Music Review: Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap (mixtape review)

When I kept seeing Chance The Rapper’s name around the internet, I always wondered “What the hell is supposed to be so good about this guy”. I never truly gave him an honest listen. Yet, there has been a clamor over the release of Acid Rap. So, being the inquisitive reviewer I am, I decided to download his music and give him an honest spin. I am happy to say that this is the most surprisingly dope music I have heard this year.

Keyword: surprisingly. I wasn’t expecting anything.

It is hard to pinpoint Chance The Rapper as an emcee. He is serious, ad-lib heavy, and nonsensical in one fell swoop. This is the same young emcee that will make inspirational jams like “Interlude (That’s Love)” and then come with something as irreverently foolish as the Action Bronson assisted “NaNa”. Showing great appreciation for hip hop, he brings the Slum Village sampled “Everybody’s Something”. Even the overtly serious “Acid Rap” works within the mixture of this album. Quizzically, Chance The Rapper brings a miscellaneous mixture of ideas, tracks, inspirations, and approaches to make a gumbo of an album.

The production on this album tends to work with whatever Chance The Rapper is feeling like at the time. For example, Ceej of Two-9 brought up some old school R&B sampled for the madness that Chance got to relay on “Pusha Man”. Another example is when Nate Fox brings classical Jamaican riddims on “Favorite Song”. Even further is the moody boom bap that Jake One brings on “Acid Rap”. It is safe to say that “monotony” won’t be used in reference to the production on this mixtape.

Chance The Rapper has made himself seem distinguished on Acid Rap. Although many won’t take to his rhyme style or ad-libs, there is a chance that they will respect his charisma and lyrical ability.  He also has an ear for diversity in the production he selects. Just making it out of high school, Chance The Rapper looks to be in a prime position to make hip hop a lifelong career move. As long as he keeps making music from the heart, he will be just fine.