It's been some time, Chance. In the few years (see: an eternity) since 'Acid Rap' dropped in 2013, rap has become even further dominated by millenial microphone fiends; with Drake, the obvious (current) Billboard King...and peers (and competitors) such as Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole leading the charge. What do they all have in common? Besides enormous amounts of talent, that would be the (more) emotional route. Dare I say it, but they're kinda anti-gangster (well, Kendrick raps about gangster rap tropes from an environmental perspective, not actively engaging in street-hardened, "gangster" activities waxed about so unapologetically in time's past...).
Now, just because emcees these days have less battlefield scars doesn't mean they're delicate. They're just more honest. Even traditionally-viewed "gangster" rappers such as Biggie, Scarface, and (especially), Tupac Shaku paved the way with more emotionally-driven records that just happened to be told in a drug-and-gang warfare-torn atmosphere. But, this sensitive slow bubble had to burst sometime. Now, sensitive emcees aren't even called as-such. They're just accepted as normal. As the status quo. There's no more struggle for the nasally-voiced bookworms and nerds who think to themselves "you know, I wanna try this rap thing, too". There's no better time for an emcee like Chance The Rapper to shine, basically. So, if Acid Rap' was Chance's entrance; then 'Coloring Book' must, too, be his homecoming.
'Coloring Book' is fourteen-tracks of pure summer-weather music perfection. It's no coincidence that the mixtape was released in May. It's perfect for those late afternoon drives down Lakeshore Ave. (both in Chi-town AND THE Town...) in late July. Fellow Chi-town native and general pop lightning-rod Kanye West shows-up on the opener, 'All We Got' (AND THE FREAKIN' CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR. NO, REALLY.). Yeezy obviously sees potential in the young artsy kid from West Chicago ("Kanye's best prodigy / he ain't sign me / but he proud of me..."). Moreso, Kanye probably sees himself. The similarities are definitely there - from the already-mentioned lyrical honesty and sensitivity, to similar suburban Chicago upbringing and education. So it's only natural that 'Ye would want to make sure Chance succeeds.
Where the similarities between Kanye and Chance end, though, is with they're approach to the business side of music. Kanye (quite famously) was adorned with his ROC chain in front of thousands of cheering fans. Chance isn't so keen to make the same type of move. Not that he needs to - Chance's album/ticket/merch sales are strong, yo. Strong enough, that Chance has gone the Joey Badass-approach (another talented, smart, young emcee/entrepreneur) and ditched the majors, completely.
The guest list for 'Coloring Book' reads like a major label album release, though. Future, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign, even the freakin Biebz makes a (surprisingly, awesome) contribution to tape slow-jam 'Juke Jam' (also featuring newcomer Towkio). All the guests shine. None are wasted. 2Chainz, who seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once these days, comes correct lyrically tag-teaming with best bud Lil Wayne on 'No Problem'. Chance goes the gully-by-association route (made famous by Drake) with lines such as if one more label try to stop me / there'll be some dread-head niggas in the laawby and interpolating . Wayne spits a (somewhat) inspired, prescription-strength (and laced) verse about (what else?) how Baby should finally released The Carter 5 because "people need the Carter" (if that's actually true in 2016 is sadly debatable) and "I got problems bigger than you boys...only problem is my problems is on steroids". Young Thug helms the somewhat dark track 'Mixtape' alongside Atlanta new jack Lil Yachty over a somber piano-and-bass-thumping beat typical of Atlanta trap these days. It's Chance basically saying "hey! I can do trap too!"...and do it well, he does.
What Chance always has done well, too, is mixing Gospel undertones into his work - and it's on full display in 'Coloring Book'. Examples such as "I speak to God in public, I speak to God in public..." off 'Blessings (Reprise)'; while the original 'Blessings' that appears early in the mixtape is a definite stand-out track by itself. An obvious song with many spiritual themes, the primary one being that of reaping what you sow. Chance feels that he's now finally being blessed by the Lord for all his hard-work and patience over these past few years.
And he should. 'Coloring Book' is a musical triumph for an artist on the rise.
No comments:
Post a Comment