In 2016, Chancellor Bennet, better known by his stage name Chance the Rapper, seemed guaranteed to become the next big hip-hop star. The twenty-three-year-old Chance had just released the groundbreaking mixtape Coloring Book, captivating audiences with his combination of gospel and hip-hop underlying fresh vocal melodies, story-like verses and signature adlibs. Chance slated artists like Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Young Thug amongst other big-name features, and Coloring Book went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2017.
Chance rapped his way into the hearts of millions, including my own. He was known for doing things his own way; after all, he had accomplished the success and star power of his first album without being signed to a label. Chance was redefining what the musical landscape could look like as Coloring Book became the first streaming-only album to win a Grammy. He was destined for greatness… until his 2019 label debut, The Big Day.
The Big Day was more like The Big Flop. The album felt uninspired and like the identity of the artist had been lost along the way. Chance droned on and on about his family and wife without infusing his work with emotional narratives or the great storytelling that had underscored his first album. Countless memes about the flop quickly flooded the internet. To fans, it seemed like Chance’s new record label had watered down his authenticity: the core of what made him so special in the first place. The Bonafide superstar experienced a long fall from the top, as all of his fanboys (including myself) were left disappointed.
6 years have passed since The Big Day was released, and Chance has finally returned to the rap scene with his newest album: Star Line. When I first read that Chance was releasing a new album, I was more concerned than excited. I couldn’t help but ask myself: Could this really be the true successor to Coloring Book? As I slipped my headphones on, I felt the need to temper my expectations as I was reminded of the ever unsatisfactory The Big Day.
As the first track, titled “Star Side Intro,” opens, I immediately recognize the sonic and tonal shifts from his previous album. Chance’s voice greets me almost instantly, with an opening verse of bold declaration: I’m back! The track quickly brings in R&B elements, sampling the 2023 track from Cleo Sol “Life Will Be,” as Chance revisits the familiar recipe that led to immeasurable success in Coloring Book.
Chance continues to stay creative throughout the album, bringing in R&B and gospel samples on almost every track. His verses sound eerily reminiscent of those on Coloring Book as well as earlier projects like Acid Rap. Chance also features big names like Joey Bada$$ on “The High’s and the Lows,” Young Thug on “Gun In Yo Purse” as well as both Lil Wayne and Smino on “Tree.” But the big names are not what make this album – Chance brings back smaller names and Chicago natives that were featured on Coloring Book, such as Jamila Woods and Jay Electronica, proving a return to his roots successful. The album makes you ask yourself: Is it 2016 again already?
This album grapples with new themes for Chance, including his recent divorce. On “Space and Time” he discusses his split from longtime partner Kirsten Coley, and on songs like “Tree,” he uses satire, auto-biography and Langston Hughes’ poetry to dive into the African American experience. This album explores a newly expanded vulnerability for Chance, demonstrating his evolution from Coloring Book. Beyond lyricism, Chance also acknowledges and experiments with modern trends in music, such as his own rendition of a jersey-club beat on “Speed of Light,” and his festival anthem, “Drapetomania.”
While the 17-track, 67-minute album marks a triumphant return to the rap game for Chance, it does admittedly meander in the middle. At times, it feels as though Chance, confident in the project’s ability to secure success, pads the track list with a few extra throwaways. Regardless, in my eyes, Chance the Rapper has rapped his way out of purgatory and firmly back onto the rap scene.
