The Top 20 Chance the Rapper Songs
Chance the Rapper is a special artist. In the past few years his music has frequently been overshadowed by his activism in Chicago and his open spirituality. Some love both of these qualities in Chance and believe that it gives his music deeper meaning and credibility while others are irritated by an overly-preachy Chance. This divide in his fan base combined with 6 underwhelming singles has led to the least excitement around the Chicago artist since the release of Acid Rap in 2013. While this lack of excitement is understandable, I don’t think it’s fair. Chance is only 25 and while his music has transformed drastically since his 10 day suspension he is still the same artist that released potentially the best mixtape of the decade in Acid Rap. Chance is a special talent that has done things in hip-hop no one else has and whenever there is a potential for new music from him every hip-hop fan should be excited. Still not high on Chance in 2019? Read our list below and listen to the top 20 songs of his career to remind yourself what the one of a kind rapper is capable of.
20. Israel (Sparring) (Feat. Noname Gypsy)
On “Israel (Sparring)” Chance calls upon fellow Chicago MC Noname for her classic low-key bars. The two forgo any type of song structure and bounce back and forth with a certain chemistry that only frequent collaborators can achieve. Both Chance and Noname lock into an impressive poetic flow where they allow their bars to command ever bit of the listeners attention.
19. All We Got (Feat. Kanye West & Chicago Children’s Choir)
The intro to 2017’s Coloring Book is an epic anthem that prepares listeners perfectly for what’s to come on the album. While Kanye West’s involvement is underwhelming, Chance’s performances is anything but that. Chance’s badass christian bars sit perfectly on top of the unique instrumental and make him sound larger than life.
18. Juice
The biggest hit off Acid Rap came in the form of the insanely fun and unique cut, “Juice.” This track is classic Chance and probably one of the first songs you ever heard from him. “Juice” sounds nothing like any other rap song and that is what’s so special about it. The song is insanely original and even more catchy. If Chance’s trademarked ad-libs don’t take you back to 2013 you didn’t bump this tape enough.
17. Family
While the Blended Babies remix of this song may have received more plays, the OG version of this cut seems to strike a deeper chord. The sampled instrumental pairs perfectly with the looping hook that you won’t be able to get out of your head.
16. I Ain’t Word
If anyone ever tries to tell you that Chance can’t rap just play them this pre-Acid Rap freestyle. Chance spazzes all over this thing and the lack-luster production shouldn’t distract from the three straight minutes of bars that Chance forces down the listeners throat.
15. Grown Ass Kid (Feat. Mick Jenkins & Alex Wiley)
The fact that this infectious cut got leaked and didn’t make Coloring Book absolutely breaks my heart. I’m convinced that with a commercial release this song would’ve been the biggest hit of Chance’s career. It’s lighthearted, unbelievably catchy, and absolutely hilarious. This unreleased bop is an essential in Chance’s catalogue.
14. Smoke Again (Feat. Ab-Soul)
No one in rap history has ever used brass instruments as well as Chance the Rapper and this song is all the evidence anyone should ever need. The only part of this song better than this hard-hitting horn-driven beat is the silky-smooth melodies that Chance’s rides throughout his two verses. His flows and voices are absolutely perfect on this cut and the Ab-Soul feature adds an extra layer to this banger.
13. 14,400 Minutes
The intro to Chance’s first mixtape grabs the listeners attention from the first beat and doesn’t loose it until you’ve listened to this bop ten times in a row. For anyone that doesn’t know the story, Chance’s first mixtape, 10 Day, was created during a 10 day suspension from high school that Chance received for smoking just off campus. While Chance references this frequently on his debut mixtape, no song tells the story as completely or with nearly as much attitude as “14,400 Minutes.”
12. No Problems (Feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
“No Problems” is defiantly the most commercially successful song of Chance’s career and it’s clear to see why. The hook is catchy. The beat is unique and groovy. 2 Chainz and Weezy both deliver with great features. What’s more important than any of these elements though is how true to himself Chance is throughout this entire song. It’s so rare for a song as self-assured as “No Problems” to come off so authentic and that speaks volumes about Chance as an artist and as a person.
11. Blessings (Save Money Prayer)
While this cut may be the third most popular song titled “Blessings” in Chance’s catalogue, it is the best. This song is full of some of the most witty and insightful bars Chance has spit his entire career. This song’s style falls somewhere between Acid Rap and Coloring Book and it works so damn well.
10. Cocoa Butter Kisses (Feat. Vic Mensa & Twista)
Potentially my favorite song Chance has ever released, “Coco Butter Kisses” is a feel-good smoker’s song. Chance’s first verse showcases some of the best wordplay of the decade where Chance’s perfectly balances numerous rhyme schemes at once. This song also encompasses my favorite Vic Mensa verse of all time and a high energy Twista verse. All in all, this song is a classic.
9. Sunday Candy
I find it hard to believe that any song could ever feel as good as “Sunday Candy.” This cut is a sweet ode to Chance’s grandma with one of the deepest instrumentals thanks to Chance’s group, The Social Experiment, and his irreplaceable trumpet player, Donnie Trumpets. If this song can’t get a smile out of you I pity you and your cold heart.
8. Prom Night
There is something so charming about the youthfulness in Chance’s storytelling throughout the entire 10 Day mixtape and “Prom Night” is the pinnacle. After listening to this five-minute feel-good cut it is so easy to picture high-school Chance doing his own thing and not giving a shit.
7. Good Ass Intro
Intros have always been a strength for Chance (all three of his intros made this list) and “Good Ass Intro” is easily his best of the three. This song sets the tone for the classic mixtape perfectly. On this cut we get a high-energy Chance who sounds sporadic in the best way throughout the entire songs. The production is absolutely beautiful and tastefully works in so many layers and ad-libs until this cut feels larger than life.
6. Summer Friends (Feat. Jeremih & Francis and The Lights)
“Summer Friends” is the soundtrack to growing up. It is a mixed bag of emotions that contains an appreciation for impactful childhood memories but also a sadness to see them go. Chance understands that the subject matter of “Summer Friends” is already layered enough so he chooses to go with simpler story bars that perfectly push the song forward without distracting the listener from reminiscing within themselves. “Summer Friends” is a masterpiece.
5. Chain Smoker
Who is Chance the Rapper? Simply put, he’s a chain smoking, name dropping, good looking, mother fucker. This song is Chance’s audio-biography where he tells us he isn’t that different from us than proceeds to prove himself wrong through masterful verses that no one else could craft. In my opinion “Chain Smoker” is sonically the best sounding song Chance has ever written thanks to perfect production and carefully selected flows and melodies that sit atop the booming instrumental.
4. Hey Ma (Feat. Lili K & Peter CottonTale)
On the classic 10 Day cut, Chance takes after his Chicago idol and mentor Kanye West by writing a meaningful ode to his mom. While this cut isn’t quite as sentimental as Ye’s, it still holds every bit of meaning. This track is driven by passion and through it we learn a lot about Chance’s motivation as he was coming up in the rap game. Not only is this song rooted in love, but it’s a banger.
3. Somewhere, Nowhere USA
If you are only familiar with post-Coloring Book Chance you might not believe that this song is actually him. It’s clear that “Somewhere, Nowhere USA” was written during a difficult time in Chance’s life where he struggles to find purpose and entertains the idea of ending it all. Chance perfectly articulates the dismal, bleak emotion of feeling insignificant that everyone can relate to on some level. Although I’ve listened to this song hundreds of times, every time it comes on I retain chills for the entirety of the beautiful piece. “Somewhere, Nowhere USA” is the most essential track in Chance’s discography that many fans don’t know about.
2. Acid Rain
Sometimes the truth don’t rhyme. “Acid Rain” is the most profound song in Chance’s catalogue. In just under four minutes Chance dives deep into every subject that was on his scattered mind in 2013 from religion, to relationships, to his career. His singing during the outro sounds like the cry of someone who is overwhelmed and deeply troubled. Every bit of emotion comes through perfectly on this track and the lyrics are Chance at his most poetic.
1. Pusha Man (Feat. Nate Fox & Lili K)
Pusha Man is a seven-minute masterpiece that is split into two parts. The first half shows the glamour of being a local drug dealer on the streets of Chicago and all the wild nights that come with it. It’s a sexy surface-level cut that could motivate anyone to start pushing product. The second half couldn’t be any different. The last five minutes of the song are full of paranoia due to what life on the streets is actually like in Chicago. Chance uses many allusions and examples that you couldn’t think of unless you’ve lived them. This validates his authenticity and makes him a credible journalist of what is really going on in West Chatham. This song is disturbing and sometimes even hard to listen to but is so essential to understanding poverty and race struggles in America. On “Pusha Man” Chance perfectly contrasts the illusions of street life with the reality in a way that is extremely impactful and moving.
Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to get notified when we post:
