The breakout success of the Chicago rap scene last year—headlined by the buzz and controversy of Chief Keef–;exposed America to new faces creating sounds unfamiliar to the current rap landscape. Played-out narratives of cars, women, and money were replaced with introspective tales of family, friends, and dangerous surroundings.
Enter Chancelor Bennett of Chatham, who raps under the keep-it-simple-stupid moniker Chance the Rapper. With his 2012 mixtape “#10DAY” (The name is a reference to a 10-day suspension he served at Jones College Prep.), Bennett carved a very specific path that both takes part in and contrasts with the drill scene stereotype of Chicago that is perpetuated throughout the rest of the country.
He has released a number of tracks from his forthcoming mixtape “Acid Rap” (out Tuesday) and is fielding the kind of label bidding war that has come to define the modern rap scene. Young lyricists release a song or mixtape, exhibit a little Internet savvy and find themselves deluged with mainstream attention alarmingly quickly. His unorthodox rap style and nasal flow make him a standout, especially when compared to other rap acts on the rise like Joey BadA$$ and Casey Veggies, whose deliveries are more traditional.
