Chance the Rapper: Reflections Ten Years After Acid Rap

Chance the Rapper, born Chancelor Bennett, debuted his second mixtape,

Acid Rap, nearly ten years ago to the date. For many of us who grew up in Chicagoland, this mixtape was a defining moment in our adolescence or childhood, and personally served as an album I hold near and dear to my heart, as it is tied to some of the best memories of my youth. If you are unfamiliar with this album, you may assume from the title that LSD was involved in the making of the album, and you would be correct, partially. Chance himself said “[There] was a lot of acid involved in Acid Rap… I mean, it wasn't too much -- I'd say it was about 30 to 40 percent acid ... more so 30 percent acid”. This was not the only factor in Chance’s creative process, however, it allowed some creative barriers to be removed. In the creation of this album in particular, Chance was extremely collaborative in the creation of Acid Rap, working with other Chicago artists both big and small, as well as national sensations like Childish Gambino. Even some of his first musical endeavors were collaborative, with a duo that he formed as a freshman in high school named Instrumentality. Chance’s inspirations for his music are numerous, as jazz, gospel, and Michael Jackson were frequently played in his household. He also credits one of his greatest influences as Kanye West, who he collaborated with on his subsequent project, Coloring Book. These numerous inspirations for his music point to intrinsic motivation coming from a genuine inspiration from the significant musical influences in his life. Chance also credits teachers in school, who actually attempted to discourage him from making music. Although it may seem that this discouragement would have made Chance falter on his musical journey, it could have actually created an extrinsic motivation that caused him to want to pursue music more fervently to prove his doubters wrong. 

Acid Rap was the mixtape that put Chance the Rapper, one of the biggest Chicago artists of the 2010s, on the map. His music changed the genre of rap, and it is only fair to acknowledge him as a big-C creative. Undoubtedly, Chance made a significant impact on the adolescence of many Chicago teenagers. I know that I was one of them, and I am sure that at least one person reading this entry was too. 

References:

https://www.mtv.com/news/mb1747/chance-the-rapper-acid-rap-mixtape

https://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/who-is-chance-the-rapper