The Grammy's need to take a "Chance"
The Grammy's need to take a "Chance"
By:Justin Bhangoo
Chance 3 or Coloring Book or Preemptive Album of the Year, whatever you want to call it… Chance did not disappoint with his 3rd major project. Following up Acid Rap was no small task; the feel good mixtape that put Chance on the map is widely regarded to be one of the best mixtapes of this century. This was due to Chance’s unique, nasally sound that that helped perpetuate his free flowing anti-establishment message.
Major fans of Chance, like myself, see him as a healthy alternative to the “fast-food” rap that we’re exposed to; Chance, like J Cole and Kendrick Lamar, is uniquely enlightening. He brings a positive vibe to his music while keeping the contents in touch with what could be considered a negative reality.
Tracklist:
1. All We Got (feat. Kanye West & Chicago Children's Choir)
2. No Problem (feat. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne)
3. Summer Friends (feat. Jeremih & Francis & The Lights)
4. D.R.A.M Sings Special
5. Blessings
6. Same Drugs
7. Mixtape (feat. Young Thug & Lil Yachty)
8. Angels (feat. Saba)
9. Juke Jam (feat. Justin Bieber & Towkio) 4.5/5
10. All Night (feat. Knox Fortune)
11. How Great (feat. Jay Electronica & My cousin Nicole)
12. Smoke Break (feat. Future)
13. Finish Line / Drown (feat. T-Pain, Kirk Franklin, Eryn Allen Kane & Noname)
14. Blessings (Reprise) (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
Simply put, Chance gets it. With his upbeat Chance-esque antics in tracks like Angels and No Problem and his melodic ballads like “Same Drugs” and “Smoke Break” Chance covers a wide spectrum of music and doesn’t cater to only one audience. His continuing message of hope, responsibility, and love is apparent throughout. In the first few lines of the album he goes on to say “Tryna turn my baby mama to my fiancée, She like music, she from Houston like Auntie Yoncé, Man my daughter couldn't have a better mother, If she ever find another, he better love her.” Refreshing is what it is.
The track “Blessings” in its reprise form brings one of the greatest endings to an album in recent history by repeatedly, with the beautiful harmonized vocals of Ty Dolla $ign, BJ The Chicago Kid, Anderson .Paak, Raury, Nico Segal, Lolah Brown & Chance The Rapper, asking if you’re ready for your blessings and if you’re ready for your miracle… so the questions is.. “Are you ready big fella?”
Certified Banger: #2 No Problem (ft. 2Chainz & Lil Wayne)
This absolute jam brings together a heavy, bass-driven beat, with an overtly catchy hook. The Features add to the hard-hitting nature of the song with both 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne providing adequate verses.
Certified Slow Jam: #9 Juke Jam (ft. Towkio & Justin Bieber)
A melodic, slow rolling beat with the smooth voices of both Towkio and Bieber should already be enough to justify this selection; yet, it’s the combination of both along with Chance’s surprisingly smooth vocals depicting a Chicago love story of his own from back in the day that make this song the smoothest of the bunch.
Latent Let-Down: #1 All We Got (ft. Kanye West & Chicago Children’s Choir)
Chance starts the album off with a strong flow and, as always, a depp verse; unfortunately Kanye coming in and almost ruins the song. That isn’t easy for me to say as a lifelong Kanye enthusiast.. But it’s almost impossible to overlook. This jam had a lot of potential, especially with the beautiful choir vocals… Kanye just needed to drop out. (get it?)
Conclusion:
In his memorable verse on Kanye’s “Ultralight Beam,” Chance says “He said let's do a good ass job with Chance three I hear you gotta sell it to snatch the Grammy… well Chance stuck to his anti-establishment roots as evident in his lyrics “ I'm pre-currency, post-language, anti-label pro-famous, I'm Broadway Joe Namath, Kanye's best prodigy, He ain't signed me, but he proud of me.” So Chance isn’t doing it to sell records… but man oh man, they have to consider this genius for a Grammy. Early contender for album of the year… and it ain’t even an album.
Solid 9 out of 10.
By:Justin Bhangoo (@YaBoiJuice_)
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