Chance the Rapper continues to be one of the most fascinating artists working in hip-hop today. He's won three Grammys, galvanized a legion of devoted fans and had a hand in changing the model of success for independent, middle-man-free distribution. He also has a lot to say about his music and the black experience in general, which makes him a great choice as a guest on Stretch & Bobbito's new NPR podcast.
In the latest episode of the show, Chance spoke about a variety of topics, including being influenced by one Mr. Kanye West. He, along with the groups Souls of Mischief and Freestyle Fellowship, he admits that the musical intake from these sources, especially during the creation of mixtape during his senior year of high school, really changed how he thought about his own compositions.
"I started to really think about rhythm, specifically, and on the other side, melody a lot more," explains Chance. He also mentions that he tried to be a little more elastic in adapting his sound to these influences. That tape from his senior year, crafted while he was serving a ten-day suspension, was the first work he ever put out under the name Chance the Rapper.
He talks to Stretch & Bobbito about his time in L.A., his focus on the black community and his young daughter as well over the course of the 30 minute conversation. You can hear the full-length version below.