Chance The Rapper put on an epic and passion-filled performance for his home city at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on Friday. Showcasing the release of his new album “Star Line,” the rapper used his 90-minute set to play new releases and early-career classics, while reviving his icon status in a city that never forgot what made him so great.
Chicago was the ninth stop in Chance’s “And We Back” tour — which represents a major comeback in his career after a quiet few years where the hype around him began to diminish. “Star Line,” released on Aug. 15, was Chance’s first album since “The Big Day” in 2019. “The Big Day” left both critics and longtime fans unimpressed, leading Chance to cancel his 2019 tour after only five shows.
With his first tour in six years, Chance brought back energy and insightful lyricism to a crowd of fans who already seemed to know every word from his latest project.
Consistent with “Star Line” branding, the screens at Huntington Bank Pavilion displayed Chance’s lyrics syllable by syllable, matching the rapid-fire pace of his delivery. Blink, and you might miss out on a double entendre or unexpectedly profound line.
He opened the show with “Star Side Intro,” a percussive introduction track that set the tone for the confident and lyrically-focused album. Then, he brought out old-school Chicago rap group Do or Die to perform the song “Ride,” the first of many performances by guest artists he would bring onstage.
For the song “Drapetomania,” he brought up 17-year-old up-and-coming Chicago rapper BabyChiefDoit, who has a featured verse on the song.
Chance’s history of working with Chicago-based artists made it easy for him to bring out familiar collaborators throughout the show. Musician and producer Peter CottonTale played the live keyboard throughout the show. Rapper Vic Mensa and singer Jamila Woods also made guest appearances, which included Woods’s chorus on a standout track from the new album “No More Old Men.”
Before he performed “Letters,” a track filled with political and religious social commentary, Chance went inside a translucent box structure, which he stayed inside for multiple songs.
The box’s symbolism was unclear to me, and it created a bit of a disconnect between him and the crowd.
Another highlight was the song “Speed of Light,” which ended with a beautiful, improvised outro where Chance acknowledged the current state of fear that many Chicago residents are feeling as the city becomes the subject of sweeping ICE raids.
“The light is in you… you’re the light,” Peter CottonTale sang with a heavy autotune filter over gentle, ballad-like piano chords.
As the chords continued, Chance began to speak to the crowd.
“I hope you know your history,” he said. “I hope you guys look up what happens throughout history in Chicago anytime people try and bully us.”
Chance performed “Same Drugs” as one of his last songs of the night. As Chance looked into the crowd, he offered a positive message: “If there’s one thing I can tell you, don’t forget the happy thoughts,” he said, referencing a lyric in the song.
As Chicago deals with political chaos and uncertainty, Chance the Rapper’s performance on Friday was a reminder that the city’s heart and soul are still very much alive.
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