Chance the Rapper’s new album is coming sooner than you think.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune ( HipHop-N-More), the Chicago rapper revealed that his new album will be out this week to coincide with the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert on Saturday (July 21).
“I got that feeling when people do something that has a new feel to it,” he said. “I’m excited for everybody to get that. It’s going to come out just in time for the Special Olympics.”
He did not reveal how it would be made available. His last project, 2016’s Grammy-winning Coloring Book, was an Apple Music exclusive for two weeks in exchange for $500,000 and a promotional TV commercial, according to the Tribune.
“I’ve never been against selling music,” said the newly-engaged MC. “Music has value. I put my music out there for free because I wanted people to see and notice it as a beacon for what I’m doing, in terms how unorthodox I wanted my approach and my delivery each piece music to be. On the other side, it’s not really difficult for me to make music and deliver it to the fans, because there are so many more platforms now, a bunch streaming sites. The bigger concern for artists now is navigating the legal issues owning your music, your publishing, your distribution. It has been difficult for me to release music with artists who work with the majors. A lot stuff I’ve worked on hasn’t come out since Coloring Book because it’s hard when collaborating with artists limited by record deals.”
Additionally, Chance is collaborating with Kanye West on a 7-track album, which they “casually” worked on a few weeks ago in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
“We’re up in the mountains around these wild animals—it’s very different out there—and we got some music done, and then he asked me if he could do an album with me,” said Chance. “I don’t know a timeline on it yet, the trajectory it, but he’s coming to Chicago] to work on it some more. We’ve just started making it, but I don’t want to manipulate the situation and impose any time frame, because that can hinder you.”
On Saturday, Chance will headline and produce the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert featuring Usher, Francis & The Lights, Daya, Smokey Robinson, and Jason Mraz, which will be held at Northerly Island in Chicago.
UPDATE: False alarm. Despite the earlier report, Chance says he will not be releasing an album this week, but acknowledged that he’s been in the studio.
“Sorry no album this week, def been in the stu tho,” he tweeted.