Lollapalooza bookers, take note. For a single day, Chance the Rapper corralled several acts who could be headliners at the Grant Park-held festival, artists who could draw some of the most massive and enthusiastic crowds of the entire weekend. Magnificent Coloring Day, the bonkers daylong festival happening Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field, is not just slated to be the first music fest held at the ballpark but is also poised to break the park’s attendance record. That’s an incredible feat, and considering how fans were treated to an interactive and wondrous event, “Magnificent Coloring World,” that promoted his recent mixtape “Coloring Book,” expect Chance and his insanely competent team to pull out all the stops this weekend.
While most people will undoubtedly be familiar with a handful of the artists playing, it’s likely that fans aren’t up to speed with everyone. That’s why I’ve broken down the bill to help Chance’s hometown fans prepare to celebrate the 23-year-old Chatham rapper’s grand vision.
1. Francis and the Lights
Chance has been a fan of Francis and the Lights—the project of New York-based musician Francis Starlite—as far back as 2012, when he name-dropped the singer-songwriter in his RedEye cover story. However, in the past few years, Starlite’s been evolving his sound. Though the pop experimentalist’s older oeuvre is worth checking out, his signature Prismizer vocal effect, which he’s debuted on Chance’s “Summer Friends,” and his Bon Iver- and Kanye West-featuring cut “Friends” are the starting points.
2. Lil Uzi Vert
While it was Carnage’s posse cut “WDYW,” which also featured A$AP Ferg and Rich the Kid, that introduced Lil Uzi Vert to a huge audience, it’s the Atlanta-via-Philly new school rapper’s April tape “Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World” that’s the best gateway to his music. That full-length has the recent XXL Freshman’s most streamed-song, “Money Longer.”
3. Young Thug
My first infatuation with Atlanta weirdo Young Thug was his 2013 single “Danny Glover,” which took my earbuds by storm that year (the track is now renamed “2 Bitches”). He’s been so busy recently that you could dive into any number of full-lengths he’s released in the past couple of years—he’s truly evolved into a whole new lane of artistry. While the “Slime Season” series is full of bangers, if you’re new to him, I recommend the aforementioned song and a combo of “Barter 6” and this year’s “Jeffery.”
4. Tyler, The Creator
Odd Future founder Tyler, The Creator followed up on the promise of his 2009 bedroom rap angst-fest “Bastard” with equally gnarly sophomore album “Goblin.” Featuring his magnetic baritone, shocking lyrics and undeniable artistry, songs like “Yonkers” and others were sure bets for thinkpiece fodder in 2011. I also have a soft-spot for his recent output, too.
5. John Legend
Chrissy Teigen’s Twitter account
Of course, John Legend has boasted a wide-ranging soul career with hits such as “Ordinary People,” “All of Me” and more, but his wife, Chrissy Teigen, who’s a model, cookbook author and TV host, is seriously the best Twitter user. Sure, Legend’s voice is silky smooth and completely dynamic, but did he ever tweet, “I always have a note in my pocket that says ‘john did it’ just in case I’m murdered because I don’t want him to remarry #truelove #tips”? No, that was Chrissy.
6. ColleGrove (Lil Wayne and 2Chainz)
Without Lil Wayne, it’s tough to imagine how young rappers would sound. He’s an icon, and he was the best rapper in the world when he dropped “Tha Carter III.” 2Chainz is also incredible, and there’s a wealth of his singles that you could start with. (One time I almost got kicked out of a wedding because I kept suggesting the DJ play “Feds Watching” when the family were all devout evangelical Christians, so you could start with that one.) 2Chainz extensively collaborated with Wayne to release 2016’s “ColleGrove,” which is sure to have several cuts played during their #MCD timeslot.
7. Alicia Keys
Man, I remember buying 2001’s “Songs In A Mirror” when I was a kid. It still bangs, especially “Fallin’,” a song I still find myself singing in 2016. She’s now co-hosting “The Voice,” I think.
8. Chance the Rapper
Haha. Start with “Acid Rap” if you seriously need a primer.
9. Skrillex
“Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites”
My first introduction to Skrillex, aka Sonny Moore, was in high school when he was fronting the screamo band From First To Last. Um, don’t start there. Start with the EDM giant’s ubiquitous 2010 hit, “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites.”
@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
