The culture of rap is about gain, many MC’s who start out writing about their lives, struggles, and relationships, are usually talking about their gold watch on their next album. It’s not really a surprise, and it’s not like rap doesn’t cultivate this image. For many, the genre is about romanticising your life, your struggle can be harsh, and at the same time, uplifting. Rapper’s write about their lives, so if their music makes them rich and famous they write about that too. Chance the Rapper doesn’t have fame on his mind. The 22 year old, Chicago-born artist has used his burgeoning fame to give back to his hometown, culminating in his own festival.
In May 2014 Chance (real name Chancellor Bennett) and his father launched the #SaveChicago social media campaign which resulted in 42 hours without a firearm related homicide in the city, and last year he teamed up with non-profit organisation The Empowerment Plan, to make self-heating, water-resistant jackets for the homeless, that can also be turned into sleeping bags.
Chance the Rapper is the latest Hip-Hop star to use his fame for reasons above his own gain. In the same way that Kendrick Lamar uses his position to create discourse about the lives of African Americans, Chance the Rapper is using his clout to give back to the city that made him: raising money for schools, taking kids to museums, all while making powerful music.
This is why Chance is a great representative for his native Chicago, and why he is right to be worried about the city’s reputation being slandered by the country’s highest authority. Chance uses his fame and reach to do good, not to throw about big claims that aren’t backed up by the facts, something that relegates President Trump’s comments as nothing more than a poorly thought out diss, one that Chance is willing to battle.
