For new hip-hop fans, it may be hard to recall when Chance The Rapper was the genre’s golden child. But as the Chicago native continues to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his breakout mixtape Acid Rap, his impact on the culture and his fellow emcees is reentering mainstream consciousness. However, according to Chance, he didn’t always feel appreciated.
During a sit down with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden on The Ebro Show, the entertainer opened up about the more difficult points of his career.
“The toughest challenge I ever experienced was I went on tour with Macklemore,” said Chance.
He quickly clarified that the stain had nothing to do with his past collaborator, adding, “Macklemore is an amazing, amazing person and helped me out tremendously as well. But his shows were in Europe, and I think it was 38 dates, all 20,000 capacity rooms, all like off markets, too, like Poland and Dusseldorf. These people didn’t speak English at all. And not only did they not speak English, he sold out all these shows before I was announced on the ticket.”
Chance continued, “So it’s really bad when you go to a show, and there’s an opener that you don’t want to see. It’s way worse when it’s a surprise opener that you don’t want to see. That’s speaking a different language and Black, a lot of negatives on top of each other for the Swedish crowds. So I’m dealing with that.”
All in all, eventually, Chance used that experience to help improve his performance and as fuel for when it was his tour to headline. “When I came home, I got to finally feel at the end of that year when I went on my own solo tour, I got to feel having my own crowd, selling my own tickets and really built my whole off that tour,” he exclaimed.
Fast-forward to the present day, there aren’t many people who don’t know in some shape or form who Chance The Rapper is.
Chance the Rapper also went by a different name. Chance The Rapper joined Ebro Darden for an in-person conversation at Chicago’s flagship Apple Michigan Avenue Store. Their discussion centered the momentous 10th anniversary of Chance’s breakthrough mixtape, Acid Rap. In this engaging interview, Chance shared he almost was “Tony Jizzle.”
“My original name for a short period of time was Tony Jizzle,” Chance revealed. “It would’ve been a whole different trajectory. Still in the same space I’m in, but just a different path to getting right back here.”
He added, “I could rhyme a lot of things with Jizzle and it was just like I always wanted the name Tony. Tony or Max when I was a kid. I wanted to be white when I was little, man, I wanted a name like Tony or Max or I don’t know, some cool Scott.”
As we all know, Chance decided to stick with a variation of his birth name, bringing him much success.
“I feel like Chance the Rapper is also a cool name,” Chance said. “You don’t know that many people named Chance and then it’s like you could just be like it’s Chance. I’d be like Chance who? You know in Chicago they call me Chance da Rapper. Really they say Chandler rapper.”
The Barclays Center was electrified on Saturday night as Grammy-winning artist Chance The Rapper took the stage for a sensational and nostalgia-filled performance commemorating the 10-year anniversary of his groundbreaking mixtape Acid Rap. The event followed his sold-out show at Chicago’s United Center and delivered an incredible night of music, memories, and magic. From the moment the lights dimmed, the atmosphere was charged with excitement, as Chance’s signature energy and magnetic stage presence captivated everyone in attendance.
Chance’s performance was a journey through time, as he flawlessly delivered tracks from Acid Rap with the same fervor and authenticity that made the mixtape a cultural phenomenon a decade ago. The setlist included iconic tracks like “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” “Juice,” and “Chain Smoker,” each met with thunderous applause and sing-alongs that echoed throughout the venue. As the night drew to a close, the energy in the Barclays Center remained at its peak. Chance’s final moments on stage were met with a standing ovation and a chorus of cheers, leaving no doubt that this anniversary celebration was an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.
Chance will conclude the trio of events with the Acid Rap 10th anniversary show at the Kia Forum in LA on September 21.
The Barclays Center sizzled with energy on Saturday night as Grammy winner Chance the Rapper graced the stage for a sensational, nostalgia-packed performance, commemorating the 10-year milestone of his groundbreaking mixtape, Acid Rap. Following a sold-out Chicago show, the event was a mesmerizing blend of music, memories, and enchantment.
From the instant the lights dimmed, Chance’s infectious energy and magnetic presence had the audience entranced. His performance became a time-travel journey, as he flawlessly delivered Acid Rap tracks with the same authenticity that ignited a cultural movement a decade ago. The setlist, including hits like “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” “Juice,” and “Chain Smoker,” elicited roaring cheers and venue-wide sing-alongs.
As the night reached its crescendo, the Barclays Center’s atmosphere remained electric. A standing ovation and thunderous cheers greeted Chance’s final moments on stage, confirming this anniversary fete as an unforgettable experience. The Acid Rap 10th anniversary series will culminate at the Kia Forum in LA on September 21, concluding a trio of remarkable celebrations.
This past spring, Chance The Rapper celebrated the tenth anniversary of his second mixtape Acid Rap. Released on April 23, 2013, the project not only catapulted Chance into the national spotlight but went on to be a crowned jewel of the blog and mixtape eras and a classic release overall from the 2010s hip-hop era. In a tweet six months after releasing the project, Chance wrote, “im not the guy to say acidrap was the best project of 2013. but i’ll say my project did more for me than anyone else’s did for them.” At that time, it remained to be seen exactly what Acid Rap would do for Chance, but over the last decade, we’ve seen that Chance’s statement was true. The success of Acid Rap can be attributed to putting Chance in position to later secure his first Grammy wins, gain meetings with the president at The White House, land gigs as a marquee festival headliner, and now, hold a packed-out night in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to celebrate the mixtape’s tenth anniversary.
Truthfully, it’s just as surprising as it isn’t that Chance packed out Barclays Center. On one hand, social media paints Chance as a has-been who fumbled his position at the top of rap with his underwhelming debut album The Big Day. On the other hand, most of us know that social media is often a poor representation of what is true in the real world. Furthermore, the tenth-anniversary show for Acid Rap allowed fans who were too young or too distanced to see performances from that era, or those who wanted to relive their experiences from the rapper’s glory days, to engage in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s the perfect recipe for a sold-out show, something that Chance needed for himself as he prepares to enter a new era.
Izzy Robertti
The dominating element in the arena for the Acid Rap tenth-anniversary show was gratitude, most especially from Chance The Rapper to the audience. Beginning with a trio of records from his 2016 mixtape Coloring Book, a project that got a lot of airtime at the show, Chance stepped forth with a triumphant entrance to “No Problems.” Steering into renditions of “All Night” and “Blessings,” it was clear that he was extremely thankful for this moment. The gratitude from the Chicago rapper only amplified as he transitioned into Acid Rap tracks. After performances of “Good Ass Intro,” “Pusha Man,” and “Paranoia,” Chance championed the crowd and reminded them of the unique moment at hand. “There’s no fake fans in the building tonight,” he proclaimed. “I’ll probably never do a show like this again.”
Ten years removed from the firestarter release in his career, Chance is still just as grateful for the spotlight as he was when Acid Rap first came out. He later interrupts his performance of “Juice” to share an anecdote about meeting with labels in New York City, filming the music video for the song in the city, and how everything changed once he returned to Chicago. Moments like these are scattered throughout Chance’s career as contributors to his success, both before and after the release of Acid Rap. The same could be said about his longtime collaborators, some of whom were present at Barclays. Chance extended this same gratitude to them throughout the night, whether it be Saba during performances of “Everybody’s Something” and “Angels” or Joey Badass for “The Highs & The Lows.”
Izzy Robertti
The sweetest moments came as he thanked members of his band one by one for years of collaboration and support in and outside of his music before bringing out Vic Mensa. Beside Acid Rap in 2013 came Vic Mensa’s Innanetape, and together, both projects highlighted the best of what was to come from Chicago’s rap scene at the time. Both Chance and Vic supplied verses to one another on their projects through “Cocoa Butter Kisses” and “Tweakin,’” and together the duo made it out and achieved undoubtable success. In past years, it seemed like there was a rift between the two rappers, but more recently, performances together and an uptick in collaborations confirmed that all is well between them. So as Chance and Vic shared words and embraced before performing “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” you could tell that the night was more than just about ten years of Acid Rap. It was about ten years (and then some) of doing it his way with his people to a level of success that he only dreamed of.
Sitting in Barclays Center, as Chance The Rapper concluded the night with performances of other Acid Rap standouts like “Favorite Song” and “Smoke Again,” you’re left to reconsider where the reality lies for Chance. It exists further from his social media perception and closer to the one that existed in the inescapable atmosphere of the arena. One where his fans from around the way and far away gathered to celebrate one of the most unique rappers in this modern era and his decade-old magnum opus. Whether it was Acid Rap classics or his most recent releases, Chance was met with the same excitement from the crowd. His run of shows for Acid Rap is a moment to celebrate his past, but it’s also one to remind us of his present status — the real one — in preparation for his future. Hate him or love him, Chance The Rapper seems ready to continue doing what he does best as he announced his second album Star Line Gallery would arrive in 2024. So as the night concluded, Chance left the crowd with one thing to remember:
“I am Chance The Rapper and I will always be Chance The Rapper.”
It’s been 6 years since Vic Mensa released his debut album The Autobiography. Despite the lack of a proper follow-up studio album he hasn’t been quiet in the meantime. He released a number of EPs including the critically acclaimed V Tape and I Tape released in 2020 and 2021. He also took a turn for rock and punk music with his 93Punx side project in 2019. Now, after not releasing a follow-up since 2017 Vic is finally gearing up to release a second studio album very soon.
Earlier today, Vic Mensa shared a trailer for his new album Victor to Instagram. The trailer shows Vic surrounded by a myriad of artists while someone paints a portrait of him. That portrait turns out to be the album cover for the album and once the camera has pushed all the way in, the details of the project are revealed. Most notably, he confirms a release date for the project. Fans will be able to hear the project on September 15. Fans flooded the comments to express their excitement for the project. “its been a long time coming Vic. New Era!” one of the top comments reads. “The moment we all been waiting for,” says another.
While it’s currently not known which of his new singles will appear on the album, he’s been building up momentum for it all year. He’s also turned up for a number of features throughout the year. What do you think of Vic Mensa dropping his long-awaited new studio album next month? Let us know in the comment section below.
Chance the Rapper took the stage last night at the United Center for a monumental sold-out hometown show, commemorating the 10-year anniversary of his breakthrough mixtape Acid Rap. The event drew thousands of excited fans, turning the arena into a celebration of music, memories, and milestones. Chance plans to bring the same exhilarating energy to the forthcoming anniversary shows at NYC’s Barclays Center (August 26) and LA’s Kia Forum (September 21). Marking a decade since its release, Acid Rap has become a cultural touchstone and a defining project in Chance’s career. The mixtape’s blend of introspective lyrics, inventive production, and a distinct Chicago sound left an indelible mark on the music industry, with it still remaining the face of independent hip hop.
The United Center show was a visual and auditory feast, featuring a meticulously crafted setlist that traversed the musical journey of Acid Rap. Chance the Rapper, known for his high-energy performances and signature style, delivered a captivating show that transcended mere entertainment. The stage design, light displays, and dynamic choreography served as a fitting backdrop to the mixtape’s thought-provoking and emotion-laden tracks. Other special guests included Vic Mensa, Twista, Noname, Saba, Oreo, Mello Buckzz, King Louie, D Low, the South Shore Drill Team, Goon Squad, Benny the Bull, and Tommy Hawk (The Blackhawks mascot).
Chance and Acid Rap have taken over Chicago this week, as Chance celebrates the landmark recording throughout his hometown. The festivities kicked off with a scavenger hunt across the city, where fans headed to some of Chance’s favorite indie stores (View his spots here) for an opportunity to obtain tickets to the sold-out United Center show.
“There are so many amazing artists and trailblazers, and to have them all in one festival represents so much and represents how free the music can be,” he said then, in part.
And that is especially poignant in relation to Blue Note Jazz Festival 2023, as it will continue the year-long celebration around hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. As Zoë Jones contextualized it for Uproxx, “Blue Note has the potential to be much more than a festival – the lineup alone can stand as music history: tracing the evolution of Black music at a time when it’s more present than ever in mainstream consciousness.”
The event will unfold across three stages: Black Radio Stage, Footprints Stage, and Blue Note Stage.
On Friday, July 28, the Black Radio Stage will host Big Freedia (1:45-2:45 p.m. local time), Ari Lennox (3:45-4:45 p.m.), and Glasper alongside De La Soul and Dave Chappelle (5:45-7:30 p.m.) ahead of Blige’s headlining set (8:30-9:45 p.m.).The Footprints Stage will host the likes of Madlib (2:45-3:45 p.m.) and Cordae (4:45-5:45 p.m.).
Come Saturday, July 29, Madlib will be joined by Talib Kweli on the Black Radio Stage from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., and Glasper will occupy the same slot (5:45-7:30 p.m.) but this time cohabitate the stage with Chappelle and Lalah Hathaway & Terrace Martin. Nas’ headlining set is also scheduled for 8:30-9:45 p.m.
Chance The Rapper will wrap the party with his 8:30-9:45 p.m. headlining set on Sunday, July 30.
Check out the full Blue Note schedule below, and find more information about the festival here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Chance the Rapper is currently prepping his new album, Star Line Gallery. In conversation with Audacy Check In, Chano revealed how “proud” he is about his forthcoming project.
“It’s one of my proudest projects in terms of writing and artistic vision,” Chance said. “There’s an immense amount of work to be done with it. But it’s cool ‘cause I feel like with the love and intentionality that goes into making each physical art piece gives me an opportunity to show people in these museum spaces what I’m working on as I go, the highs and the lows, kind of like a preview to the project…”
After FX aired its recent documentary, Dear Mama: The Saga Of Afeni & Tupac Shakur, other musicians are chiming in with their thoughts about the portrayal of the late musician. One of which is Chance The Rapper, who took to Twitter to express his love for the series.
“Did y’all watch the Tupac & Afeni Shakur documentary series yet?” Chance said. “What’s y’all honest thoughts? Cause I would say without exaggeration or hyperbole it’s probably the best documentary I’ve ever seen.”
Did y’all watch the Tupac & Afeni Shakur documentary series yet? What’s y’all honest thoughts? Cause I would say without exaggeration or hyperbole it’s probably the best documentary I’ve ever seen.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) May 27, 2023
And many seemed to agree with his assessment, as the show held a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes earlier this month, according to HipHopDX. The series has five parts and kicked off on April 21, exploring the relationship between Tupac and his mother. It also became the channel’s most-watched unscripted program in its history.
“I was glad to see a documentary that included Afeni’s story,” one fan replied to Chance’s post. “I’ve always felt that Tupac can be difficult to understand unless you know about the person that raised him. And to see how the struggle within the Black Panthers mirrored the struggle within 90s hip hop was incredible.”
“In the final episode they insinuated things about Death Row scheming on Tupac without elaborating which was disingenuous I feel,” another added. “But in whole it was the best Tupac documentary ever made.”
Continue scrolling for some more fan reactions to Chance’s post about the Tupac documentary.
Very good. Thought it’d focus more on their relationship and shine more light on Afeni but regardless they did a good job of telling the story w/o regurgitating too much of what we already knew about Pac and his story
— Kevin (Nuggets fan? Who knows) (@_Kevlar23_) May 27, 2023
I scrolled past it but will have to check it out, appreciate when genuine artists promote other artists’ stories.
