Chance the Rapper's entrance onto the sold out Lakewood Amphitheater stage certainly set the tone for the rest of the show for his stop in Atlanta on the "Be Encouraged Tour." He brought the heat - literally. Firecrackers and flames filled the stage as Chance rode in on a motorcycle. What an entrance!
This was Chance's fourth show in Atlanta, starting with a crowd of just 1,000 people at Center Stage in 2013. With the release of Coloring Book in 2016, Chance has gained a lot of popularity and a few Grammys. Coloring Book, while still primarily rap, is much more gospel influenced than the cult favorite mixtape Acid Rap. Coloring Book brought in so many fans because its themes are deeper than most of today's rap albums. While there are a few songs you can party to, most of the album centers on God, family, and the importance of music. Chance's concert preached all of these messages.
With songs like "Blessings" and "Angels" - both of which he played at his concert - Chance isn't afraid to discuss his strong faith in the Lord. "I'm gonna praise him till I'm gone..when the praises go up, the blessings come down," he sings with Jamila Woods. Woods wasn't at the concert, but Chance had a talented group of backup singers to accompany him.
The birth of Chance's first daughter, Kensli, was a major factor in his inspiration behind Coloring Book. She was born in September of 2015 and he's dedicated some song verses to her. They're one of today's cutest father-daughter duos. Some of his songs that he performed were inspired by some other family members, like "Cocoa Butter Kisses," which is about his mother.
Throughout the whole concert, Chance kept fans on their feet with his high energy. His liveliness could compare to the fireworks during his entrance. Not very many rappers can get the crowd so hyped up with such deep lyrics. Part of this was because he constantly emphasized the importance of music. "Music is all we got, so we might as well give it all we got," he preaches. Music has helped him grow in his faith and become closer to his family, and he wants his fans to do the same.
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