Chance the Christian? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Chance the Christian?

He's got angels all around him, they keep him surrounded.

14
Chance the Christian?
Howl and Echoes

The breakdown of Chance the Rapper's faith in his most recent mixtape "Coloring Book" is no surprise to those who have followed Chance's journey since the beginning. The eclectic collection of gospel flavored tunes combined with Chance's creativity have become a reflection of what could be considered "new church" -- the gospel being embraced by a new generation of believers. With the release of the music video for "How Great", the attraction of Chance's fans broadened as a more vulnerable sign of his life has been revealed -- his faith.

I was first introduced to the gospel approach of Chance's art when I heard "Sunday Candy" by Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment which is a project Chance is apart of. The song is a dedication to Chance's roots -- Sunday mornings in the pews of his childhood church. The lyrics embody a contagious gospel sound while still making way for Chance's unmatchable rhymes. "Sunday Candy" was just a slight sneak peek into the future of Chance's fearlessness in speaking of his faith in his mixtape.

The May 12, 2016 release of "Coloring Book" contained mirror displays of Chance's faith in songs like "Blessings", "Angels" and "How Great".

When my ears were first filled with Chance's rendition of "How Great", I was taken back at first. That song was a song I new all too well -- a song that my mom would sing in my childhood church. To hear such an embraced twist on a gospel classic was like hearing the song for the first time. Chance gave his listeners an opportunity to embrace a generational gospel twist on a song that now contains a new meaning compared to hearing it at the church house. The relationship between both the rapper and his maker became evident to listeners alike as we discovered that Chance is fearless in bringing glory to God in an album that isn't the cleanest, but God embraces the dirty, no matter what form it comes in.

Dubbed casually as "My cousin Nicole" on the track list of "Coloring Book", Chance's cousin Nicole Steen enticed listeners with her leading vocals as the Chicago Children's Choir mixed in a bit more of gospel style while paying tribute to Chance's roots. The unique generational sound was furthered by a bit of an electronic twist on the gospel classic. Filmed on an iPhone, the releasing of "How Great" as a music video made way for a unique viewing as the film was specifically designed to be watched on a mobile device so the viewer could follow the rotations of the video.


"Coloring Book" couldn't be more of a reflection of Chance's individualistic personality. It's ability to attract the audience of both those who share the same faith and those who do not make Chance unstoppable. It is time to embrace Chance's unapologetic independency as he makes way for a generation to be fearless in their faith and lionhearted in their art.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

2221
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

301497
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments