Journal #3

Chance the Rapper recently released his latest album Coloring Book on May 12, 2016. This album has 13 songs featuring numerous artists such as Kanye, Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber and Future. Chance decided to release this mix tape for free, making it his third solo album. This album fuses hip-hop with jazz, soul and R&B, creating diverse sounds that flow from one track to the next. Overall, the songs are pretty upbeat and rhythmic. Each song has a different fusion with hip hop, some I favour more than others. The album begins with the song “All We Got” featuring Kanye and Chicago Children’s Choir. The back up vocals from the choir reoccurs throughout the album, especially in the songs “Blessings”, “Smoke Break” and “How Great”. I was surprised to hear “How Great” for the first time because the intro was a song that I sing at my church choir. Saying this, there is great influence of positivity and belief in a higher power in this album. The name of the mixtape, “Coloring Book” also describes its playful and mixed nature. It’s playful and mixed in a sense that it includes the contrast of traditional and digital sounds. Also, after listening to it multiple times, I’ve always felt uplifted and motivated. I would recommend this album to anyone who is open and willing to listen to new music. Each track has its own unique qualities making them all sound different. I think Chance made this mixtape to explore different colours that would work together to create a collection of vibrant pictures, Coloring Book.