If one were to conduct a deep dive into the artistry of Chance the Rapper, there are a few qualities that have undoubtedly become synonymous with his discography. While his knack for telling cohesive stories through his lyricism, alongside the undoubted evolution in his sound, are common tenets within his musicality, there’s another facet he leans into — innovation. The Chicago native has consistently demonstrated how his embrace of creative accouterments enhances the overall quality of his projects. The most recent example of this is his latest partnership with Adobe for the launch of Adobe Acrobat Studio, following the release of his latest album, Star Line. For those unaware, Adobe Acrobat Studio is the newest program under the Adobe umbrella that allows users to organize, create, and share their content. The collaboration, which also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the project, excited Chance due to the organizational features that accompany the platform, which he finds to be of utmost importance as an artist.
“Visual arts and organization are key influencers of the project and the work. Since I was a kid, I’ve used many Adobe applications,” the musician said. “When I say organization, I mean having all my stuff in one place, a space to log all of my ideas, or to understand what I’m doing. This new platform makes it easier for artists, writers, or anyone to organize their thoughts, which is super important to me.”
While organization and visual art may have served as inspiration for the album, intentionality also seems to have been a factor — most notably in the lead-up. Star Line arrived 6 years after his debut album, The Big Day, and for Chance, this time in-between albums was important in the sense that he took the time to make the album as expansive as possible.
“I value intentionality, whether in art or just any aspect. I just like things that have intent. For instance, I think with art, especially, there are many different ways to communicate an idea. I think that’s what we have fun with as writers: figuring out the most beautiful or the most unique way to communicate an idea, describe a person, a situation, or a space. I just wanted to take my time and find as many different ways so that I could find what I felt like was the best way to say certain things.”
Often, for artists, a new album or project typically signifies a new era for the artist. Chance, however, views his career as a culmination of his life experiences that’ve catapulted him to who he is today.
“I don’t typically view my life or my work in eras. I think of my experiences as cumulative. I’ve learned many lessons over the course of my life that I still carry with me today. There are also things that you unlearn as you get older, too. I’m 32 now, and I think that a lot of what happened in the past six years has definitely grown me the most in terms of my artistry and learning how to use other mediums, like film, as well as how they describe things and how they paint them. I think spending a lot of time in the arts world helped me out a lot on the writing side. And I think traveling helped me understand my identity and the importance of self-determination, like going to Ghana or Jamaica.”
As listeners embark on their own journeys to becoming acclimated with Star Line, whether through the album itself or the behind-the-scenes offerings via Adobe, they’ll likely notice the profound influence of historical figures and elements, with nods to the late Marcus Garvey and his shipping line, The Black Star Line. The rapper hopes that the next generation will also revere his work in the future, using it as a bridge between the past, present, and future.
“I think of music, faith, and knowledge or education, all three of those are intrinsically tied, and I label them all as the tools that we pass on. So, things from our collective past that have been passed on through music, the church, relationships, or through griots. We have a long history, and those stories get passed down. I believe that we draw inspiration from the music of the past to understand the present better. When I think of this album, I hope that the future generation uses it and the present generation uses it now as a tool.”
For those who’ve already listened to the album and found themselves feeling motivated, you’re not alone — Chance feels the same as well. Ultimately, the recording artist wants listeners to feel energized and inspired, just as he is.
“I am a recording artist, and I do celebrate the arts and sciences of it. I would love for people to look at it and think of it, especially my peers, in terms of albums and what we do in our field. This is the best album this year, beyond genre, popularity, or traditional rollout. The assignment, the writing, and the production are stellar. And I also want people to listen to it and be inspired and amazed, because I am.”