Chance The Rapper is leading the new school to rap's promised land -- a place where lyrics matter and artistry reigns supreme. After he dropped his #10Day mixtape in 2012 and upped the ante with his impressive sophomore tape, Acid Rap, the Chicago native quickly captivated fans both in and out of hip-hop (as well as legends like Madonna and Kanye West, both of whom have featured the fresh-faced rapper on high-profile tracks). Three years have gone by without an official release aside from Surf, his collaborative project with Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, but now the MC is returning with his forthcoming project, Chance 3, one of the more awaited releases of the year. And the anticipation can be heavily credited to the rapport Chance has built with the public, which is unique to that of many young artists and innate in nature.

When he grabs the mic, whether in the studio or on performing on TV, Chance has a spoken word vibe that permeates through the room. He has the ability to transport those listening to a poetry cafe, sans the snapping fingers and incense. Many of his lyrics and words are uplifting, filled with encouragement and hope for the thinkers and those striving for better and more meaningful days. Think Def Poetry Jam vibes, but on a grand stage for the world to see -- that'll give you an accurate image of Chance The Rapper holding court over the crowd.

XXL has taken notice of his poetic nature and knack for creating the type of intimacy lauded in spoken word venues. Some of these moments aren't necessarily songs or performances, but rather the beginnings of his poignant displays of prose.

  • 1

    "Beddy Bye"

    As a fresh-faced high school student, Chance The Rapper may have still been maturing as an artist and performer, but his poetic ways were already being showcased. During his freshman year, he was asked to pen a song about his hometown of Chicago for a city-wide contest, and although he fell short of the grand prize (he came in second place), the track, "Beddy Bye," had an indelible impact on many, including Chance's mentor, Mike Hawkins. "Now I'm going to go ahead and say on record it's probably one of the best songs about Chicago that I've heard -- and I'm putting it up there with the Kanye's, the Common's. To me it was just up there with the classics, especially from a freshman," said the Digital Youth Network's Lead Mentor and Manager of Informal Learning. "Beddy Bye" may not be among the tracks that made his fan base soar, but it serves as a genesis for his prodigious way with emotive communication.

  • 2

    "Interlude (That's Love)"

    One of the better releases of 2013 was Chance The Rapper's breakthrough project, Acid Rap, which thrust the Chicago teen into the national spotlight. While songs like "Cocoa Kisses" and "Favorite Song" were among the most cited cuts by critics and listeners, one track that harkened back to Chance's beginnings as a poet was "Interlude (That's Love)," which featured the MC delving into the mechanics of true love over a rolling piano, handclaps and guitar riffs. The effort culminates in a selection so glorious that it borders on spiritual and is quite the musical experience.

  • 3

    "Acid Rain"

    "Acid Rain," featured on his lauded Acid rap tape, may be devoid of the overt live instrumentation feel that powers many of Chance The Rapper's more poignant cuts, but it's another example of his proficiency in speaking to the hearts of men when his prose comes to life. When he says, "Sometimes the truth don't rhyme," the weight of his words nearly bends the kick drum and snares that the rhymes live between. The song is just a morsel of the poignant gems littered throughout this number.

  • 4

    "Everything's Good (Good Ass Outro)"

    Another selection from Acid Rap that is poetry in motion is the closeout cut, "Everything's Good (Good Ass Outro)." The track begins with a phone call featuring Chance thanking a mentor for his assistance in helping him progress. The rapper reflects on his path from being the average classmate to a budding star and all that comes with the territory. "Everything's Good" further solidifies Chance's undying relationship with poetic lyrics and flows and is similar to soup for the soul that warms the heart.

  • 5

    "In the Pen Dance"

    Prior to gaining the public's attention with Acid Rap, Chance recorded had a mixtape called Back to School Pack, which went unreleased. The tape, which was recently liberated following Chance's star turn, finds the rapper rhyming over the same piano sample featured on OutKast's "Players Ball Reprise" on "In the Pen Dance." Chance spits from the perspective of a prison inmate and gives a glimpse of the thoughtful artist that would eventually captivate fans.

  • 6

    Open Mikes Launches

    He may be one of hip-hop's youngest and brightest stars, but Chance is a tenured artist and performer who has more than a decade worth of experience in the arts. Finding his voice while under the tutelage of "Brother" Mike Hawkins prior to reaching stardom, it was no surprise that Hawkins' passing in November 2014 deeply moved Chance, who decided to help carry on his mentor's legacy by launching a series of high school student-only "Open Mikes," named in honor of "Brother" Mike. With acts like Kendrick Lamar and Chance himself making appearances at Open Mikes events, and with more big names predicted to show up in the future, Chance The Rapper gives back to the same poetry community that helped cultivate his talent.

  • 7

    "Everybody's Somebody"

    A noteworthy performance that was definitely shades of a Def Jam Poetry episode was his set at Red Bull's 30 Days in LA series, during which he performed his fan favorite, "Everybody's Somebody." Backed by a live band and playing before a rabid crowd, Chance takes the chops he learned during his days as a practitioner of instrumentality and displays them while living out the meaning of stadium status.

  • 8

    XXL Freshman Freestyle

    After being tapped to join XXL's 2014 Freshman class, Chance The Rapper delivered an outstanding freestyle, one to give the uniformed all the info needed to understand why he was selected and his way with words. He goes cappella, and lets off a thoughtful barrage of bars that are more spoken word than a lyrical exploit, staying true to his roots and giving those who expected the standard Freshman freestyle a bit of a curveball. While the move may have thrown some for a loop, in hindsight, nothing else could've been more fitting, given the poetic figure that Chance The Rapper has become.

  • 9

    'Saturday Night Live' Debut

    It seems like the line between being an independent artist and the product of a major label has been blurred at this point and one of the biggest signs of this is when Chance The Rapper became the first indie artist to appear as the guest performer on Saturday Night Live. Chance's debut on the famed late-night TV platform was heavily anticipated despite never dropping a full-length album and he didn't disappoint, giving the crowd an intimate performance of songs "Somewhere in Paradise" and "Sunday Candy," from the 2015 project, Surf. Bringing along the Social Experiment crew for the occasion, Chance makes an indelible impression on all and proves that poems can work anywhere with the proper execution.

  • 10

    "Blessings" on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'

    2016 is looking like the year that Chance The Rapper transitions into a mainstream superstar and the release of his forthcoming project, Chance 3, is predicted to make that evolution come to fruition. Hitting the late-night TV circuit with an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonChance gives the public a performance of his new single, "Blessings," and proceeds to turn the studio into a dimly-lit cafe with snapping fingers by the time his set was finished.

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