Chance the Rapper has had an impressive breakout year. His album, Acid Rap, has been featured across many Best of 2013 lists (SPIN named him Rapper of the Year), he collaborated with Justin Bieber and Childish Gambino, and he toured with two of the biggest names in the game, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem.
Last night, the Chicago rapper made his late night TV debut on The Arsenio Hall Show. Before hitting the stage to play an energetic performance of “Chain Smoker” with a full backing band and horn section, he sat down with Hall to talk about his rap name (a derivative of his full name Chancelor), Chicago hip-hop, violence in Chicago, the meaning behind his lyrics and his desire to have a rappers’ union.
Hall asked him what it was like opening for Eminem. “He’s a huge influence,” Chance answered. “He’s super smart. He’s very meticulous. He does work all the time. All he does is work. [He taught me] showmanship, musicianship. His show is crazy. His show is super dope. I think I’m going to be able to show you guys what I learned tonight.”
Their conversation then segued into Chicago’s violence. “I’m really hoping that gun-related death toll continues to lower. …There’s a positivity that’s starting to go around in Chicago, and I think if we can keep it going and stop worrying about cliques and gangs, all of it.”
Hall then brought up Chance’s idea for a rappers’ union. “That’s really what I’m looking at working on in 2014. Rappers need dental. Rappers need health. There are certain benefits that done come with being an artist, and it’s mainly rappers. People get done over the wrong way in music, when you’re signing deals and stuff. And they want you to sign to the label, then you make another label and you sign your friends and they get a label. It’s kind of a pyramid scheme that keeps grabbing more and more people, but no one really knows what they’re signing when they’re signing those deals. If we could even just get a bottom fee (“a rappers’ minimum” Hall interjected) that we’re taking to sign a publishing deal. If we could just all come together real quick — everyone wants a label — but if we could just start a union, it would definitely work for the best.”
Check out the replay of the interview and performance here, and let us know what you think in the comment section below!
