In a recent conversation with Rory & Mal, Chance the Rapper reflected on Star Line, his freshly released album, and the complicated contours of his relationship with Kanye West. The two share a history deeply woven into modern hip-hop, with Chance often crediting The College Dropout as the album that first ignited his artistic drive.
Their creative bond took shape in 2016 with “Ultralight Beam” on The Life of Pablo, a moment that propelled Chance further into the mainstream spotlight. That same year, he declared, “I met Kanye West, I’m never going to fail”—a statement that has since been tested by the ups and downs of his career. Their most recent collaboration, “All We Got” from Coloring Book, marked the last time their musical paths crossed.
As Star Line came together, questions surfaced about whether unreleased material with West might emerge. Chance was quick to put the rumors to rest, confirming none of those tracks made the final cut, even though one, he admitted, could have been “potentially significant.” The decision, he said, was intentional. “I haven’t talked to him in a long time,” Chance said. “He’s been one of the most significant influences in my music. He was at my wedding, our kids have spent time together. I’ll always have love for Kanye, but to be truthful, I haven’t spoken to him in a while.”
Chance embraces renewal while leaving old ties be
When pressed on the possibility of reconnecting, Chance compared it to friendships that fade but remain intact. “I have friends I haven’t spoken to in five, six, or even seven years. It’s not like I’m looking forward to a conversation where I get to fix things or tell him what he needs to hear. It’s not like that at all.”
For Chance, the distance has less to do with conflict and more with life’s natural drift. He pointed to their 16-year age gap and distinct social worlds as factors in the divide. “I allow people to be themselves. I’m always going to have my own views and express them,” he said. “For the most part, I’ll just be myself and let others be who they are. So no, there’s never a moment where I feel like I need to reach out to Kanye before or after releasing this album or to anyone else.”
With Star Line, the Chicago native appears to be steering toward a creative rebirth. Arriving four years after the mixed reception of The Big Day, the album feels, to many, like a return to the imaginative spark that first set him apart—and a clear indication he intends to chart his own course from here.
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