Two years ago, Kanye closed a cathartic interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" with a reminder: "Never think that I’m not from Chicago for one second." It was a great moment. But Chance the Rapper will never have to do that, because Chance never, ever lets you forget in the first place.
A brief list of Deeply Chicago Shit in Chance’s new single "Angels", featuring Saba, who he met years ago in the city’s robust open mic scene:
• A crew of bopping back-up dancers in the song’s "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" debut, including reigning Bop King, DLow, of the scene’s biggest hit, "DLow Shuffle".
• A winking Kanye reference: "I ain’t going to hell or to Hillman"” simultaneously a nod to Ye’s "Can’t Tell Me Nothin" line ("I ain’t one of the Cosby’s…") and a rejection of the manichean thug/nerd binary critics have used to bisect Chicago rap scenes in recent years, with Keef and Chance as opposite poles…
…and, sure enough, a brotherly nod in Keef’s direction—"Oooh, I just might share my next one with Keef/ Got the industry in disbelief, they be asking for beef"—and proof that harmony is still possible, even in the City of Haters.
• A beginner’s guide to Chicago lingo in Saba’s hook: "They was talkin woo woo this, woo wap da bam," basically the Chicago equivalent of "blah blah." (Back to Yeezy, as always, on "Flashing Lights": "I get a call like, Where are you, Yeezy?/ And try to hit you with that ol’ woo-wapty.")
• A juked-out, kettledrum-backed gospel hook…
…over which Chance and Saba shout out Power 92 and WGCI, the city’s two most popular urban radio stations, whose logos are emblazoned on their hoodies in the "Late Show" performance: "GCI, 107.5, angel goin’ live/ Power 92, angel, juke, angel gon’ juke!"
• And a reminder of a different sort, from Saba—"City so damn great I feel like Alexand!"—one that made me cry on first listen, and the second one too, because it’s one Chicago doesn’t really hear that often, and sometimes it's as simple as that.
-
« Previous Track
Lumpy and the Dumpers: "Flush Em"
-
Next Track »
Niki and the Dove: "Play It on My Radio"
Most Read Tracks
-
-
Drake / Future
"Diamonds Dancing"
-
Erykah Badu
"HOTLINE BLING BUT U CAINT USE MY PHONE MIX"
-
Grimes
"Flesh without Blood"
-
Drake
"Hotline Bling"
-
FKA twigs
"in time"
-
Chance the Rapper / Noname Gypsy
"Israel (Sparring)"
-
Chromatics
"Shadow"
-
Oneohtrix Point Never
"I Bite Through It"
-
The Weeknd
"Can’t Feel My Face"
-
Deerhunter
"Breaker"
-
-
-
Tracks
-
News
Chance the Rapper Brings Out Jeezy and 2 Chainz at Atlanta Show
Watch them do "Put On" and "Watch Out"
By Jeremy Gordon on November 4, 2015 at 1:36 p.m. EST
-
Chance the Rapper Performs With Migos and K Camp in Atlanta
Watch them do "Familiar", "Pipe It Up", and "Comfortable"
By Zoe Camp on November 3, 2015 at 2:10 p.m. EST
-
Chance the Rapper and the Social Experiment Share "Juke or Treat" Megamix
The Social Experiment's Peter Cottontale uploaded the Halloween-themed cut ...
By Molly Beauchemin on November 1, 2015 at 7:52 p.m. EST
-
Chance the Rapper Drops New Single "Angels"
Watch him perform the song on "The Late Show With ...
By Evan Minsker on October 26, 2015 at 11:41 p.m. EDT
-
Chance The Rapper Says He's Working on a Song with Stephen Colbert
Also talks career, family, Vic Mensa, the difference between mixtapes ...
By Molly Beauchemin on October 23, 2015 at 10:22 p.m. EDT
-
-
-
News
Deerhunter Cover Buzzcocks' "Why Can't I Touch It?"
During an interview with BBC Radio 6
By Jeremy Gordon on November 13, 2015 at 4:22 p.m. EST
-
Danger Mouse Launches 30th Century Records With Compilation Featuring the Arcs, Autolux, More
Listen to tracks by Sam Cohen and Nine Pound Shadow
By Evan Minsker and Zoe Camp on November 13, 2015 at 3:57 p.m. EST
-
Tracks
Young Thug: "Hercules"Young Thug: "Hercules"
By Meaghan Garvey on November 13, 2015
-
News
School of Seven Bells Share "Open My Eyes"
From their new album SVIIB
By Jeremy Gordon on November 13, 2015 at 2:15 p.m. EST
-
Fred Armisen and Bill Hader's Fake Band Blue Jean Committee Share "Gentle and Soft"
From the Catalina Breeze EP
By Jeremy Gordon on November 13, 2015 at 1:32 p.m. EST
-
Tracks
-