Chance the Rapper- Acid Rap Review

Album: Acid Rap
Artist: Chance the Rapper
Genre: Hip-hop/Pop-rap


8.2/10






     Summer time is fast approaching, and with it the demand for songs to play while enjoying summer activities.  May I suggest the latest effort from Chi-town native Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap.  Now I wouldn't say this is an album to listen to while taking acid; I would say this is the album to play while reminiscing on that time you took acid.  On Acid Rap Chance takes a look back musically, drawing influences from classic R&B, hip-hop, acid jazz, and even ragtime.
    The production on this mixtape is really top-notch.  The drums especially are extremely crisp and the parts themselves fit well with the style of each individual song.  Leadoff hit "Good Ass Intro" starts off with a baptist-style choir as he breaks out some wacky a capella rapping.  Once the drums come in, there's a clear dynamic shift, leading to a more grounded feel.  The main chord deliverers on this mixtape are organ, piano, and clavinet.  Simple pop chord changes are played soulfully and voiced beautifully on tracks like "Cocoa Butter Kisses" and "Interlude".  Vocal samples aren't utilized much but when they're heard they're just right.  "Chain Smoker" effectively syncopates some emphatic 'yeahs' with the busy drum beat.
    The real kicker here though is Chance himself.  Chance the Rapper establishes himself alongside Danny Brown as one of those great 'weird' rappers.  Chance's vocal textures vary from atonal laughs to soulful dirges.  He can transition from soft to harsh on a dime and back again.  He establishes his singing voice often.  He could easily pass for a R&B singer on "Interlude" backed up by that classic soul chorus.  On "Favorite Song" he busts out the catchiest hook on the record.  Super sing-a-long-y, it's sure to grab even the biggest naysayer.  On "Juice" we hear the nod to ragtime, with Chance croaking a bluesy intro filtered with an old-timey effect.  His rapping fluctuates madly on every track, and he incorporates singing and rapping fluidly, not sticking to the old fashioned rap-verse sing-chorus bullshit.
  Lyrically Chance also shines.  With likes like "It's easier to get a gun than a parking space" and the spiritually present motif "I think we're all addicted" Chance attempts to act as a humble, but wise messenger.  He is a big fan of interior rhyme and building off of motifs.  "I got burn holes in my hoodie/I got burn holes in my head or "Keep a tab on my exes, keep some 'x' on my tongue Keep my work out in Texas, that's just me flexing my lungs".  This is just a taste of Chance's poetry in motion
   The guest spots are not the strongest aspects of this record, however.  Most guests provide some nice contrast, but are completely dwarfed by Chance in all respects.  Childish Gambino goes at "Favorite Song" with his signature anti-swag, and Action Bronson brings some childishness to "NaNa", but these spots are decent at best.  The first half is also somewhat better than the second.  The second half of the mixtape still has some great tracks, but Chance takes a much more introverted turn, with mostly just 'good' results, and not fantastic ones like the first.  Also I should note that I don't care for 'NaNa'.  The track is meant to represent schoolyard rivalries (na na na na naaaaaaa type stuff) but the hook's playful annoying quality turns into real annoyance quickly.
     Overall this is dope.  There are some really stellar songs that will fit in nicely in your summer playlist.  But this is also a mixtape to be listened to all the way through, seeing as it has an intro, interlude, and outro.  Check this shit out.  8.2 tabs out of 10.

FAVE SONGS: Good Ass Intro, Cocoa Butter Kisses, Juice, Interlude, Everything's Good