After a six-year journey of artistic exploration, reinvention, and deep reflection, Grammy-winning global independent innovator Chance the Rapper returns with his long-awaited second studio album, ‘Star Line.’ This new body of work represents the next evolution of one of music’s most daring and imaginative voices. Embodying 17-tracks — a landmark record that blends visionary lyricism, cultural reverence, and sonic experimentation into a singular Black diasporic experience –– the project marks a new creative zenith for the Chicago icon.
In celebration of the album’s release, Chance will also premiere the official music video for “Just A Drop” today, at 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT.
‘Star Line’ is a deeply engaging and masterfully crafted work, born from Chance’s international travels and artistic immersion. Inspired by trips to Ghana and Jamaica, as well as time spent at global art fairs, the album title itself is a powerful reference to Marcus Garvey’s pioneering Black ‘Star Line,’ the early 20th-century shipping line intended to link the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. The album’s themes are a modern reflection of that vision, weaving together narratives of resilience, diasporic pride, and the intricate tapestry of the Black experience through Chance’s uniquely personal lens.
While expansive in scope, the project is grounded in intimacy. It’s a love letter to Chicago, a generational meditation on Black resilience, and perhaps most powerfully, a personal reckoning — with Chance stepping fully into his role as an artist, son, father, director, community leader, and cultural architect.
The album features some of Chance’s most powerful and intricate writing of his career. On the deeply personal “No More Old Men,” Chance juxtaposes tender memories of his childhood in Chicago with a sobering meditation on the life expectancy for Black men in America. The thematic depth continues on the frenetic, upbeat “Drapetomania,” featuring Babychiefdoit. Here, Chance reclaims the absurd 19th-century pseudoscience term for the ‘illness’ of enslaved people wanting freedom, flipping it into a modern anthem of liberation as he spits with relentless energy, urging listeners to “go crazy” against oppressive systems. In stark contrast, the soulful and sobering “The Negro Problem,” featuring powerful vocals from BJ the Chicago Kid, tackles topics like the dire racial disparities in modern medicine, poignantly highlighting the higher risks Black mothers face during childbirth. Chance’s pen is simply unmatched on ‘Star Line’ with his otherworldly lyricism cementing his status as one of the generation’s most essential storytellers.
The project’s visual identity is helmed by renowned artist Brandon Breaux, the creative mind behind Chance’s iconic cover art for 10 Day, Acid Rap, and Coloring Book, who returns to create a stunning visual companion for this new era.
The album boasts a staggering and thoughtfully curated list of collaborators. The soundscape is primarily sculpted by visionary producer DexLvL, who executively produced the project. The album is further enriched by a multi-generational roster of featured artists, including Joey BadA$$, Lil Wayne, Smino, Vic Mensa, BJ the Chicago Kid, Young Thug, TiaCorine, Jamila Woods, Do or Die, Babychiefdoit, Jay Electronica, Lion Babe, Jazmine Sullivan, and Raachel Robinson. Additional production from legends and innovators like Peter CottonTale, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Stix, Smoko Ono, Nate Fox, and Nico Segal adds layers of sonic depth and brilliance.
“This album is a culmination of my travels, my experiences, and my deep dive into the history that connects us all,” says Chance. “It’s about legacy, the resilience of Black people, and the beautiful, complex story of our existence. From Chicago to Accra, this is my art, unfiltered. ‘Star Line’ is a vessel for that story, and I’m thrilled that everyone can finally get on board.”
In support of the album’s release, Chance will be heading out this fall for the “And We Back Tour.” The North American headlining tour is set to kick off on September 26, 2025, with stops in major cities including Houston, Atlanta, New York, Toronto, a hometown show in Chicago, and Los Angeles.
‘Star Line’ is more than an album; it is a cultural event six years in the making. It is a testament to artistic growth, a celebration of Blackness, and a powerful statement from an artist at the peak of his powers.
‘Star Line’ Tracklist:
Star Side Intro
Ride (feat. Do or Die)
No More Old Men (feat. Jamila Woods)
The Negro Problem (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid)
Drapetomania (feat. Babychiefdoit)
Back To The Go (feat. Vic Mensa)
The Highs & The Lows (feat. Joey BadA$$)
Space & Time
Link Me In The Future
Gun In Yo Purse (feat. Young Thug & TiaCorine)
Tree (feat. Lil Wayne & Smino)
Burn Ya Block
Letters (feat. Rachel Robinson)
Speed Of Light (feat. Lion Babe)
Pretty
Just A Drop (feat. Jay Electronica)
Speed Of Love (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)
And We Back Tour – 2025 North American Dates:
September 26 — Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
September 27 — New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore
September 29 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
October 1 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
October 2 — New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
October 4 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall
October 6 — Toronto, ON @ Rebel
October 8 — Washington, DC @ Echostage
October 10 — Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
October 12 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
October 14 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
October 16 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
October 17 — Highland, CA @ Yaamava’ Theater
October 18 — Las Vegas, NV @ Fontainebleau
October 20 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
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