ic Mensa is opening up about his complicated relationship with Chance The Rapper.

Chance joined Mensa for the premiere episode of “The Vic Mensa Show,” giving the longtime friends an opportunity to revisit a relationship that began when they were teenagers and eventually helped shape Chicago’s Save Money movement.

The two rappers first met around age 14 while attending different Chicago high schools.

Mensa recalled visiting Jones College Prep from Whitney Young Magnet High School for an open mic, where he first crossed paths with Chance.

That meeting would eventually grow into both a friendship and a creative partnership that followed them through Chicago’s independent rap scene.

During the conversation, Mensa reflected on their earliest years together, including one of the first songs they recorded.

The pair worked on a track called “Lord Release,” with Mensa remembering that his father helped pay for the studio session.

Their bond also extended far beyond music.

Mensa previously recalled learning that older students had been threatening Chance at school and responding by bringing a large group of friends from Whitney Young to confront them.

“Long story short, you know, found them, beat they ass, for f***ing with Chance,” Mensa previously said while discussing the incident on “All the Smoke.”

For Mensa, the story showed just how deeply connected the two had become long before either rapper found mainstream success.

Their friendship eventually became part of the foundation of Save Money, the Chicago collective that included several artists who would go on to make an impact within hip-hop.

Mensa and Chance emerged as two of the movement’s most recognizable figures as both began building successful solo careers.

Their relationship also contained a competitive side.

Chance famously referenced Mensa on “Acid Rain” from his 2013 mixtape “Acid Rap,” acknowledging both their rivalry and loyalty toward one another.

As their careers grew, however, fans noticed periods where the two appeared less close than they had been during their early years.

That history has fueled years of speculation about whether Chance and Mensa experienced a falling out.

The premiere allowed both artists to discuss their history directly rather than letting years of fan speculation define their relationship.

Their conversation touched on the closeness they shared growing up, their competitive dynamic and how their individual careers changed over time.

Despite whatever difficulties developed between them, Mensa’s decision to make Chance the first guest on his new show made their shared history impossible to ignore.

Both artists have remained closely tied to Chicago throughout their careers, even as their music took them in different directions.

“The Vic Mensa Show” marks another creative chapter for Mensa outside of traditional music releases.

The 24-episode series builds on his previous “Orange Tree” video project and will focus on longer conversations centered around culture, relationships and personal experiences.

Mensa said that project showed him how powerful open conversation could be, particularly when people are willing to approach topics with honesty and vulnerability.

Having Chance The Rapper as the first guest brought that concept close to home.