Before being selected on the 2014 XXL Freshman Class list, before being noticed by Kanye West and featured on his album, before breaking the internet with his third mixtape, Coloring Book — Chance The Rapper was just a little Chicago kid with big entertainer dreams. Chance used the YOUmedia Lyricist Loft at Harold Washington Library in Chicago as his safe haven to perfect his stage presence and video has now surfaced of Chance at 17 years old rapping his very own version of Ahmad’s popular 90s song, “Back In The Day.”
Surprisingly, not much has changed. Even at 17, the depths of Chance’s vocabulary and the scope of his imagination set him apart from your average teenager pursuing rap dreams. In his performance he vividly describes the most memorable experiences of his upbringing, while tapping into his soul and jazz influence with little harmonies throughout.
At the end of the video there’s a recording of Chance’s voice finishing what seems like a freestyle piece. He stated what we have now come to realize, and what we undoubtedly praise him for. “I’m such an odd ball. I’m such an odd ball. I’m such an odd ball. Dang, I’m such an odd ball!”
Watch the video below. What do you think of 17 year old Chance?