by Sahil Muthukrishnan
Culture Editor
Grammy winner Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, professionally known as Chance the Rapper, released his long-awaited album, Starline, on Aug. 15. It is the triumphant comeback many fans hoped for after his widely criticized 2019 album, The Big Day.
Starline begins with the song Star Side Intro, setting the mood for the rest of the album. The track features Bennett’s bread and butter, whimsical rhymes mixed with the occasional introspective bar and smooth transitions between his uniquely intoned vocals and his lyricism. Star Side Intro also hints at Bennett’s comeback, confirming to fans that he is reintroducing himself with a bang. The track also highlights black excellence and the black experience, topics Bennett consistently explores throughout the record.
Ride, the next track, is a chill listen with a prominent melodic hook. Not to be taken seriously, it is a nice throwaway track, easy to put on without much thought for a relaxing mood.
Song three, No More Old Men, features a more serious tone and introspective lyrics about Bennett’s older male role models. Jamila Woods beautifully delivers the chorus, and the song evokes a deep sense of nostalgia even in people who don’t share Bennett’s experience. No More Old Men is an excellent song reminiscent of some of Bennett’s best tracks on Coloring Book, his project that won Rap Album of the Year in 2017.
The fourth track, The Negro Problem, delivers a soulful energy with smoothly delivered vocals and features anhemitonic scales, scales without harsh half-steps, giving the song an ethereal feel. Incorporating clips of Richard Pryor’s stand-up comedy throughout its runtime, the track explores the African-American experience, touching on topics such as wrongful conviction, medical malpractice affecting Black women’s health, and over-policing of African-American neighborhoods, conveying that the Black community as a whole shares experiences with these issues and should stand together to confront them. This track, along with No More Old Men, is a high point of the album.
The record’s next song, Drapetomania, is a shocking switch from introspective to upbeat and unserious. The change is jarring, but the track is an endearing one. Bennett’s lines are charismatic, keeping listeners engaged. Drapetomania is short and sweet, cutting through the two previous, meaningful songs. A return to heavier topics, Back to the Go is about Bennett’s divorce and the emotional turmoil of resetting his life. It has a great groove to it, an amazing feature from Vic Mensa, and is an outstanding listen overall. Other standouts from the list include: The Highs & the Lows, which features Joey Bada$$ and is a phenomenal laid-back listen; the upbeat and goofy Tree, featuring Lil Wayne and Smino; and Just a Drop, with Jay Electronica, which discusses wealth, poverty, and overconsumption.
Starline is a miraculous return to form for Bennett. A quality project like this one quenches the thirst fans have been waiting more than five years to satisfy. Chance the Rapper is back and here to stay.
(Sources: Genius)