Chance the Rapper returned this weekend after a six-year break between albums. Star Line, his new record, feels like a visit from a familiar friend, reminding you of the good times. Many songs capture the same magic found in his 2016 Grammy Award-winning mixtape, Coloring Book. While the return to form is welcome and fans genuinely want to see Chance succeed, the lack of risks leaves the project feeling derivative after the first listen.
First, I want to highlight what I think Star Line does well. The record offers a strong variety from track to track. Songs like Speed of Light and Just a Drop bring back the chopped soul samples that shaped Chance early on. Drapetomania and Burn Ya Block hit hard with 808-heavy club beats. Ride and Link Me in the Future feel incredibly optimistic, like walking through the park on a sunny day. Musically, the album is strong, and Chance’s lyricism has matured during his break.
That said, I think Star Line feels held back from reaching its full potential because it leans too heavily on reminding listeners that Chance is still the same family-friendly artist we knew in 2016. He focuses so much on recreating what earned him praise nearly a decade ago that there’s little sense of new growth. The melody on Space & Time feels frustratingly outdated. The Highs & The Lows, the album’s lead single, is already three years old. And at times, the project still feels weighed down by Chance’s lingering K*nye W*st influences.
Of course, these thoughts are rooted in comparisons to Chance’s past work, and I admit it’s unfair to focus on that without acknowledging what I truly enjoy here. You can tell Chance took his time with this record, and it shows throughout its 67-minute runtime. While his sound hasn’t drastically changed, it is incredibly focused. Built on the strongest parts of his discography and refined with care.
Star Line feels like a strong rebound from the struggles that plagued Chance when his debut album flopped. As a sophomore release, it delivers the record fans probably wanted back then. Still, I hope future projects push further with innovation.
I’d recommend Star Line to longtime supporters, fans of pop rap, and listeners who appreciate lyrical strength.
Screen Falcon 