4/5
Second Chance
Chancelor Johnathan Bennett takes a second chance on a Marcus Garvey inspired 'Star Line' for his first album since 'The Big Day' of 2019. Although there's been plenty of singles, features and tapes for your crates over the year. This New Music Friday also sees a new album from pop rockers Maroon 5, but this album of the week is what love is really like. For every Kendrick Lamar, Drake and J. Cole (brief) beef to see who the best in the game is ("f### a big-three", it's just big HE), there are the real artists of the genre like Tyler The Creator and Chance The Rapper. And following Tyler's surprise 'Don't Tap The Glass' a few Mondays ago, comes this train, breaking new ground.
An aurora behind him, designed by artist Brendan Breux, in amazing album artwork, this line heads for the northern lights in ALL CAPS. "Steeped in travel and personal change, incorporating different life lessons, experiences, and sounds he encountered over the past several years", as Chance told Rolling Stone at Lollapalooza. Jamaica. Ghana. Garvey's work. Art fairs. It all helped shape this second set and the rapper himself. And with no label, this self-released second album is set to share that with all his friends. Just like the 'Tree' of life single featuring Lil' Wayne (also weezing with Maroon, this Friday for Carter collaborator of the week) and Smino, sampling the great India Arie's 'Video'. Outstanding, like the opening single of 'The Highs & The Lows' (featuring Joey Bada$$) as we pass it, pass it. All whilst other singles, since 2021, have been passed on and down to the cutting room floor (the milk carton features 'Child Of God' and 'Bad Boys 2').
After an inspired intro, we get to 'Ride' with a legend in 'Do Or Die'. All before, Jamila Woods shows us that in this country there are 'No More Old Men'. Monster collaborations across the board and these boards also feature fellow Chi-town artist BJ The Chicago Kid on 'The Negro Problem' (not to mention a sweet Anita Baker and Richard Pryor sample). BabyCheifDoIt appears on 'Drapetomania'. VIC MENSA on 'Back To The Go'. Young Thug and TiaCorine put a 'Gun In Yo Purse'. Whereas LION BABE and The Chicago Kid again hit you like the 'Speed Of Light'. But for all the anti-Cole guest features. Especially the bonuses of 'Just A Drop' with the great Jay Electronica and the 'Speed Of Love' closer with Jazmine Sullivan, it's when the rapper goes alone on this seventeen track and one hour and seven minute album where he really takes a chance.
"I grew tall overnight, I woke up one day a man/walked back by the crib/Where we would one day raise a fam/I’d been around the world/Done all the things I can/I’m a giant now, I can’t wait ’til you see how big I am," Chance raps on 'Space & Time' just so you can see just how far he's come. 'Link Me In The Future' is a yearning lost lover's lament for the one that got away...and still could stay. Whilst 'Burn Ya Block' does exactly that with a basketball to concrete beat for the streets. Yet before the Chancelor of the expresser gets 'Pretty' with a sweet soul sample, he writes some 'Letters' to Emerald Avenue with a broken heart for his departed aunt. "I've watched you worship idols/Brand a Bibles, sell it for double/Brandish rifles, curse and libel/Withhold shelter from n####s for survival/First Lady's walking around with furs and titles/Watch you spit in a man's face and call it "God"/But when it's really on your dogma, it's Silent Bob." Taking it to Trump and anyone that listens to him. The number three cap on his second set is flipping off the red ones. And with that line, a reborn star shows he has more to say in his raps. And it ain't no chance, it's by the grace of the real God from a true mover of the crowd. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Ride (Feat. Do Or Die)', 'Link Me In The Future', 'Letters'
Spin This: Tyler The Creator - 'Don't Tap The Glass'.
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