Chancellor Bennet, also known as Chance the Rapper, released his long awaited mixtape titled Coloring Book. The mixtape is a huge leap in a different musical direction from his previous album, Acid Rap. Coloring Book is Acid Rap’s more mature and sophisticated younger brother. The younger album was full of lively and energetic songs that were smothered in Chance’s signature ad lib “IGH”, while its older brother is filled with more calming and soothing verses mixed with stunning Gospel instrumentals. The album also includes about as much biblical symbolism and references as a Sunday school performance of The Christmas Story. But fear not old-school Chance fans, he also added head bobbing songs like “Mixtape”, “No Problems”, and the previously released “Angels”. He even manages to throw in an occasional “IGH” or “na na na”.

The mixtape shows a more mature side of Chance’s music in which he toys with the ideas of losing the time to spend with a loved one, seen in the song “Smoke Break”, and developing new interests that causes a relationship to drift apart, seen in the track “Same Drugs”. The album also includes multiple big names in rap like Future, Kanye West, T-Pain, Young Thug and Justin Bieber.

The album is a departure from Chance’s standard up-beat, “IGH”-filled albums, but it is welcomed in my eyes. Many long time fans are disappointed in the lack of  the usual Chance style tracks and verses, but I disagree with them. This style of rap is new and interesting, and there is no one better than Chance to introduce me to this style. “Mixtape” is one of my favorites because of the strength of the chorus and the inclusion of my newest favorite artist, Lil Yachty. Blessings is also one if my favorites because of the happy and bouncy, “It seems like blessings keep falling in my lap”, message. I give this album a 9 out of 10. You can listen to the whole mixtape on Apple Music and Chanceraps.com.