Chance the Rapper

Between 2015 and 2018 I listened to and liked Acid Rap and Coloring Book. In the past week I listened to both, plus (for the first time) The Big Day. I believe in 2018 I told someone I preferred Acid Rap to Coloring Book. I think I liked the idea of scrappy homespun rap over highly-produced globorap, hence my perpetual perception of Late Registration over Graduation. Now, corrupted by the mainstream or not, Coloring Book came off as the greater album, and The Big Day -- even notably further from his roots -- is an argument for Chance's best music. I hear lots of people hated it. I don't understand that. I've only heard it once, that from lyric-obscuring car speakers, but it seemed great. It didn't quite feel like Chance, but is any music free of that discomfort? Kendrick has broadened his vocabulary in a way both mature and neutralized. I respect his versatility, though it flattens his sharp image. I'd say the same of Chance. The versatility feels mature, even exciting, though confoundingly unfamiliar. I lose my sense of Chance when he flexes over such diverse beats. But it's still good music, and a good album.

I'm just not quite sure its use to me. I'll keep up with Kendrick, since I loved that dude's music. I never loved Chance like that, so it's harder to justify this album, which I think is good, but unaffecting.

4/5