Chance the Rapper makes Grammy history at just 23

Chance the Rapper, real name Chancellor Bennett, is making music history again.

Dec 7, 2016

Chance the Rapper, real name Chancellor Bennett, is making music history again.

He made history earlier this year with his most recent album, “Coloring Book,” which was the first streaming-only album to chart on Billboard’s ranking. And because the Grammys have now started to consider streaming-only albums for the first time, Chance the Rapper has received several nominations, including one for Best Rap Album, which makes his album the first streaming-only album nominated in any category.

–Chance the Rapper leads thousands of voters to polls in Chicago–

What’s even more impressive is that he’s done this whole thing without the help of a label, using word-of-mouth to get the word out on his albums. In fact, his song “No Problem” is entirely about how he wants to keep labels as far away from his music as possible.

Now, with “Coloring Book” in the Top Ten charts, the Grammys had to make a decision as to whether they were going to change their rules to better reflect the changing musical landscape, and happily, they did just that, making history in the process.

In addition to receiving the nod for Best Rap Album, Chance is up for for Best New Artist, for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song with his single “No Problem,” and for performing on Kanye’s “Ultralight Beam.”