Chance the Rapper's new mixtape Coloring Book features a few well-known producers, most notably Kaytranada, Lido, and Donnie Trumpet. The majority of the producers, however, were relatively obscure finds. It appears that Chance scoured the web and worked his network of artists to find producers whom he believed could could carry out his specific vision -- gospel chords, lustrous synths, and lots of horns. Like the features, the production is Chicago-heavy, but Chance went as far as Europe in his search for collaborators.
Click through the gallery to check out five of the lesser-known (but no less talented) producers who contributed to Coloring Book.
GARREN - "Smoke Break" feat. Future
Garren Langford is a senior at the University of California-Berkeley. Earlier this week he completed his collegiate academic career by turning in a 30-page thesis on internet access in Brazilian favelas.
Six months ago, he released a glossy remix of Chance's "Sunday Candy" that has since soared to over a quarter million views. One suspects that this remix is how he initially got Chance's attention, although he has other Chicago connections as well -- he produced Joey Purp's recent slapper "Photobooth."
It appears that GARREN also handles all his own artwork. What a creative young man. This guy is going places. Check out his The Late Day Sessions EP below.
Brasstracks - "No Problem" feat. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
A Brooklyn-based duo comprised of Ivan Jackson (trumpet) and Conor Rayne (drums), Brasstracks is pioneering the integration of live instruments with the native conventions of electronic music.
Referring to their sound as "future brass," Brasstracks provided horns on Anderson .Paak's single "Am I Wrong." Their SoundCloud page is a veritable treasure trove... check out their outstanding single "Say U Won't" below. Their debut EP is out this summer.
CBMIX - "Mixtape" feat. Young Thug & Lil Yachty (co-produced with Social Experiment drummer Stix)
CBMIX is the head engineer at Young Chop's Chop Squad Records. He's produced for many artists on the Chicago drill scene, including Johnny May Cash, Lil Flash. His biggest hits to date are undoubtedly Lil Durk and Chief Keef's "Decline" and Keef's "Earned It," both of which he co-produced with Young Chop.
Cam O'bi - "Blessings #2" and "Grown Ass Kid" feat. Mick Jenkins & Alex Wiley
Far and away the most well-known of the producers on this list, Cam is old buddies with Chano and the Social Experiment crew. He has credits on songs by Bas, Wiz Khalifa, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne and he's worked with nearly everyone in Chicago's new generation of rappers, notably Mick Jenkins, Saba, Rockie Fresh, and Vic Mensa (he produced "Orange Soda"... arguably Vic's best track ever).
He produced or co-produced three tracks on Acid Rap -- "Good Ass Intro," "Cocoa Butter Kisses," & "Good Ass Outro" -- and he would have produced two on Coloring Book if not for sample clearance issues.
Rascal - "Juke Jam" feat. Justin Bieber & Towkio
With the exception of the Norwegian Lido, 20-year-old Rascal is the furthest-flung producer on Coloring Book. He hails from the the city of Aachen, Germany, which lies on the Belgian border. He is best known for his collaborations with Elhae, and he has also collaborated with British rappers Little Simz and Jay Prince. He describes his sound as "mellow, crunchy, & extraordinary"... we tend to agree.