Why Chance Won More Than An Award
“Y’all better stand up and stop playing. I’m talking about my God.”
Chance the Rapper shouted into the mic from music’s biggest stage that the audience should stand in awe of his God. God got a huge shout out last night and if you are anything like me, you were so here for it.
Typically gospel doesn’t make it to the big stage on the night of the GRAMMYs. We’ve seen Tasha Cobb bring the house down in the pre-telecast event that happens prior to the actual show. But I am not sure in my recent memory that I have felt a moment like that on TV. And I mean Tamela Mann could sing the ABCs and evoke the holy spirit, so there’s that.
Chance the Rapper is the poster child for a lot of things. Sure he is the kid that reps the southside of Chicago. Has a father that was involved in politics. Was the kid that was suspended from high school for drugs and ended up making a mixtape that would change the course of his life. Oh and yeah he is probably the most successful independent hip hop artist if not overall indie artist in our time. But I am most interested in what he represents in the body of Christ.
Chano from 79th is doing something we simply do not see on huge stages. We watch people infer about God or spirituality but doing just enough of a tap dance around it that they don’t offend anyone. Yet, this kid from the midwest, known for a mixtape called Acid Rap is screaming about the goodness of God and the blessings in his lap. When I first listened to Coloring Book last year, I thought what an amazing representation of the believers that I know. Perfectly imperfect, flawed, and yet hastening after the goodness of God. I loved that “Problems” and “Smoke Break” could be on the same project as “Angels” and “Blessings” and that Ty Freaking Dolla $ign was on the reprise.
Christianity is not perfection which many have come to believe in the public eye. Christianity is full of the sick that have found greater connection and resilience through their relationship with a higher power who we call God and whose son we believe is Jesus Christ. Chance, gives us the ability to showcase all those things in one place. Our faults, our addictions, our shortcomings, our victories and our favor.
Outwardly, it would be hard to understand how someone like Chance the Rapper who was underground and relatively unknown just in about 2012 could have such a storied and meteoric rise to the public and GRAMMY stages. But believers, we understand that favor simply isn’t fair and that God can always exalt you no matter what it looks like. For many of us, it doesn’t have to make sense, it makes faith.
What I saw on that stage, literally brought tears to my eyes. It’s like in 2017, this thing that everyone tip-toes around so that they don’t “offend” anyone was right here. Upfront and in color. A rapper, a black man, a young father, from Chicago, on the stage with Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann, and a choir was yelling “This is God.” Sure talent, hard work, connections all those things play a part, but Chance’s performance told me as a believer that he will not deny the main factor, the main source behind his success. Chance put God on music’s biggest stage and told the audience to acknowledge it in their standing. That my friends is a boldness that is missing.
Chance the Rapper will represent a whole new generation of Christians. Ones that are young, may smoke or have tried drugs or who have stumbled time and time again. (Honestly like many of us, but sometimes older saints can forget). And I hope that we are prepared to accept them. Because this, this feels like a generation of Christians that will literally change the world.
Thank you for Chance for being unapologetic and bold in your love for Christ. This was an unforgettable moment. I’ve been cheering you on for a minute, but last night you not only won a GRAMMY, you won our hearts.
