And we back, and we back. Chicago’s prodigal son brought home seven Grammy nominations after making history. Not only did Chancelor Bennett, better known as Chance the Rapper, redefine the rules of Grammy nominations, but he did it at 23. My friend and I were sitting in French class when the Grammy nominations were released on December 6th in our magnet school near the center of Chicago and there was nothing but joy, and nothing but joy and pride was felt by Chicago and Chance’s fellow Windy City native artists.
go innnnnnnnnn!! ???✨ https://t.co/thn5JnHpcj
— jamila woods (@duhmilo) December 6, 2016
The whole city is smiling, proud of you @chancetherapper
— Noname (@noname) December 6, 2016
By becoming the first artist to be nominated for a Grammy with a streaming-only album, mixtape, really, Chance has opened the industry’s eyes to how successful and long-lasting streaming is. He’s also the first to chart on the Billboard 200 with a streaming only album, debuting in the top 10 with 57.3 million streams (38000 units sold), something that was previously seen as impossible. He is not only a voice for streaming, but for independent artists. He is the first unsigned artist to preform on SNL, he’s nominated for seven Grammys, he’s doing it on his own.
And like each and every one of his successes, Chance has brought the party home. From Coloring Book‘s release party, Magnificent Coloring World, to Magnificent Coloring Day itself, Chance has given Chicago mad love. He also has spoken out about the problems that Chicago faces, such as voter turnout, segregation, and the MAP Grant. Chance held a concert in Chicago called “Parade to the Polls“, free to all of voting age, to lead young voters to Early Voting locations. Chance the Rapper strategically held Magnificent Coloring Day at U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago’s south side, an area with a majority of black and Latinx residents, to fight against the segregation that is still persists in Chicago. Chance spoke out about the possible de-funding of the MAP (Monetary Award Program) Grant. Many Illinois residents depend on the MAP Grant to help them pay for higher education. Chicago State University itself depends on the MAP Grant for much of its funding.
#MAPMatters Let it be known, my governor is doing everything in his power to keep MAP defunded and Close Down Chicago State
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) February 16, 2016
Chancelor Bennett is a kid from Chicago that made it big, scratch that Chance the Rapper is a kid from South Side Chicago that made it big. Actually, scratch that one more time, Lil Chano from 79th is a black kid from the South Side of Chicago that made it big on his own after recording a mixtape during a 10 day suspension for weed. As much as Chance means for Chicago, he is so much more the South Side and the young black people of Chicago.
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