement while also dealing and detailing the tragedy in Orlando.

An hour prior to the release of this song, Vic went to Twitter to speak on his frustrations:

"*Looking at the world around me, I realize now that as a creature of love, the battles of all people fighting to love are also mine. And I stand with them,“ he wrote. "Will you?*"
—Vic Mensa

Moreover, the song also deals with the daily difficulties and oppression of being queer and/or a person of color.

## Cross-references

* Guns are also mentioned in "Wipe Your Tears" and "Girl Is A Gun".

## Lyrics

[Hook: Vic Mensa]

What ever happened to free love?

I wanna know, wanna know

I wanna know, wanna know

[Verse 1: Vic Mensa]

I don't wanna wait too long

'Til I'm wrinkling and my body aching

And the newspapers move on

My freedom has no expiration

Is it too late for the world?

Living in the 21st century

We don’t need diamonds and pearls

No, free love is not a luxury

Oh, you can fuck who you wanna fuck

You can love who you wanna love

If you're proud put your lighters up

Then can't fight this flame we're burning

[Hook: Vic Mensa]

What ever happened to free love?

I wanna know, wanna know

What ever happened to free love?

What’s a world where you need love to control?

What ever happened to free love?

[Verse 2: Vic Mensa]

I guess love ain’t free, there's a fee, they cut your paycheck

It’s a free country, that's unless you love the same sex

To people with no place to stay, I hope you stay blessed

You ain't gotta flex that you straight, long as you straight flex

North Carolina go on and raise up

Take your shirt off, wave it at your haters

Same judge to vote against the trans bathrooms

Got some skeletons in the closet of his own bedroom

Tried to kill Bill Clinton for that Monica Lewinsky shit

But let’s be honest, nobody out here really innocent

But lesbi-honest put parallel with Jeffrey Dahmer

Eating people, eating pussy, there's a difference, your honor

Who died and crowned you king to judge the way I do things?

Marry your middle finger, n\*gga, fuck your diamond ring

Bada-boom-bada-bing, you gotta love your family doggy

Let that man sing some soprano Pauley

Let that boy rock a dress, y'all n\*ggas don't know how to dress

It ain't your place for an opinion, you should be opinion-less

So what's the ruckus 'bout who you love, I give an F

It’s the R-O-C-Ave Money with the S

[Hook: Vic Mensa]

What ever happened to free love?

I wanna know, wanna know

What ever happened to free love?

What’s a world where you need love to control?

What ever happened to free love?

[Verse 3: Le1f]

You already know, we got such a long way to go

Tell me, what you waiting for? If you're a hater, you's a hoe

So respect my existence, if not expect my resistance

Nobody needs your permission, stop lettin' bodies hit the floor

Flow is so loco, similar to how they hate on the cocoa

All in it like Yoko

If you wanna be featured don't be status quo, bro

Throwing shade on love is crazy wild

Who made you the one to judge and put my life on trial?

[Verse 4: Halsey]

I got three million kids and they're crying on my shoulders

The whole wide world covers their ears to the sound

Go and fly your kids first class down to Disney

But ignore that you're walkin' on a burial ground

You’d rather wrap your son’s hands 'round the trigger of a pistol

Than catch him in the mirror with a motherfucking lipstick

Crazy white girls say they tryna free the nipple

But they quiet when somebody pulls a gun on a misfit

[Bridge: Halsey]

Whatever happened to free love, free love?

[Hook: Vic Mensa]

Whatever happened to free love, free love?

What's a world where you need love to control?

Whatever happened to free love?

[Verse 5: Lil B]

You gotta move to Boston, Massachusetts

They legally recognize same-sex marriage

Civil union ain't really civil

Nope, you tryna keep it Karen Civil

But really I'm too dopeboy

HotNewHipHop, Underground On Smash

California, we gotta do better than domestic

Partnerships, they don't got the same benefits

It's 2016, the Constitution

The laws, the tones of the people, what are we doin'?

California, let's spread love, not hate

I'm not perfect, but I feel great, let's go

If you say that I'm not giving you enough [?]

You need to go check out [?]

If they try to make you feel bad

From the get-go, don't believe 'em cause you special

[Bridge: Vic Mensa]

Oh, you can fuck who you wanna fuck

You can love who you wanna love

If you’re proud put your lighters up

Then can’t fight this flame we’re burning

[Outro: Lil B + Malik Yusef]

Yeah, hey, I guarantee it if you see it

And you stop being mean to people you believe it

Stop blaming everybody just for one mistake

Because that's called hate

Lil B, yeah!

Ay, SAVEMONEY man!

Vic I see you!

Basedworld!

It's the Roc!

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

It's Lil B, ay!

Basedworld!

Live your life, man

If you don't like gay marriage, then n\*gga don't get gay married!

## References

1. ↑ *Twitter* - @VicMensa - "Looking at the world around me, I realize now that as a creature of love, the battles of all people fighting to love are also mine. And I stand with them,“ he wrote. "Will you?"