"10 Day" is Chance's first mixtape, which was released in 2012. Chance started working on this while he was in high school and came up with the title after he was suspended from school for 10 days after being caught with possession of marjiuana on campus. This was pivotal as it was the start of his successful career.
Acid Rap is Chance's second mixtape, which was released in 2013. This mixtape focuses on drugs (not surprising from the title) and other serious topics such as racial injustice and police brutality. Acid Rap shines a light on Chance's drug addiction and his experiences growing up in Chicago as a young black man.
Colouring Book is Chance's third and most recent mixtape, which was released in 2016. In the years between Acid Rap and Colouring Book, Chance and his girlfriend Kirsten had their first child Kensli. Due to this life changing event, Chance's music changed - Chance incorporated rap and gospel music into the same mixtape, which few artists have ever done. Chance explains the title was inspired by his daughter and focusing on his faith in God, straying away from drugs and the nature of that lifestyle he once was involved lived.
Chance The Rapper is an independent artist, and has been since the start of his career; this means Chance is not signed with any record label, despite having many offers from well known artists such as Kanye West. Chance expresses the importance of the freedom that comes with being independent and wants to prove to other artists that it is doable and worth the extra work.Chance also does not sell his music - which is rare in the music industry. In the song "Blessings" from Chance's mixtape Colouring Book, he quotes, "I don't make songs for free, I make em' for freedom". Chance clearly isn't in the music industry for profit - he only makes money from his merchandise sales and touring - he wants to have his music as accessible. In the two videos below, Chance explains the industry in his own words and further talks about his independency in his career.