Players Pass with Chance The Rapper: The North STAR LINE of Hip-Hop

For Chance The Rapper, 10 days have turned into 13 ongoing years. The kid from Chicago turned a high school suspension into a mixtape, then into a movement. From local stages to global recognition, Chance has carried the essence of independence and faith throughout his sophomore album, STAR LINE. What began as a moment of resistance became a lasting symbol of creativity, community, and self-belief — redefining what it means to chart your own course in hip-hop.

In an exclusive "Players Pass" interview with Okayplayer, Chance retraces the origins of his musical journey. We had the opportunity to catch up backstage at his sold-out We Back Tour and get an exclusive look at his NUFDAM x Chance The Rapper after-party — a full circle moment for Chance, who once spent his days as a kid making websites for fun. He reflects on the artists who built the blueprint, the ones who shaped his sound before the world ever heard his own. It’s a homage that echoes intention through the samples and spirit of the rapper’s sophomore album, STAR LINE.

“I broke down in tears when I couldn’t write any more raps,” Chance recalls. “I got in trouble once… my dad told me no more raps. I was probably in the fifth grade.” What sounds like a childhood punishment became an early revelation that music was more than a pastime. Even then, his connection to creation ran deeper than discipline could touch, hinting at the purpose that would later define his art. 

The continuation of that art is evident in STAR LINE, a project Chance describes as “the most intention I had when going into a project, in terms of a consistent process, what I wanted to make and how it was refined.” Unlike the spontaneity that fueled his early mixtapes, this project reflects an artist who is deeply aware of his purpose and his place within the Black experience. Every beat, bar, and breath feels deliberate — a constellation of choices forming something larger than sound.

As an advocate of ownership, Okayplayer asked Chance The Rapper about his connection to Anita Baker. On its fourth track, “The Negro Problem,” he pays homage to her iconic hit “Sweet Love,” itself a song deeply rooted in the Black experience. Chance also played a crucial role in helping Baker reclaim ownership of her master recordings. “I’m a champion of musicians’ rights and just ownership and fairness,” he states, as the two remain close to this day.

The past might have helped mold Chance The Rapper’s sound, but he definitely holds the keys to the future of music. As the Grammy-winning artist enters his sophomore phase, he’s redefining what independence, intention, and creativity can look like in hip-hop. With STAR LINE, Chance continues to map out a path for the next generation of artists to follow, guided by faith, innovation, and the courage to own their story.