#savechicago

[caption id="attachment_429212" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Chance the Rapper performs in concert on the second day of week two of the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 14, 2017 in Austin, Texas. SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP/Getty Images[/caption] Ladies and gentlemen, Chance the Rapper will become “Chance the Commencement Speaker” on May 12th and bless over 200 members of Dillard University's 2018 graduating class with words of encouragement and inspiration (maybe even in verse format) to fuel their futures. The independent musical genius, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, became the first artist to be nominated and win a Grammy for a streaming-only album. However, the fact that the 25-year-old is already so much more than the music has earned him the love, respect, and admiration of millions both young and old. Chance's philanthropic efforts and bouncy, infectious positivity are in part what prompted Dillard President Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough to dub him as "the artist that your grandmother would love." The AP reports: "Kimbrough says Chance is part of a new wave of artists who can openly talk about faith while being in hip hop, balancing the secular and the sacred....Kimbrough, who’s known as the Hip-Hop Prez, teaches a class on ethics and hip-hop and has sought Bennett to appear on campus for two years. Bennett has been intentional with using his ever growing popularity to give back to his hometown of Chicago, especially the youth who admire him. In 2014, Chance used #savechicago to stop gun-violence for 42 hours and since then, he’s forged ahead. And for three years, whether through hosting monthly high school OpenMike series at Chicago’s Public Libraries, raising over $100,000 to bring sleeping-bags and coats to Chicago’s homeless, or raising over $4 million for his local Chicago Public School System, Bennet makes helping others a priority. Bennett is also the founder and president of SocialWorks, a nonprofit created to empower youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement, and it’s his aim to reshape the possibilities through freedom and access for the youth of Chicago and the globe. 'The activism is a bonus with Chance,' Kimbrough said. 'I thought he made for a great commencement speaker because of his spirit of being entrepreneurial and authentic. But his civic engagement, including encouraging people to vote and willingness to speak out on issues, like his recent opposition to a Heineken ad, are just as paramount.'" To Chance, we say, keep on Chance-ing and may God bless you with continued success! - Dante Spellman

Chancelor Johnathan Bennett (born April 16, 1993), known professionally as Chance the Rapper, is an American hip hop recording artist from the West Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. In 2013, he began to gain recognition following the release of his second mixtape, Acid Rap. Apart from his solo career, he is also a member of the Chicago collective Save Money (along with frequent collaborator Vic Mensa), and has worked as the lead vocalist for the band The Social Experiment. They released the widely lauded album Surf in May 2015. In May 2016, Bennett released the mixtape Coloring Book to further critical acclaim. This is Bennett's third mixtape, which has received three Grammy nominations, including Best Rap Album. Coloring Book was the first streaming-only album to ever receive a Grammy nomination. And at the 2017 Grammy Awards, Chance won “Best New Artist”, “Best Rap Performance”, and “Best Rap Album”. In November 2014, Chance was named Chicago's Outstanding Youth of the Year by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Chance has actively fought to combat gun violence in his hometown and in 2014, along with his father, promoted the "#SaveChicago" campaign. The campaign sought to stop gun violence over Memorial Day Weekend, and saw Chicago go 42 straight hours without a shooting. Chance met with President Obama at the White House on April 16, 2016, to discuss My Brother's Keeper Challenge, an initiative of the United States Federal Government to promote intervention by civic leaders in the lives of young men of color to address their unique challenges and to promote racial justice, with other musicians, including Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes, Janelle Monáe, J. Cole and others. Chance started a Twitter campaign for May 23, 2016 using #May23 to stop gun violence for 42 hours. #kubitees #100blackpeople