Chance The Rapper Becomes First Independent Musician to Perform on SNL
Although Chance didn't put out an album in 2015, his name remained in the media constantly. From his work with Chicago students, his part in the Donnie Trumpet helmed Surf, or most recently his conflict with Chi-raq director Spike Lee, Chance made an impact in an array of different arenas and has continued to make Chicago proud.
Continuing this trend, just this past Saturday Chance became the first independent musician to grace the Saturday Night Live stage as the long running show's musical guest. Fellow Chicago native Vic Mensa shared the stage with Kanye West earlier this year (and technically he was signed by Roc Nation at the time), but Chance was the first grass roots artist to garner SNL's attention. Throughout the show's 40 years on air, the sketch comedy program has only had a couple dozen rap or hip hop performances. Among those performances include 2 Pac, Jay Z, Run DMC, and now Chicago's own Chance The Rapper.
Not only did Chance get to perform on one of the most watched television programs ever, his band The Social Experiment and supporting vocalists including M&O's Jamila Woods and Jabari Rayford among others also got some shine. For his first song (which you can watch above), Chance brought out fellow Chicago native Jeremih to assist in a brand new track called "Somewhere in Paradise" which also features R Kelly. For his second song, Chance and Jamila belted out a smoother version of "Sunday Candy" that many of us have never heard before. He ended the performance by taking a moment to seemingly reply to recent comments from Spike Lee. The two traded barbs over Lee's recent Chiraq film, with the 58-year-old director chastised the 22-year-old rapper for not speaking out against the mayor. Going off-verse at the end of "Sunday Candy" Chance improvised: "Jason Van Dyke, had to say something on Saturday, see ya at church Sunday, open my phone on Monday, I wonder what the internet gon' say," while looking right into the camera for one of the more powerful and veiled moments of the performance.
While we were all hoping Chance would get to participate in a sketch, we're still very proud of Chicago's prodigal son and his whole team for adding yet another monumental accomplishment to this young rapper's ever growing résumé.
