Here’s the deal. I listened to Chance The Rapper‘s freshly released mixtape Coloring Book for the first time and wrote out all my unedited, only slightly filtered thoughts during the process. Press play, follow along, and let me know your thoughts below:

 

1) All We Got (featuring Kanye West and Chicago Children’s Choir): Kanye on the intro. I’m excited. The horns are grimy in the best way.

I don’t understand what Kanye is singing, but Chance sounds sweet on the verses. The line about his baby mama/future fiancée.

I really love a good breakdown with a choir. Transcendent.

2) No Problem (featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz): And the gospel choir theme continues. Love. Milly Rock reference – I’m in.

Do I hear Big Sean adlibs?

Lol 2 Chainz. His verse really doesn’t even matter because this song feels so good that I’m not even paying attention to him.

This song is hella bouncy. It already sounds like this is the summer album the streets need (unlike VIEWS……….)

Good vibes.

3) Summer Friends (featuring Jeremih and Francis & The Lights): Futuristic gospel intro. I dig it. This will draw the inevitable comparison to Kanye/MBDTF/808s

Chance is skating all over these beats so far.

Love love love Jeremih. He is very underappreciated in my book.

4) D.R.A.M Sings Special: Another D.R.A.M interlude haha. Now this has to happen on every Chance project from here on out. Not as fire as “Caretaker” but solid.

The keys are loud and hurting my ears.

5) Blessings: The Jimmy Fallon song. This sounded like the cousin to “Ultralight Beam” when I saw his performance.

“Don’t be maaaad.” Haha

So far, this album is like a smile in music form.

That didn’t sound like ULB to me at all this time. Good stuff, good stuff. I like the jazz revival.

6) Same Drugs: This is way more stripped down than the other songs, so it’s easier for me to focus on Chancellor.

I take it Chance doesn’t do acid anymore?

How does he come up with these musical arrangements? Chance is on another plane with the sounds. Interested to hear how Young Thug fits into this lol

7) Mixtape (featuring Young Thug and Lil Yachty): Oh, I didn’t realize Thug was on the next song. Here we go lol

Welp, this could be Chance’s radio smash.

I wish Chance made Thugger get on a song with some trumpet in the background 😦

I think I’m going to pass on Lil Yachty.

This song passes the banger test though.

8) Angels (featuring Saba): Following “Mixtape” with “Angels” makes it sound even more out of place lol

I don’t have much to say about this since it’s been out for a minute. Another shoulder-bopper though.

The ending sounds a little different, but I haven’t heard this in a little while. Could be wrong

9) Juke Jam (featuring Justin Bieber and Towkio): Justin Bieber on a slow jam record hits every time.

*Side note: I saw Towkio live once, and it was terrible.

Justin Bieber really needs to quit with the BS and crossover to R&B for real. It’s where you belong, JB.

Chance has mad connections because these features are off the chain. Indie life is treating him well.

10) All Night (featuring Knox Fortune): Big fella.

I appreciate the lightheartedness of this one. Chance’s musicality is très magnifique.

11) How Great (featuring Jay Electronica and My Cousin Nicole): My Cousin Nicole taking it back to church. And Jay Electronica… *opens Dictionary app for this upcoming verse*

“I don’t believe in science // I believe in signs”.

Jay Electronica vocab lesson in 5, 4, 3…

Oh wow… He kept the wording pretty simple lol. Really great fit for this song though. He rode that beat like a new Maserati.

12) Smoke Break (featuring Future): Future feature. How exciting.

This is what a stripper anthem in Heaven probably sounds like.

Chance is really getting his 90s R&B on with the crooning.

13) Finish Line/Drown (featuring T-Pain, Kirk Franklin, Eryn Allen Kane, and Noname Gypsy): T-Pain AND Kirk Franklin on the outro?! Insane. Eryn Allen Kane and Noname holding it down as well.

Chance really loves Chicago and 79th.

Okay so gospel music is really about to take over. Kanye and Chance are really putting on for Chicago and the world, Craig!

Proof: Chance always features homies like Noname Gypsy, Donnie Trumpet, etc. Much respect.

It’s amazing how far he’s come from 10 Day.

14) Blessings: Whoops. I thought “Drown” was the last song.

Blessing Part Deux.

“Kanye’s best prodigy” *snaps*

BJ the Chicago Kid on the background vocals. Kinda sounds like John Legend is in the mix too.

This chorus reminds me of a Jaheim song lol. God bless.

I like this much better than the first Blessings.

“You ready, big fella?!” I’m sure that’ll be a hashtag or something, but it’s worthy of such.

Overall: Really enjoyed it the first time through. Very positive, uplifting, fun, jubilant vibes. I think it’s an improvement on The Social Experiment project. It’s definitely going to be good for the summertime, and its radiance is very necessary. Who can deny music that makes you feel good and smile? Get into it.

*NOTE: I did not look at or read anything besides the tracklist prior to writing this.*