Chance The Rapper

Chance the Rapper stands among the foremost independent acts to breach mainstream dominance, even while steering clear of rigid genre categories and operating without any label deal, including those vanity imprints backed by major funding. Across multiple mixtapes his work progressed swiftly, as he honored existence and spirituality, reflected on intimate setbacks, and captured ordinary moments through sharp lyricism delivered across an array of mostly warm approaches. Supporting those verses and choruses were beats that drew from assorted regional strains of current rap while folding in gospel, jazz, and soul textures among additional influences. Milestones once considered impossible, among them securing the Grammy for Best Rap Album via the streaming-exclusive 2016 mixtape Coloring Book, generated widespread coverage without eclipsing the artistic strides that elevated him to elite status. Further growth arrived when he issued his long-anticipated first proper studio album, 2019’s The Big Day. Ongoing activity has encompassed guest spots alongside Ludacris, Justin Bieber, Vic Mensa, and additional artists ahead of the 2024 mixtape Star Line Gallery.

Born in Chicago’s West Chatham neighborhood, Chancelor Bennett issued his initial mixtape 10 Day in April 2012, a broad project tracked during—and in part shaped by—a ten-day high-school suspension. Beats supplied by Flying Lotus, Chuck Inglish, and Lex Luger preceded early notice in Complex and subsequent acclaim from Forbes. Childish Gambino ranked among Bennett’s first champions, enlisting him as support on a U.S. tour. Rising visibility did not deter Bennett from regular visits to neighborhood schools, reinforcing an enduring civic bond. His follow-up Acid Rap, the first Chance release to appear on Billboard album charts, surfaced in April 2013 and triggered intensified overtures from major labels that he declined. By year’s end he expanded his reach through a feature on Justin Bieber’s “Confident,” a near-Top 40 single later certified gold by the RIAA. XXL subsequently placed Chance on its 2014 Freshman roster alongside fellow Chicago natives Vic Mensa and Lil Durk.

Between 2014 and April 2016, Bennett surfaced chiefly on collaborative cuts with Madonna (“Iconic”), Action Bronson (“Baby Blue”), Snakehips (“All My Friends”), and Kanye West (“Ultralight Beam”), plus sustained contributions to Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment’s Surf and the six-track joint mixtape Free with Lil B. Coloring Book arrived next in May 2016; enriched by guests spanning Ty Dolla $ign to Kirk Franklin, the project earned strong reviews, climbed to number eight on the Billboard 200, and helped generate seven Grammy nominations for Chance’s output that year. He claimed Best New Artist, Coloring Book took Best Rap Album, and “No Problem” with Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz earned Best Rap Performance.

The first half of 2017 brought further featured appearances on releases by brother Taylor Bennett, Brian Fresco, and DJ Khaled, whose “I’m the One” reached the summit of the Billboard Hot 100. July 2018 saw Chance drop four singles at once, among them “I Might Need Security,” while also joining Khaled on the Top Ten pop hit “No Brainer.” The standalone “Groceries” followed in 2019, joined by guest turns on tracks from Ed Sheeran and Cordae.

July 2019 finally brought the long-promised debut studio album The Big Day, loosely framed around a wedding-day motif and centered on themes of family and growth; its extensive roster of contributors ranged from Nicki Minaj and Death Cab for Cutie to Randy Newman, CocoRosie, and actor John Witherspoon. The set opened at number two on the Billboard charts. In 2020 Chance released several singles including the Ludacris collaboration “Found You” and appeared on cuts by Justin Bieber and MadeinTYO. Additional non-album material arrived via 2022’s “Wraith” featuring Vic Mensa and Smoko Ono, plus “The Highs & the Lows” with Joey Bada$$. Early 2023 saw him join The Voice as a coach, after which he issued the 2024 singles “Buried Alive” and “Together” ahead of his next mixtape.