Chance the Rapper, Rolling Stone Top 100 Recs

STAR LINE - #96

GOOSEBUMP METER: 7/10

There’s something delightfully soulful going on here. There’s such a focus on storytelling and world-building. So many of the beats and the music feel atmospheric just as much as they feel melodic, like a soundtrack to the story that Chance is trying to show us. It took me almost four listens before I was able to actually put some thoughts together. I was aware of how much Chance the Rapper had left the social zeitgeist, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see him on the list. Truth be told, I wasn’t even aware he’d put out another record. I’m sad about that now—I would’ve championed this album a lot more, and I will continue to do so.

There’s a lot of maturity and age in what he’s saying in these songs. Even Star Side Intro really sets the tone for the ride you’re about to embark on. I think I can say with decent confidence that these songs will all age well. There’s no one song that truly outshines the others; it feels like such a cohesive body of work that has me excited to come back and listen. On my fifth and sixth times relistening, I would start at the top and run it to the end. Each time I return now, I don’t want to experience the songs in any other way.

Themes of age, Black culture, racism, beauty, and history—and how they all weave in and out of the rapper’s life—are done in a refreshing way. The album is also an absolute celebration of music in its form and the collaboration it provides. There are so many artists featured on these songs; truly, a village came together to raise the vision of this community.

I think I’m still going to spend a lot of time digesting this record. I’m sorry I can’t express much more. When I try to write it out, I end up just wanting to listen more. I think you will too.

Here are my personal favourites—although I’ll state again—this record is awesome from start to finish.

• Star Side Intro

• No More Old Men (feat. Jamila Woods)

• The Negro Problem (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid)

• Drapetomania (feat. BabyChiefDoit)

• Burn Ya Block

• Speed of Love (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)