Fans may have to finally pay for a Chance the Rapper project. After offering his past three mixtapes for free, Lil Chano says he may sell his debut album.
As the star of the first “Complex Cover” video series, the Grammy-winning MC explained why he’s thinking of making such a big change.
“I think I might actually sell this album,” he said. “That’s a big step in itself. I kinda hate the fact that I can’t chart, really. I mean, I can chart, but the way they have the streaming shit set up is weak as fuck. It’s unfair. I don’t know if it’s like 1,500 or 1,700 streams is the equivalent to one unit, and that’s just unfair. Nobody listens to their songs 1,700 times when they buy it. Fuck outta here! It makes it hard. I can’t compete with other people. Not that the chart matters at all. But come on. Have it for purchase would be dope.”
But he has not made up his mind just yet. “This is all hypothetical,” he said. “There is no album. I won’t have something soon. I can feel fans squirming in their chairs like, ‘Oh shit. He’s changing.’ This is an idea…I have songs recorded but I’m not working on Coloring Book or Acid Rap. Those were like, ‘I made a decision.’ There was a dry erase board and I was figuring out what to put in each place. I’m chillin’ right now.”
When the album does drop, Chance says it will be more than just an auditory experience. “I want to make something that’s got a wider scope,” he said. “10 Day was all about getting suspended. Acid Rap was a lot about acid. Coloring Book was a lot about being a father and God. Whatever this album is, it would just be…It wouldn’t be so centered. Acid Rap, 10 Day, and Coloring Book was like a trilogy in itself. One aesthetic. One goal. This is, whatever my next thing is, it’ll be a bit bigger. Maybe there will be some sort of visual component to it, it’ll be a movie, or it’ll be a play, or like some type of tour, but something a little bit different than Acid Rap, 10 Day, and Coloring Book.”
Chance has been in the news for his philanthropic efforts of late. Last week, he donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools. Shortly after, he denounced reports of a “messy” child support case.
The Chicago rapper celebrates fatherhood on the Complex cover. Posing in what appears to be his daughter’s room, Chance holds a “World’s Best Dad” mug.