Chance The Rapper

Born in Chicago, Chance the Rapper, whose real name is Chancellor Johnathan Bennett, emerged in the early 2010s on the city's independent rap scene with an approach that blends hip‑hop, soul, gospel, jazz and spoken word. His phrasing alternates between a smooth flow, sung passages and strongly marked intonations, over productions that can be bright, psychedelic or more introspective. Chance the Rapper released 10 Day in 2012 and Acid Rap in 2013, two mixtapes that laid the foundations of his style and his positioning outside traditional label circuits. He then contributed to the Surf project by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment in 2015, before releasing Coloring Book in 2016, where choirs, live arrangements and gospel references take centre stage. With The Big Day in 2019, Chance the Rapper pursued a more melodic and personal direction. Throughout his career he has also collaborated with numerous artists from the American rap, pop and R&B scenes, while remaining closely associated with Chicago and appearing at both general festivals and events focused on contemporary hip‑hop.