The Alt Black

Chance the Rapper (Angels music video ft. Saba)

New Mixtape: The Magnificent Colouring Book

The long awaited third mixtape from Chicago rapper, Chance the Rapper was released Friday, May 13th.  Fans have been waiting on this mixtape since the release of his smash mixtape Acid Rap, that dropped in 2013. Since then, we have been surviving off of repeats, feature songs, and singles that he has released. Chance has an impressive resume of features from very mainstream artists to underground artists on this mixtape. From former rap collaborator Noname. To upcoming artists such as Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yatchy to industry heavyweights such as Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, and Kanye West.  

 

Chance, along with gospel powerhouses Kelly Price and Kirk Franklin brought the track to live with the Sunday morning praise team realness that has been absent in mainstream rap music for some time. Chance brings this Sunday morning realness into full effect in Colouring Book.  From the moment I heard Jamilla Woods singing “I’m gonna praise him, praise him till I’m done. I knew that this mixtape was going to be a jam packed with live music and another anthem filled mixtape. This mixtape features artists,  Kirk Franklin, Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Jeremih, Justin Bieber, Yung Thug, T-Pain, and Jay Electronica, Noname Gypsy (acid rap favorite), Future,  Chance’s cousin Nicole, Lil Yachty, Eryn Allen Kane, Ty Dolla $ign, Knox Fortune,The Chicago Children’s Choir, and Francis and the Lights

 

This new sound is nothing new for Chance though in Acid Rap there were a number songs with organs, choirs, and church feels. Chance has also been hinting at this sound with the release of Sunday Candy sampling sounds from Milton Brunson ( I got to shout out my Uncle Kevin on that one he got me hip to the sound) and the release of Angels ft. Saba last year. Two songs that take us back to the original Chance, a young socially conscious rapper, who acknowledges his faith in God and at some points his lack of faith.  This mixtape shows Chances growth in his faith with lyrics from classic gospel numbers, such as, are you ready for your miracle from Kirk Franklin, as well as How great is our God these tracks along with the live instruments on the mixtape.

 

This mixtape was worth the definitely worth the wait, not to mention it was free. Chance clearly took his time developing the mixtape, gaining an all star squad of feature artists.  One of my favorite things about Coloring Book is that Chance uses his same old add-libs, when the album begins Chance opens with and we back, the same intro that used to start Acid Rap. His classic Ahhh! Lip and he gives us the YEP! If you listen to this mixtape, I recommend that you listen to Acid Rap first to see the similarities and the growth that he has made as an artist.

 

Ahhhh!

Justus Jermaine