Chance the Rapper spills the tea: why he and Kanye West have grown apart

Chance the Rapper has revealed that it’s been quite some time since he’s been close with Kanye West.

Speaking on the "New Rory & Mal" podcast, the Chicago native reflected on his evolving relationship with the fellow artist.

“I haven’t talked to him in a long time,” he admitted.

“He’s one of the most influential people in my music. He was at my wedding, and our kids have been friends ever since. I’ll always love Kanye, but just being honest, I haven’t talked to him in a while."

"I feel like I’ve been hella busy, I’m working on stuff, and he’s obviously been busy too. I try not to take opportunities to diss people or add too much to the story.”

When asked whether he plans to reconnect with his one-time collaborator, Chance the Rapper was noncommittal.

“The way I think about my world is day by day; what I have to do today, what I’m working on for the next couple of weeks, maybe six months. My relationships are based on whether I’ve loved someone and whether they’ve intentionally betrayed me."

"I have friends I haven’t talked to in five, six, or seven years. It’s not like I’m waiting for a moment to lecture them or fix something.”

He also offered insight into the unique dynamic between himself and West.

“I’m a lot younger than them, so friendships can look different because we’re not necessarily peers. My first album that really influenced me was ‘The College Dropout’."

"I have a different reverence for Kanye because of how my life unfolded and how it influenced what I do. Most rappers have a first album that shaped them, probably from their city. Imagine if yours was Kanye West - and you worked with him. That’s the perspective I come from.”

The two artists first collaborated nearly a decade ago, with their major collaboration coming when he appeared on Kanye West’s album “The Life of Pablo”, released on February 14, 2016.

Chance the Rapper features on the opening track, “Ultralight Beam”, and contributed to other songs including “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1”, “Famous”, “Feedback” and “Waves”.

A few months later, on May 13, 2016, West appeared on Chance’s “Coloring Book” mixtape track “All We Got”. 

After six years of artistic exploration, reinvention and reflection since his last major release, Grammy-winning independent innovator Chance the Rapper is back with his highly anticipated second studio album, “Star Line”. 

Spanning 17 tracks, the project blends visionary lyricism, cultural reverence and sonic experimentation into a singular Black diasporic experience, marking a new creative peak for the Chicago icon.