Chancelor Bennett, also known as Chance The Rapper, is an eccentric 21-year-old rapper from Chicago, though binding him to the title of ‘rapper’ does no justice to the young star’s capabilities. Chance’s style is unorthodox in every sense: rarely maintaining any consistency to his flow, his half-singing/half-rapping verses twist through elaborate song palates.
Chance began his musical endeavors in early high school, releasing three mixtapes, his most notable of which was “10 Day,” inspired by a 10-day suspension he received his senior year. In 2013, Chance released “Acid Rap,” which was a critical success and garnered him the spotlight necessary to take off. “Acid Rap” tells a story about a young man’s dark journey and upbringing on some of the scariest streets in the nation. But while the rap game has rehashed this story again and again, Chance finds a way to paint vibrant colors into a tale that’s long been so cold and colorless.
It’s hard to say if such a young and inexperienced rapper will have any leverage in the ability to change culture, but Chance’s music feels like it’s backed by years of musical influence and experience. Every song sounds rich and full of life, beautifully fusing hip-hop and jazz cultures. Chance’s confident demeanor mirrors The College Dropout-era Kanye West, yet he never misses a chance to do some self-reflecting, which gives you Chance at his most vulnerable and most personable. Though his style may be off-putting to some, his voice is dynamic and inviting, in contrast to the intimidating front created by most rappers today.
Many artists are hit with a decision when they’ve been in the limelight long enough, and where most choose the straight shot to fame, Chance chose to take a detour. After declining many offers from labels after the overwhelming success of “Acid Rap,” Chance decided against his solo career to work with his friends and tourmates The Social Experiment.
Chance The Rapper has created quite a snowball effect, having already collaborated with some of today’s big performers, including Lil Wayne, Skrillex and Justin Bieber. But despite the refusal of his individual fame, the ball will continue to roll. Chance and The Social Experiment’s first album, Surf, is right around the corner, and with it, hopefully an even greater expansion of style and inventiveness.
