Acid Rap Review: Chance Revives Hype With Some Much Needed Nostalgia
Coming shortly after the six-year anniversary of Chancelor Bennet’s sophomore release, Acid Rap, The Rapper has released the project on all streaming platforms alongside his first mixtape, 10 Day, while also planning on releasing the trio of his mixtapes on vinyl later this year. Exciting news for Chance and hip-hop fans alike. While this is great to have streamable versions of these projects all together in one place, it is also likely a tactical move by Chance to build hype for his debut studio project, coming sometime later this month. So in celebration of these releases, let’s take a stroll down memory lane, and revisit my favorite mixtape of Chance’s, Acid Rap.
1. “Good Ass Intro”
Those opening vocals immediately send me back to high school (for better or worse), really beautiful harmonies regardless that carries throughout the track. Chance comes in triumphantly rapping how despite how anxious or high or lazy he is feeling, he’s going to continue making music and chasing his career. This intro is really inspiring given how huge of a star he is now. These chorus vocals get even better throughout the rest of the track. I believe that’s Kiara really belting in the back, sounds incredible paired with everyone else. Really uplifting and tone-setting intro, that was a “Good Ass Intro”.
Track Score: 9/10
2. “Pusha Man”
Supposedly this track (along with the following, “Paranoia”) simulates an acid trip. Chance comes in loud and braggadocious, his flow is punchy along with the production. This track sounds awesome. Nate Fox comes with the deep bassy hook, love it. Very feel-good track. Chance has a fantastic sense of wordplay, his impressive vocabulary definitely helps. A bit short but it is lean, which I respect.
Track score: 9/10
3. “Paranoia”
Definitely, on a come-down here, he’s shifted into being paranoid and mellow. This druggy ethereal synth is incredible. Really spacey sounding throughout all of this, production and vocalizing. This production is wonderful. Chance is short and sweet again here, focusing on the chorus’ rather than verses, but I don’t mind it here. Another really solid track.
Track Score: 9/10
4. “Cocoa Butter Kisses”
This production immediately stands out to me, its a really heavy bass, beautiful church-like piano and organ playing here too. This was one of my favorite tracks back in the day and it may still be. Vic absolutely spits on this, where did he go? Really shows his full potential on this. That God/COINTEL line is hilarious. Twista at his peak here, playing with the beat perfectly while chopping as he always does. Really touching track about missing your childhood and innocence too. One of Chance’s best tracks ever, easy.
Track Score: 10/10
5. “Juice”
Although he couldn’t clear the original because of a Lennon sample, I’ll relisten to the track elsewhere and reflect. The message he substituted is a nice touch rather than a full omission as well. And hey, nice album tease too.
I love this lo-fi sound in the beginning before having the track really open up. Chance’s flow is so draggy but intoxicating it hurts. The guitar hits in the background really tie this record together, Chance’s variety really shines on this album. His wind-up growls for the chorus makes my skin crawl in the best way, one of my favorite “Chance-isms” that he does. Another braggadocious track, Chance is so confident despite his age, I love it. I wish the guitar or something would’ve taken off, the track kinda tracks by the end for me, still great.
“Juice” Music Video
Track Score: 8/10
6. “Lost”
Wow, Noname’s debut being here really gives this album that much more value. Even back then she was going all-in. Definitely revisiting her stuff after this. This is the first real narrative-heavy track, detailing a relationship that shouldn’t work, but ultimately does in the end. We’re still slow and heavy in production, a nice break before things turn up again. A respectable track, but it definitely wasn’t and still isn’t a stand-out for me.
Track Score: 7/10
7. “Everybody’s Something”
Another personal favorite of mine, “Everybody’s Something” still comes through as a highlight of this record. Another lo-fi lead-in here. Chance raps about various aspects of his then early life. Really great message of self-worth and making everyone feel important, no matter what they’re doing and where they are in life. A YOUNG Saba shows off impressive technical skill, and nowadays he’s hitting top-ten spots on my year-end lists. These two have gone through one hell of a journey. “I used to tell hoes I was dark-light or off-white”, hahaha. BJ is here again to help with the chorus, he sounds great here as well, Chance should bring him back for the studio album.
Track Score: 10/10
8. “Interlude (That’s Love)”
Chance “speak-raps”(and sings) a nice interlude about how powerful love is, and how the feeling of love from others can be better and more valuable than materialistic items and lavish frivolities. For an interlude, it’s actually a pretty beautiful track. Really get a glimpse of his gospel-heavy future works.
Track Score: 8/10
9. “Favorite Song”
This is the most fun you can have listening to a Chance song. He sounds so happy singing and rapping, his flow’s so bouncy and easy. Lyrically he is at the top of his game, giving “lyrical acrobats” from start to end. That chorus is timeless, and I realize I’ve mumbled it off and on for years now. Gambino sounds older here(?). He’s a lot heavier and deeper in his tone and delivery, still, love him and what he can bring in a feature. Definitely good reason for this being a quintessential Chance track. It hasn’t been much better than this, if at all.
Track Score: 10/10
10. “NaNa”
This may be controversial, but I am not a fan of this track at all. Chance is growly and Chance-y to a fault here, it sounds like a “Chris Delia impersonating Eminem” situation. I know this is intentional, as Chance has said this song was him and Bronson just having fun on a track together. That does save it a bit, but I’ll probably be skipping this one when I come back to this album. However, this is my favorite Action Bronson moment (very controversial, I know), outside of this I do not enjoy the man’s work.
Track score: 5/10
11. “Smoke Again”
Definitely early 2010 rap here, those horns are something you don’t hear much of anymore. This bassline is dark, so heavy and ominous. “Lean on all on that square, now it’s a fucking rhombus.” Yeah, Acid Rap Chance is the best Chance. This is another casual song in terms of subject matter, but it is that feel-good careless Chance I love sometimes, and it’s executed really well here. Even that wailing in the back doesn’t get annoying. Ab-Soul absolutely kills this track too, he sounds beautifully aggressive.
Track Score: 9/10
12. “Acid Rain”
I love this lo-fi dark sounding kick, hats off to Jake One for this track. Chance is the deepest and most introspective here, really a quick turn from “Smoke Again”. This kind of spacey, dreary beat and Chance talking seriously about life is definitely where I appreciate him the most. The fact that this track was made so quickly and so close to release but is a stand-out really shows Chance’s ability as an artist.
Track Score: 10/10
13. “Chain Smoker”
This track really captures the smoky, druggy vibe that this album seems to center around, I really enjoy it here too. This is just a really simple song, very accessible for people unfamiliar with his work. I could see this being one of the first he finished for the record. It may be a bit too generic for me now, but at the time this track absolutely served a purpose.
Track Score: 7/10
14. “Everything’s Good (Good Ass Outro)”
A really touching phone call from his father, a really charming outro from Chance, this album ended so nicely and really the only way I would want Chance to do it. Gives me “30 Hours” vibes, just taking some time for the fans. Chance refreshingly drops any braggadocious persona and just talks about what is important to him and thanks to his fans for their support. Fantastic to see he has stayed this way too, and I can confidently say Acid Rap is my favorite Chance project. Those horns playing out at the end are stunning, too.
Track Score: 10/10
Acid Rap is an opus in Chance’s discography. He is both playful and serious, introspective and braggadocious, and both tame and wild. There is something for everyone here, and I feel lyrically he runs circles around the other iterations of himself on his different works. There are blemishes on an otherwise near-perfect record, but the fact that this is his second mixtape at only 20 years old is impressive and is a testament to his skill and prowess as a musician. I hope for his first commercial release he takes a step away from Coloring Book and returns to a more nostalgic sound sonically. I feel that a now more mature and seasoned Chance could provide something wondrous in that area.
