ABC/Fred LeeChance the Rapper is experiencing a major career boost this summer — the hip-hop star posed on the cover of both Billboard and Complex magazines recently and is also a spokesperson for Nike’s new “Nike Unlimited” campaign. Monday, Chance gave an electrifying performance of his single, “Summer Friends” on Good Morning America and also sat down with GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts to talk about the deeper meaning of his music.
“All my music, to a certain extent, is about freedom,” Chance says. “There’s a lot of taboos in hip-hop that people try and stay away from. I think a big one is…people are afraid to speak about God, to a certain extent, and I think…if you’re not free to speak about God, then you’re not free.”
Chance remains an unsigned, independent artist, choosing to give his music to fans for free. “I think the music industry is something that’s very separate from music, and so by always staying on the music side of it I’ve found success,” he says.
The entertainer also talked about the inspiration behind his open mic night for high school youth at the Chicago Public Library, where his musical talents were first fostered.
“I come from a family of organizers and abolitionists and social workers and just a long line of people that work in the community, so…it always felt integral to me, in terms of becoming a man to be a person of the people and…put in work,” Chance explains.
Chance the Rapper’s latest mixtape album, Coloring Book, the first stream-only album to chart on the Billboard 200, is now available.
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