Chance The Rapper Might Sell His Debut Album

Chance The Rapper has become a success by doing things his own way. Two major aspects of the Chicago rapper’s approach to the music industry that make him different from virtually ever other big rap act out there is that he refuses to sign to a major label and that he prefers to give his music away for free rather than sell it. But coming off his ground-breaking and Grammy-winning mixtape Coloring Book, Chance is actually considering switching up his winning formula with his next project.

“I might actually sell this album,” Chano told Complex when he sat down for his most recent interview (March 13). “That’s, like, a big step in itself. I kind of hate the fact that I can’t chart, really. I can chart, but the way they have the streaming shit set up is weak as fuck. It’s unfair. 1,500 streams is the equivalent to one [album sale], and that’s just that’s unfair. Nobody listens to their songs [1,500] times when they buy it—fuck outta here! So, it makes it hard. I can’t really compete with other people. Not that the charts matter at all, but c’mon.”

Released in May of 2016, Chance’s third mixtape Coloring Book became the first ever streaming-only album to debut in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The mixtape, which features guest vocals from the likes of Kanye West, Young Thug, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Lil Yachty and more became the top album streamed on Soundcloud in 2016. Chance made history at this year’s 2017 Grammy Awards when his work on the tape earned him three golden gramophones. The single “No Problem” featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz won Best Rap Performance, Coloring Book won Best Rap Album and Chance himself won Best New Artist.

But although he’s considering this monetary move for his next project, Chance was quick to say that he’s still mulling it over and that his fans shouldn’t worry.

“This is all hypothetical. There is no album,” the MC quickly assured after making his first statement. “I can feel fans squirming in their chair, like, ‘Oh shit, he’s changing!’ This is an idea… I’ve got songs recorded but I’m not working on a Coloring Book or an Acid Rap.”

Check out Chance talking about his potential next album, his Grammy wins and fatherhood in the full interview below.

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