Chancelor Bennett—better known as Chance the Rapper—recently opened up about a period when scathing reviews shattered his self-assurance. After retreating from the spotlight, he’s emerged with renewed creative energy and determination.
School is in Session
Fame’s double-edged sword cuts deepest when artists expose their innermost creations to public scrutiny. Each release is an act of emotional vulnerability—offering personal expression to an unpredictable audience. Bennett discovered the harsh reality that critical acclaim isn’t guaranteed, regardless of past success.
Chance the Rapper Learns a Lesson
After releasing “The Big Day,” Chance found himself confronting the raw sting of online criticism for the first time in his career.
“A little while after I dropped, I started to feel this intense criticism, really only on the internet. ” felt it so intently—and it was such a first-time feeling—that I second-guessed myself for a second.”
While countless artists face criticism, the weight of such personal rejection remains uniquely devastating.
The Come Up
Long before this setback, Chance had built his reputation as a fiercely independent artist. According to Biography,
“He achieved fame and success in an unorthodox way—by avoiding the major labels that wanted to sign him.”
His unconventional approach paid off when Complex magazine recognized his potential, naming him one of their “10 New Chicago Rappers to Watch Out For” in 2012.
Chance’s sophomore mixtape, “Acid Rap,” catapulted him into the stratosphere. Biography describes how the April 2013 free release—featuring collaborations with Twista and Childish Gambino—”almost drowned in critical praise.” The validation was intoxicating. Each glowing review reinforced what fans already knew: Chance wasn’t just good—he was exceptional.
Making It
His 2016 follow-up, “Coloring Book,” shattered industry norms. The mixtape made history as
“The first ever to chart on the Billboard 200 solely from streaming, accumulating 57.3 million plays its first week,” according to Biography.
The groundbreaking release earned him three Grammy Awards, seemingly confirming his untouchable status.
But success is precarious. The higher you climb, the farther you can fall. In July 2019, Bennett released “The Big Day,” marketed as his debut studio album. Despite its celebratory title, the project would deliver an unexpected lesson in humility—one that would shake the foundation of his artistic confidence.
Chance The Rapper Talks it Out
In a revealing conversation on the “Cam Newton’s Funky Friday” podcast, as reported by UPROXX, Chance detailed his journey back from creative despair. Rather than surrendering to self-doubt, he redirected his artistic energy. “Becoming creative again, but in a different lane,” became his salvation.
“I started working with cameras, learning film and cinematography—basically putting myself through a fake film school,” he explained.
This deliberate pivot into unfamiliar territory ultimately restored what criticism had stripped away: his creative confidence.
The Way Back
Bennett’s experimental project “The Heart and the Tongue” emerged from his cinematic explorations and delivered the validation he desperately needed. His creative confidence began to resurface through this work. As UPROXX recounts, the artist
“Once I made that song and that video and put it out to be like, ‘Look at how good this video was,’ everybody was like, No, look at how good them raps is. ‘Keep rapping.'”
The audience response became his compass, guiding him back to his musical roots while incorporating his newly developed visual storytelling skills.
What Can Be Learned From The Journey
The brutal truth is we all live and learn. And there comes a time when it dawns on us that winning all the time is impossible. When Chance faced the sting of criticism for “The Big Day,” he confronted what every artist eventually must: the reality that even winners lose at some point.
His journey reminds us that confidence isn’t built on perfect reception but on knowing your worth beyond the noise. If he created groundbreaking work before, he can—and will—do it again. One project, no matter how polarizing, cannot define an artist’s entire legacy. As Chance continues forward, we can only hope that when critics’ voices rise again, he’ll remember this hard-won wisdom and keep pushing boundaries.
