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THE GRAMMY'S // Chance has Arrived

Tafadzwa Muchenje
Feb 15, 2017
4 min read

The 59th Annual GRAMMY.

It was entertaining with live performances from the Weekend x Daft Punk, A Tribe Called Quest, Anderson .Paak, and Busta Rhymes, Chance the Rapper, Adele, and of course Queen Bee. There were more performances during the eventful evening but it would be boring if I'd listed out all of them. It was of course hosted by the always humours James Corden, 'the Brits are taking over' - which was also the case with the awards that evening.

There will never be a bigger upset for me than that of when, 1989 beat Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. That will forever be a big stain on the GRAMMY's notorious history with acknowledging and appreciating rap/hip-hop artists. The reason I mention this is because of the upset with Adele winning the coveted Album of the Year, which everyone including Adele herself thought that Beyonce would win with her unbelievable visual masterclass Lemonade. Apart from that upsetting result, and I guess a few others. I would dispute this with categories such as: Best Dance Recording, I'd like to have seen that award go to Flume with his record Never Be Like You rather than to The Chainsmokers x Daya with their entry of Don't Let Me Down. In addition, in the category Best R&B Song, I'd like to have seen Bryson Tiller walk away with the gong. I think he's had a phenomenal rise to the top and this would have been the cherry onto of the cake. His album is without a doubt sombre and bangin'. With an ever growing audience who find themselves relating to what he raps about, much similar to the style the old Drake used to rap. Apart from that and a few others - Kanye not winning Best Rap/Sung Performance, (I know Drake broke bare meaning many records with his album, but Kanye hands down had the better album), I have no issue with who got what with other categories.

Onto bigger and better things, Chance the Rapper the homie from Chicago struck gold not once, not twice but three times during the 59th Grammy awards. If that wasn't a big enough feat, the fact that he did it without being signed to a record label makes it colossal, as he is the first person to ever do that. Kanye applaud again. In realness though what he achieved that night is massive and he knows it. For me Chance started really getting noticed when he released his second mixtape Acid Rap, that is when I noticed him. Acid Rap a (4.1/5) is such a uplifting catchy album, where the newly transformed Chicago rapper makes a name for himself. Like any acid trip, the album is freewheeling and is made for anyone. I think it is fair to say with Chance that many people love his work, and the vibe that he is going with now is one that will attract more fans to his craft.

Once I heard Acid Rap when it came out in 2013 I was hooked, and was instantly a fan of his work. I waited patiently for his next mixtape release, which released three years later in 2016. Before this though Chance had appeared in features for the likes of Kanye, in his album The Life of Pablo, Action Bronson's album Mr. Wonderful in which he had a fire and memorable verse on the song Baby Blue. Other notable mentions include, Justin Bieber, Madonna, Kehlani but most importantly of all was his collaboration album with Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment. Their mixtape release Surf further pushed Chance into the lime light - the album itself does not belong to to Chance but he is certainly the main focus on the album. He chose this path and ignored the lures of the music industry labels, and made nostalgic quirky music with his friends, this album and all those important features had set him up on a high platform allowing him to release his long awaited album/mixtape release to masses of awaiting admirers.

I was not disappointed when the album released. It was one of the strongest rap album released last year, it's no surprise he won Best Rap Album with it. Coloring Books is a gospel album, unlike Kanye West claimed his was as well. Chance's is the real deal, I don't think I heard him swear more than once, he too preaches heavily about the word. The album is perfect, mesmerising in every way. With features from Bon Iver, D.R.A.M., Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, BJ The Chicago Kid and more.

The album has so many levels, like in the song Mixtape there there is this trap vibe, it's a bouncy song in where he asks the question "Am I the only nigga still care bout mixtape?" this song is really one that should be played really loud at every party if you want to get the people going. It really is a banger! This however contrasts to the vibe he gives in his opening song, All We Got and Blessings where the African American church influences really come out combined with a beautiful layer of instruments. You'll notice a the trumpet leading the opening song, that would have most likely been his mate Donnie. Another note, the opening song All We Got, x Kanye West x Chicago Children's Choir is a very Kanye styled song. What do you expect when he had so much influence on Chance as a musician and also the fact that he produce this song.

The album is a gospel album but it incorporates elements of soul, hip-hop and other nostalgic ideas which all combine to make a sound that is heavenly. Layering, structuring, and production are all on point. I can't rave anymore about the album. It really is the showings of a movement that is and will be momental in the history of music. This infusion of gospel is now something that many other artists are incorporating into their music.

The album is a strong 6/5. "Legitness", it is has to be 5/5 for me. I just love the richness of it and can't wait to see what the Chicago kid has up next. Below is a video of one of the popular songs on the album, No Problem x Lil Wayne x 2 Chainz.

Finally, Congratulations to him on his 3 Grammy wins!!!!