Who needs a label? The Chance the Rapper definitely doesn’t! In his star-studded performance with Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz on Ellen he put old #genericrecords into a gospel grave. Not only that, but the set was a special addition for Ellen, who normally tells artists to kick rocks on special requests. But, this is Chance the Rapper we’re talking about. This is Chance that saved your concert from scalpers. The guy who teamed up with the NAACP (no Rachel Dolezal) to sign you up to vote. The rapper says he pitched this set to some other award & television shows, but they weren’t having it.

So Ellen came through in the clutch

Also, #FreeWeezy

Yeezy Season Kanye
Photo: Giphy


The performance was epic. Chance is jubilant, buoyant and I haven’t seen Lil Wayne that happy since the Hot Boyz. It’s a tough time for Wayne right now. People really, really forget that someone tried to at least scare him into silence last year if not outright assassinate him. Not to mention he and Baby are not on good terms, he’s retired then doubled back and he’s a libra…so you know how that goes.

Then there’s this cutting one-liner about Cash Money Records, “If Cash Money try to stop me, I’m a let ’em rob me / Yeah right, like Ryan Lochte.”

Photo: Giphy


Whoa, right? Maybe he just needed some new source material?

The new wave

Yeezy Season Kanye
Photo: Giphy


Labels have to be concerned right now. Some of the biggest artists in the game, Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Dawn Richard and so much more are either not playing the label game anymore or never were. Talent isn’t sectarian anymore. No longer are we Bad Boy versus Death Row. Instead, we’re joining a new world where teams can marry partners to their brand initiatives. Where Apple, Spotify, Red Bull, Tidal and others can handle the marketing for you. What a time to be alive.

Squadddd!

#SquadGoals

A photo posted by Ellen (@theellenshow) on



Watch the performance above, and then check out an awesome interview for Chance’s ‘Ellen’ debut:


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