As Sir Michael Rocks wrapped up his short yet hypey set, the all-aged, sold out audience at the Metro began Chance chants in anticipation of seeing the young MC, fresh off the release of Acid Rap - the mixtape that is already, most definitely the mixtape of the year. DJ Oreo played a few jams to keep the energy up - that is, until he experienced some technical difficulties which left the Metro in brief silence (before the Chance chants picked up again). But they figured it out, threw up the score of the Blackhawks game (3-1 at the time), and Chance strutted on stage in his go to tie-dye hoodie and LDRS fitted.
Chance kicked off the set with a few tracks off 10 Day, including an energetic performance of "Hey Ma." If I hadn't known better, I might have thought the song was ten years old the way the audience was vibing along, singing every word. And we were just getting started. The drop down visualizer faded out of the music video for "Hey Ma" and into psychedelic visuals that looked something along the lines of a breathing tie-dye blanket. It was tight... It was Acid Rap time.
Beginning with "Good Ass Intro," Chance played damn near every track off Acid Rap, bringing out Vic Mensa for "Cocoa Butter Kisses" and Noname Gypsy for "Lost." But there was no stealing the show from Chance. Handling the crowd like a seasoned vet, I beg to differ with anyone who'd say they had more fun than Chance. Between teaching the crowd a lil dance he called "The Twist" and introducing a couple computer generated friends known as the "Turn-up Turnips," Chance danced and jumped across the stage - never missing a cue. Finishing the first leg of his set with at least a dozen of the Save Money Mafia goin' ratchet as hell for the banger "Fuck You Tahm Bout," Chance walked off stage for a cigarette, or a blunt, or whatever it was before returning to the Chance chants calling him back for an encore.
With DJ Oreo still on the decks, Chance then introduced a drummer, two synth players, and a dude who killed it on trumpet. They jumped back into Acid Rap with "That's Love" and a passionate, almost tear inducing version of "Paranoia." As he finished the final lines of "Paranoia," the crowd - who was turnt up for the majority of the show - began clapping. Not cheering. Not chanting. Not dancing. Just clapping. It was hard to tell if Chance was wiping away sweat or tears from his eyes as he came out of the emotional trance he'd escaped to for that song. Shivers shot down my back, and looking around, it was clear that Chance had just struck an emotional chord with just about everyone in the smoke filled room. "Thank you guys for everything," Chance said before finishing the night with a couple more Acid Raps.
Last night was the first of two sold out shows at the Metro - crazy. Dude's not legally allowed to drink and he's already selling out one of Chicago's most well known venues. There's been a lot of talk as of late 'bout how Chicago is set to take the top spot in hip-hop... As far as I'm concerned, we're already there. But if Chicago is about to blow up, then Chance is screamin' "BOOM CHICKA BOOM."
