How Chance The Rapper responded to the notion of “falling off”
Chance The Rapper went on a run of acclaimed projects throughout the 2010s. Mixtapes like Acid Rap and Coloring Book certified the Chicago rapper as one of the most exciting artists in hip-hop, but there was a mixed reception by the end of the decade following the release of The Big Day.
Whether the criticism was fair is up for debate, but there’s no doubt the memes around Chance projecting his love for his wife took on a world of its own. He was newly married, and the album’s title was inspired by his wedding day. While it was the highest-charting project of his career, it also damaged his reputation.
Speaking on the response to The Big Day, he told XXL, “I think that’s a narrative that people want to push or stand on for some reason. But it still stands that I’m Chance The Rapper. There’s literally only one Chance The Rapper that ever did it like this. And that’s not just in rap. That’s period.
“These n*ggas is puppets. These n*ggas are controlled on everything. And I stand on what I believe [in]. I speak when I want to speak, on what I want to speak on. I’m respected by Dave Chappelle and Lauryn Hill and Dr Julius Garvey and people that mean something to me.”
Chance continued to project his achievements, between winning Grammy Awards and making history in the charts. He feels people should focus on his success rather than pushing a negative narrative.
“I’m the independent artist with the highest-charting album as an independent artist,” he said. “The Big Day was number two on Billboard [200]. Coloring Book is the only album by an independent artist to win Grammys or to do it without selling a copy. But I’m not in the part of my life where I have to tell my story yet. That’s when I get to my 60s.
“Right now, I’m the first n*gga to be throwing a full festival in another country, yet alone on the continent of Africa. So, maybe it’s important that they spread that narrative because maybe they think it makes my efforts less potent, but we both know that’s not true.”
The Big Day featured appearances from Nicki Minaj, Lil Durk, Megan Thee Stallion, Gucci Mane, John Legend, and many others. Chance recorded the project during significant moments in his family life and admits his lyrics might not have been projected as intended.
“I know when I made The Big Day, there were a lot of changes happening in my life,” he explained. “Not only was I getting married and planning a wedding, but also about to have my second child. The same thing with Coloring Book. I had just had my daughter and was moving into a new place at the time.
“Life is happening always and it’s an important thing for it to be an inspiration. But sometimes when you’re creating, because you feel like you need to create, it doesn’t produce an environment that’s liable for you to express it the best way.”