Chance The Rapper is starting over. The Chicago native entered the rap scene ten years ago, and since then has emerged as a maverick in the world of independence, providing the soundtrack to everything with a string of iconic projects like 10 Day, Acid Rap, and Coloring Book, among others.
The entire globe has witnessed the Grammy-winning wordsmith's amazing journey from the depths of SoundCloud to the annals of hip-hop. Despite having a resume that might last for two millennia, the 29-year-old rapper is still not completely through leaving his legacy.
A trip to Ghana last January with fellow Chicagoan and artist Vic Mensa, who also has roots in Ghana, helped to mold Chance's future career.
The two members of SaveMoney visited places including Labadi Beach, Elmina Castle, and Kwame Nkrumah's tomb, who served as the nation's first president, when they were there.
Those enlightening encounters inspired Chance to resurrect the 1920s vision of renowned early 20th-century activist Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line shipping enterprise, which connected the dots between the Americas and West Africa.
That will soon become reality in two ways. One such event is Chance and Vic's Black Star Line Festival, which is scheduled on January 6, 2023, in Accra, Ghana, and will feature panels, brunches, a free concert, among other Black joy-inspired endeavors.
The second is Star Line Gallery, Chance's upcoming album, which is due in 2023. He aspires to advance his people's liberation with these next projects while expanding on the style and reputation that have made him well-known.
The parent, husband, and freshly stamped cinematographer talks to XXL about his next album, his trip to Africa, his legacy, the finest rap album of 2022, and other topics.
How have you been spending your time personally and artistically over the last few years?
Chance The Rapper: I’ve been trying to have new experiences and create new relationships and new friendships and new habits. And musically, we’re always growing as writers and musicians. And even in what influences us and what are the soundtracks to our lives, in terms of what we listen to.
What’s the last thing that inspired you?
The last thing that inspired me is not something new, but I was just rewatching the Lauryn Hill [MTV] Unplugged [2.0]. The fact that it’s just her vocals and a guitar for a couple of hours of straight. New material is just like a very potent way of sharing music.
How did you educate yourself on Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line?
I’ve become more interested in Marcus Garvey and Garveyism after having a conversation with my grandmother. She told me that her grandfather was a Garveyist and that she was raised very militant. And not just in her political activism, but also in her faith. It was something that surprised me. It made me want to learn a little more about Marcus Garvey, about the Star Line shipping company that she was telling me about.
What Marcus Garvey did was he created industry for a lot of Black folks all across the East Coast and through the South, where they basically created businesses and worked in tandem to create opportunities and economic stability for Black folks. And a lot of Black people flocked to this idea of righteous indignation that was taking place out of the idea that Christianity was meant for Black people and meant as a means of revolution for Black people.
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