Chance The Rapper
Coloring Book
(self-released)

I’ll start off by saying that I am a fan of Chance The Rapper. As a blogger though, I will try to be unbiased in this review, which will be hard. I’ve been following his career for a little while now and kind of had the premonition that he would be a star, or at the time had the makings of a great rapper. It was also around the time Kendrick Lamar had reached the masses through his music and people were listening. I also find Chance’s performances intriguing. Coloring Book is almost self-explanatory to me in a musical context. He has a distinct style, but a eclectic approach depending on subject matter and mood of the track. From track one, he dives right in. On “All We Got” (featuring Kanye West) he’s singing but rapping in a cluster of horns. It’s dope enough that Kanye would want to sing the hook! “Summer Friends” (featuring Jeremih) starts with whimsical vocals and seems to tell a story of fair-weather friends and growing up in Chicago. Its a mid-tempo track that pulls you in. “Angels” is a fan favorite and its clear why. The song is fun, has a message, and keeps you nodding your head. “Mixtape” and “No Problem” are for the hood and certified to rock out of many cars this summer. “Juke Jam” (featuring Justin Bieber and Towkio) shows a softer side and officiates that Chance is a singer. I love that more artists are multi-faceted. There’s also a really sweet interlude by D.R.A.M.  called “Special.” Be sure to take a listen, it can make anyone smile. The album in it’s entirety is amazing and I hope my pointers you find to be agreeable.

You can listen to the album here.