Chance the Rapper has been one of hip-hop’s most successful, unique talents the past few years. More recently, he has been known for his philanthropy and was among Time’s 100 Most Influential List.
Today, (Aug. 9) Chance stopped by NPR’s ‘What’s Good with Stretch & Bobbito’ podcast and talked about his image, influence, and stereotypes.
He gave kudos to Kanye West for opening the door for rappers to be themselves. On his image in hip-hop:
“The fact that it’s able to be a main stage or mainstream image and accepted and celebrated is because of folks like Kanye who came in the game and was like, ‘This is who I am, and these are the type of things that I love, and I’m excited about them, and I don’t necessarily have to carry myself as anybody that I’m not.'”
Chano expressed his thoughts about the stress of fitting a hip-hop stereotype. On the pressure:
“I think there’s just always been a quiet conversation and joke that if you’re not hard. If you’re not from an impoverished neighborhood. If you’re not certain constructs of a black stereotype, then you’re not black. Niggas kind of ran with that in the ’90s I think, and that’s why there were so many fabricated hood niggas.”
Chance thinks highly of his ability to influence and I wouldn’t blame him. He’s the “good guy” of hip-hop who loves his daughter and wears his spirituality on his sleeve. People are naturally attracted to people who always smile. On his influence:
“I just have a larger platform than all platforms. I have a bigger voice than Donald Trump, than literally anybody who works in politics. I can connect with people on the level of appealing as a person who is still being a citizen, as a person who does what he wants.”
This is a really good interview and I suggest taking a listen. I love hearing rappers who are intelligent be able to articulate themselves well. Check out the interview here.
