Ghanaian American rapper Vic Mensa saves Chicago bookstore by donating over $7,000 to cover its rent

Vic Mensa, also known as Victor Kwesi Mensah, has shown his generosity by giving Da Book Joint enough money to pay the Chicago bookstore’s rent for an entire year. The business shared on Instagram that the rapper wrote a stunning check for $7,200, guaranteeing the shop would have no rent to pay for the rest of the year.

“Hey family! This has officially been the best Wednesday ever!” they began. “We are thankful. We are honored. We are grateful. We are truly living a dream right now. Thank you so much to @vicmensa and his entire @93boyz team for blessing us today by covering our rent for an entire year.

“Thank you for seeing our mission and helping us stand in our purpose. You are that breath of fresh air we need. His generosity ensures our doors stay open for all book lovers and dreamers. This act of kindness touches our hearts deeply and reaffirms the power of community and support. Thank you, Vic Mensa, for lighting up our world with hope and generosity!”

HipHoppDX reported that Da Book Joint also hosts Noname’s book club, which was founded in 2019. In 2020, the book club partnered with seven cities nationwide to guarantee that the selections were included in the branches’ collections, which comprise nearly 200 different libraries. Noname’s book club specializes in books written by people of color.

The Radical Hood Library, located in Los Angeles‘ Jefferson Park area, serves as the club’s current headquarters.

Vic Mensa’s charitable donation to Da Book Joint is an expression of his company’s goal of making literature accessible, according to AfroTech.


Books Before Bars is the first initiative that 93 Boyz started to help supply books to Illinois prisoners.

Vic Mensa told AfroTech at the time, “The goal of Books Before Bars is to bring liberation and freedom to people who are incarcerated through literature because I believe strongly that when you change your inner reality, you begin to influence your external reality.”