Chancellor Bennett, known to his fans as Chance the Rapper, spit fire to his fans during his set this summer at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Ill., his hometown. Utilizing his unique blend of musical style and compelling, observational lyricism, he even had fellow Chicago native Twista jump on stage to bust a few rhymes. While you may have never heard of Chance, he is a newcomer that has blown up in regards to the musical hype he has been receiving in the past year.

Chance broke headlines for the first time after the release of his mixtape called “10 Days.” Recorded in his senior year during a ten-day suspension, it has been downloaded over 50,000 times on the music sharing site Datpiff. But what really launched him into the spotlight was his second mixtape, “Acid Rap.”  His sophomore effort showcases his ability to paint a vivid picture with his wordplay and using clever comic relief while still remaining adamant on the heavy burdens he carries.

“My big homie died young; just turned older than him. I seen it happen, I seen it happen, I see it always. He still be screaming, I see his demons in empty hallways.” These are lyrics to one of the songs, Acid Rain, where he laments his heartfelt recollection of the death and fatal stabbing of his good friend that he witnessed in school.

The hype of Chance the Rapper is real and says a lot about the current state of hip-hop culture. He challenges the perspective of a conventional rapper and trades in a normal listening experience into one that can evoke different ideas or lyrics that require more examining in order to fully comprehend them, fulfilling a more engaging experience. His music innovates several different genres and styles into a fluid amalgam of his influences, experiences, and more importantly, what he wants his audience to take from his music.

Chance is someone to keep your eye on if you’re looking for compelling lyrics and a sense of real grit.