Ever since the release of his mixtape Acid Rap, I’ve been absolutely hooked on Chance the Rapper. Despite my irrational love, I had never been able to go to a show, either based on the fact that he was never in the area, or I had no money. When he announced his new tour, I finally got tickets. As he’s one of my favorite artists currently, I could not have been more hyped for April 26th.
The buzz around the arena before the show was unlike any concert I’ve ever been to.
Chance the Rapper
By Andrew Benitez
Minus the smell of weed in the air, it was almost as if it were Sunday morning and I were to be going to a gospel church.
The opening acts, King Louie and DJ Oreo, set the tone for how the night would go down. I didn’t think the hype level could get any higher than when DJ Oreo was playing songs requested by the crowd. Shortly after, the lights went dark, and the crowd went absolutely wild. He started by simply saying into the mic “Woop” and the crowd eagerly responded back. The darkness continued, and the crowd eagerly waited for Chance to start. Finally, the drums to “Everybody’s Something,” which is off his first mixtape,, began, and the arena immediately went crazy. As the lyrics came in, there was no need for Chance to do the rapping, as everybody in the arena knew the song word for word.
After this he addressed the crowd, and started again with songs off his second mixtape including, “Favorite Song”, and a personal favorite of mine, “Cocoa Butter Kisses”. It was great to see people know his old music, and not just his new ones and it really added to the feel of the concert when everyone knew the lyrics.
I wasn’t expecting him to get through as many songs that he did, but as I was leaving Oracle I realized he went through his entire third mixtape, Colouring Book, and even included his trifecta cover of “Waves”, “Father Stretch My Hands,” and “Ultralight Beam”. My favorite song performances included No Problems in which the crowd was electric. The crowd was unlike any other concert I had been to, jumping with perfect timing to the Brasstracks produced beat. The best part about his performance of the song was despite both 2Chainz and Lil Wayne not being present at the concert, he still rapped their parts as well. By doing this, he showcased his amazing flow and versatility as a rapper.
The good vibes that Chance the Rapper presents are different from any other artist in the industry right now.
Whether or not you believe in his religious ideals, it was still a powerful message to give to the concert goers. After this, he began his final song, “Blessings.” Claiming that the first verse was his favorite, he made sure to repeat it at least three times. He ended the concert with by leading a chant of blessings, and asking us if we were ready for our miracle. After witnessing his concert, I was pretty sure his concert was my miracle.
I would definitely recommend going to see Chance the Rapper as soon as possible. His concert is not just a concert, it's a full experience with him sharing stories of his life to the crowd, making jokes, and doing his unique dances during the 3 hour concert.
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Photo courtesy of @daniellewebsterphotography
Next up, his performance of “Same Drugs.” As the song is a personal favorite of mine, I was ready to leap out of the stands and perform the song alongside him. This song was only made more magical by his on stage antics. Halfway through the song, a platform lowered from the ceiling, and he stepped onto it, as if ascending over the general admission. In spite of me not being in directly under him, it was still an amazing sight to see.
The final thirty minutes of his concert included both an inspirational speech to the fans, as well as the second version of “Blessings.” In his speech he gave reason behind naming his tour the Be Encouraged tour. Chance stated that all the negativity that is keeping people from pursuing their goals and being themselves. He hoped through his music he’d encourage people.