Music
Chance The Rapper Brushes Off Fans’ Lukewarm Reception Of ‘The Big Day’
Chance shuts down haters by reminding them that he’s ‘really really good at rapping.’ …
It’s no secret that Chance The Rapper’s debut album The Big Day landed with more of a thud than a bang, despite actually being pretty good (I will die on this hill). Fans expecting the looser, more straightforward feel of projects like 10 Day, Acid Rap, and Coloring Book were disappointed by the seemingly jumbled collection of music on the album, with their glossy production and lofty ambitions (I will allow that it was too long and could have been sequenced better). It’s led to more overt criticism of his recent output, prompting him to complain that it felt like fans wanted him to be miserable due to their jokes about him getting back on drugs.
However, he also has a truly compelling argument to those fans, which he shared during an interview with Ebro In The Morning to talk about his recently reissued Christmas album. When the host asked him about all the hate — “throwing rocks at the throne,” as he put it — Chance explained that he has a different metric for success. “I’m just really, really good at rapping,” he declared. “So, regardless of what happens, I’ma always have that to fall back on — and if that doesn’t work, I can perform my old raps. If that don’t work, I can direct someone else’s raps. There’s nobody that can rap like me. That’s a cool thing to have.”
"I'm just really really good at rapping…" @chancetherapper addresses the haters & doubters after the release of #TheBigDay
Watch the full conversation w/ @EbrointheAM: https://t.co/nN7s1w6pJy pic.twitter.com/tZGBrffHrS
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) December 15, 2020
That’s actually a pretty smart way to look at things — at the very least, it keeps him from overly focusing on fans’ jokes about his content. Even if he raps about being a family man, which is probably something many of his young fans can’t relate to, he does so really well, so as long as he is meeting his own standards, he technically can’t fail in the opinion of the only person whose opinion matters — his own.
However, the fallout from The Big Day has affected him in other ways. His former manager Pat Corcoran recently filed a lawsuit for $3 million in back pay, citing breach of contract and claiming that Chance let his family talk him into making bad business moves that exacerbated the negative feedback from the album. Chance’s lawyers shot down the accusation, but without Pat The Manager’s help, he may find it’s harder to repeat his prior successes. Maybe collaborating with Dionne Warwick will give him some insight to extending his longevity.
Watch Chance’s full interview with Ebro above.
Artist Spotlight
Cali Tucker Unwraps Christmas Magic With Her New EP “Santa Baby”
Cali Tucker is back in the spotlight this season with “Santa Baby,” a beautifully made holiday EP that captures the heart, warmth, and timeless glow of Christmas classics. Cali is known for singing the National Anthem at NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400 in front of 80,000 fans and more than three million people at home. She brings the same powerful presence and emotional depth to this holiday project.
“Santa Baby” is a great holiday release for music lovers, bloggers, and new artist discovery sites. It has six tracks and lasts 20 minutes. It mixes nostalgia with Cali’s signature smooth vocals. Each song shows off her talent, but “O Holy Night” and “The Christmas Song” are two that stand out as favorites. Both performances show off her range, control, and ability to bring classic songs into modern emotional spaces without losing their original charm.
“O Holy Night” stands out as the EP’s spiritual center, with a glowing performance full of dynamics, warmth, and a cinematic stillness that draws people in. Cali gives the song both respect and a unique touch, breathing new life into a well-known hymn. “The Christmas Song,” on the other hand, makes you feel like you’re sitting next to a fire. It’s soft, heartfelt, and full of stories that make you feel nostalgic. Cali’s voice flows effortlessly through every note, making it impossible not to feel the magic of the season.
The whole EP flows easily and has a mix of fun sparkle, soulful warmth, and classic Christmas music. “Santa Baby” is the perfect song for the season, whether people are making holiday playlists, looking for new Christmas music, or discovering new vocal talents. This EP adds a new but familiar sound to today’s holiday music scene. It has a comforting feel and is easy to listen to repeatedly.
Artist Spotlight
Kalpee Honors Heritage and Heart on His Emotion-Rich New EP Dougla Boi
Kalpee is back with Dougla Boi, a beautiful new EP that is both personal and powerful. It gives listeners a close look at the layers of identity, heritage, and emotion that make him who he is. The Trinidad and Tobago artist is confident in his own space, which is rooted in New Calypso and polished with hints of dancehall, R&B, and afrobeats. In this space, genre bends, but emotion leads.
Named after the Trinidadian word for someone of mixed African and Indian heritage, Dougla Boi is honest, proud, and warm about the complexities of culture. Kalpee opens a window into the dualities that define him across six tracks, turning personal truth into universal resonance. The EP is just under 19 minutes long, but every second is carefully planned to take listeners on a journey through courage, joy, healing, and the quiet strength that comes from accepting all parts of yourself.
The first single, “Under,” stands out right away for its calming yet emotionally charged experience. Kalpee’s voice flows over a beat that sounds both new and old, fitting the EP’s theme of bringing cultures together. It’s one of the best examples of how he can mix soft and hard sounds, which is what makes his New Calypso sound so unique.
“Everybody,” which features Full Blown, is another excellent song that has already done very well. It has a happy vibe and an infectious bounce, making it one of the EP’s most replayable songs. “Everybody” captures the spirit of community and shared experience, which is what Kalpee means when he says that identity is not a box but a rhythm.
Connect with Kalpee: Instagram
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