Chance the Rapper has kept everyone waiting for his debut album for what feels like centuries. A million teases, a thousand collabs, and a gazillion exaggerations later, The Big Day is finally, officially out on Spotify and Apple Music. The album features John Legend, Shawn Mendes, Death Cab for Cutie, MadeinTYO, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Francis and the Lights, Taylor Bennett, Randy Newman, Timbaland, Smino, Gucci Mane, two songs with Nicki Minaj, and more. “The whole album has been inspired by the day that I got married and how I was dancing that day,†Chance said in an interview with Zane Lowe. Just wondering: Was he … late to the wedding too?
Instead of dropping at midnight, like everyone expected him to, Chance waited until noon Chicago time to release the album. Last night, Chance threw a concert at Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory, where he debuted track two, “Do You Remember.†Fans compared the event to Chance’s BFF Kanye West’s Wyoming listening party for YE. West famously finished the album art on his way to the party, so maybe Chance was similarly finalizing details, making it so that The Big Day didn’t come until midday. Either way, stream all 22 songs from The Big Day, then take a nap. It’s been a long night.