Chance the Rapper’s latest project and third official mixtape, Coloring Book, released on May 13, is a testament to his ability to create a completely original sound. Just a few years ago, Chance established himself as an experimental hip hop pioneer and innovator of the new rap genre dubbed ‘Acid Rap,’ named after his second mixtape Acid Rap. Well known for making his music accessible to the largest audience possible, Chance garnered over a million downloads of Acid Rap on the free music website, DatPiff. With Coloring Book, he may actually be on the verge of creating another new rap genre.

   Chance is perhaps most famous for his unorthodox methods of distributing his music. He has been releasing his new work as “mixtapes,” rather than as traditional albums.   A mixtape, otherwise known as a street album, still features a full length setlist of songs but it does not go through the standard record label vetting and distribution process. Coloring Book is the first of Chance’s mixtapes to be released on iTunes.

   “And we back, and we back,” Chance the Rapper chants on the title track of Coloring Book, “All We Got.” Kanye West, Chance’s hero and fellow Chicago native, is featured on this track, a payback for Chance’s verse on Kanye’s most recent album The Life of Pablo. Chance pays his dues to his hometown in this first track by also featuring the Chicago Children’s Choir, a nonprofit organization that raises millions each year for low income families in Chicago.  In “All We Got,” Chance lays rap lyrics over a gospel backdrop,  setting a fresh, innovative sound for the rest of the mixtape.

   “Same Drugs” is the crown jewel track of the mixtape. Chance describes his fractured relationship with a childhood girlfriend.  “When did you change? When do you’ve aged?” Chance croons over a simple piano lick on this introspective track exploring his questionable, and sometimes destructive decisions as a teenager. Their different drug habits detailed throughout the song symbolize the growing rift in their interests and Chance’s maturation.

   Chance concludes his mixtape with the track “Blessings,” featuring Ty Dolla Sign. Chance muses in this song about attaining adulthood, finding his path to success, and encountering his childhood heroes. Chance’s verse in this final song is followed by a melodic harmony courtesy of Ty Dolla Sign.  Gospel background vocals are provided by Raury, Anderson .Paak, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Donnie Trumpet, all of whom appear on different tracks throughout the mixtape.  

   In an industry dominated by prosaic gangster rap, glorifying misogyny, drug use, and violence, Coloring Book is an refreshingly artful, socially conscious record. It is a mixtape that caters to both millenials and 90s hip hop enthusiasts. Chance transcends the rap genre; his astute awareness for political correctness does not compromise his edge. Coloring Book is a socially relevant mixtape that showcases Chance’s experimental sensibilities, a strong entry any music aficionado should be inclined to download.