Acidrap is a coming of age mixtape, which is displayed by the mix of maturity and immaturity by Chance. He uses his adlib in the "high" moments and doesn't in the more "sober" introspective moments. This is why this album became a cult classic because of how it resonated with so many people going through the same coming of age experience. In many people's opinion, the true brilliance of this project is how Chance collides the two sides with his writing, voice inflections, and the instrumentals. Igh!
Fantastic write up. One thing I think you missed is his flow/ rhyme schemes during this era were so unbelievably good and for the most part, never heard before. The lyrics weren’t great overall, but the rhyme schemes and flow combined with the amazing production made for a instant classic
Holy shit. I remember when this first dropped. I was in high school and had it on repeat. One of my favorite albums that I still revisit. There was nothing quite like the early Chance era
Ik I respect him doing diffrent sounds but I kinda wish he would go back to more acid rap an ten day type vibes this project or ten day are easily his best work
I understand that This album definitely isn’t the easiest to settle into and not to be that guy, but it’s kinda something you had to be there for. Most of us (including myself) were like 14 years old when this album came out and there was nothing quite like listening to this on your way to class your freshman year of high school. This album kinda kicked off and really defines the SoundCloud era which came and went before you could even blink. It was super influential in the sense that it wasn’t normal and sort of paved a lane for Rappers who wanted to stray away from the commercial sound. I can’t wait to see your thoughts after a few more additional listens and I’d suggest maybe even trying to listen to some of the other SoundCloud era artists / albums to help you settle into the sound
I was 19 when this came out in my second year of college. I used to skate to this album on my way to class and in between classes. On the bus to and from college. Man I miss those days.
This tape did so much for the rap community. An absolute masterpiece in my eyes and although its a pretty challenging listen, it does a lot in terms of reinventing a sound in the Chicago hip-hop scene.
@@bobthepoppop sometimes I think in hip hop, we listen to the music with all the context of what’s going on behind the musical elements. But I think your experience is a unique one because the context that most of the avid listeners and hip hop fans that were around in that era had is a bit different from what you have access to in these forms of reactions. I think that you hearing this is great because you have less bias and your honestly trying to dissect/ understand the music. When this came out, it was a stark contrast to the Chicago scene, headed by chief keef’s drill sound and this mixtape birthed a wave of independent Chicago musicians like vic mensa, noname, saba and others who brought their own renditions to this new era of Chicago music which followed in the footsteps of kanye, common and twista. In my opinion, this album hasn’t aged the best and chance the rappers style is pretty much a “love it or hate it” thing but when he gets serious and crafts a song, his talent for writing and ability to arranging unique and creative songs shines through very prominently. Please take the time to watch some interviews on him as well, he is a really intelligent guy with a very interesting background
No it didn't lol. And it didn't reinvent the Chicago sound either, drill did that. Just cause he's from Chicago doesn't mean this is the Chicago "sound."
@@bobthepoppopFor me personally Chances silly fucking around not taking it seriously sound gives off youthful Childlike vibes , it gives me the feeling of being a kid again . As for the adlibs I totally understand the hate , I do like them it's just the fact that chance put it like 300+ times throughout . If it was added a couple of times each some then it would be bearable , you just kinda somehow gotta block it out 😅
Being from Chicago, the murder rate goes way up in the summer because everyone is outside interacting and unfortunately, it’s easier for opposing gangs to see eachother when everyone is out of the houses. Also, the hottest weekends seem to be the deadliest so that is what he is talking about on paranoia. And if you dig in, he is basically saying rainy days are a blessing because peoples lives are saved which is basically backwards from what people not living in that situation think about a “nice day”.
This tape is what got me into the SoundCloud scene and it’s weird to think that that’s been a decade but this is still one of my favorite projects of all time
Acid Rap is my favorite project ever. I hated it on first listen, but it grew on me like crazy as time went on. It literally feels like a good ass acid trip with your closest friends. It goes through every state of consciousness you'll feel in the duration of the trip: egoless expression of self, sillyness, random bits of philosophical clarity, the blissful love of humanity, and deep understanding/appreciation of connection. I could probably write a book about how much this project means to me, the life events around this album bring so much nostalgia, and the comfort I feel in the colorful production are better than any therapy. I can't lie bro, typing this comment got me kinda choked up lmao. I appreciate that you gave it a listen man. I hope it grows on you like it did for me. I think Coloring Book would also be a great reaction so you can see how Chance has grown artistically since Acid Rap.
I think this is an album that came out at exactly the right time. It caught the certain vibe of the time perfectly and really landed with its "senior in highschool" audience. Just looking through the comments you can see how many ppl got pulled toward hip hop by this and why they have such love for it. I still think its a great/fun album, but i can also see how if you didnt have the nostalgia factor and it didnt hit at a very relatable time in your life, it could feel a bit "hit or miss".
His album coloring book is a different feel altogether. Even if you don’t get to it, listen to “Same Drugs”, one of my top 10 songs of all time. Also, his verse on Kanye’s “Ultralight Beam” is outstanding.
I think one thing i'm surpirsed you aren't bringing up while listening, is how much he's referencing and taking, acid. This whole tape is like, a bunch of different acid trips, good and bad, happy and sad, outrageous and silly. I think it makes ALOT of the weirdness and things make some more sense. You'll probably like his next mixtape better, as it strays away from most of the silly stuff, for more traditional sounds. The long gap between Pusha Man & Paranoia, and Paranoia being called Paranoia, is a reference to how you would feel with that long silence while listening to it on a trip. (Paranoia was a hidden song when this 1st came out, there was just a 7 min long Pusha Man on the track list, Pusha Man ends, and then like 10 seconds of silence until Paranoia started)
I have no frame of reference when it comes to taking acid, so it's a concept that doesn't even enter my brain (even though it's plastered all over the album). First listens can be rough sometimes lol
I think the biggest thing you may have to understand about this tape is that this was essentially the soundtrack for a lot of kid’s HIGHSCHOOL YEARS. So it definitely makes sense why you wouldn’t fully be in love or get the silliness of some of the tracks because Chance raps from a very youthful, zany place that appeals to younger people. Another thing that I think is important to think about is the fact that Chance was blowing up at the same time as the Chicago drill scene which was very violent and hardcore. Chance on the other hand made very happy and wholesome type of music which provided like an alternative option to the gritty, street music of Chicago drill Acid Rap for me is a tape that makes me feel like a kid again and serves as an escape from the dull dreary world we live in. It’s very colorful, wholesome, and catchy, but also has some more emotional songs that connect in a big way. Edit: also I hope my point about the tape connecting to younger people didn’t come off as me calling you out of touch or anything like that. It’s just the tape was written from a very young, drugged out perspective. It’s not like illmatic where you hear it and see how smart and advanced nas sounds for his young age. Chance most definitely sounds like a drug addicted high school/college kid and that’s kinda the appeal of it for some people
Yeah, age definitely feeds into mindset and enjoyment of things. Plus, it seems like it's usually a drawback that I'm sitting in my living in the AM when recording rather than somewhere that would be more aligned with the setting of each album. Good write up, I appreciate it 👍
Interesting note about the intro track, Good Ass Job was actually the code name for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy so the intro draws inspiration for the name from that. Chance the Rapper's first rap album was College Dropout, before he had stated that he mostly listened to classical musical. You should watch the Ultra Light Beams performance that him and Kanye did on the Late Show, Kanye looked like a proud dad watching him spit that verse on stage.
I can’t believe I’m listening to someone react to this for the first time. I repped Chance heavy for years. Through the ups and downs. He was the foundation that introduced me to rap. It’s sad that people have to defend him so hard. But we all know what he did to his own career.. enjoy the listen!
Paranoia was a semi hidden track at the end of Pushaman the original mixtape release. That's why some places have it as one song. With the rerelease they wanted to make sure people didn't skip over it so they separated them instead of an entire minute of silence.
this album was the high school anthem. the perfect “coming of age” music which is displayed in his lyrics and silliness. instant classic. timeless. i’m sad u didn’t love it as much as some of us but hopefully it grows on u more Bob🖤
You have to realize that he does this mix of deep thought & funny shit, because that’s what he was feeling. That’s an acid trip, he was on acid for most of this, so it reflects an acid trip. Which can be funny or deeply profound.
Bob I gotta say this is probably another one of those "you had to be there" kinda albums. This came out at a time when most of us were in middle/highschool and this is very much an album of those times. It's a classic and means so much to a lot of us but I can see why you may not be a fan of it especially as someone who isn't familiar with chance's style and cadence. Acid rap is very zany and clearly lives up to the name which is why it has that sound/style. I feel like you would love coloring book however it's more cohesive and you'd probably like it more
ALSO if you read this bob the album is longer on the 10th anni version because on the original release, juice couldnt get cleared for the sample so it was 1 minute long and he explained that and he gave the proceeds from every time someone streamed the song to charity and its his 3rd most played on youtube music
Chance got me into rap when I was in middle school/early high school, so I was very excited when I saw this today. The reactions to the ad-libs had me dying laughing.
Acid Rain is my favorite song by him. Such a beautiful one, honest and “lucid”. The beat also was one of those ones that made me think “oh I should write to this”. Luckily I didn’t 😅
Chances roots are in poetry and open mic style writing because that’s what he used to do. Glad you reminded me about this album because it was the soundtrack of my early college years. I’m bumping this all day tomorrow!
Kind of disappointed you didn’t enjoy this, one of my absolute favorites from this era of rap. This was an extremely influential project in the SoundCloud and general “cloud rap” scene that was bubbling up during the early 2010s. I love the lackadaisical and bombastic style. Chance feels like he’s almost stumbling through the tracks as if he just finished a bender before recording his verses, which I think perfectly fits the dynamic and quirky production style and is meant to be intentional - hence “Acid Rap”. It’s definitely one of those love it or hate it albums. Glad you could appreciate some of the nuance and novelty of it at the very least! Great, and supremely funny vid Bob.
Also side bar, given your criticisms regarding the tonal shifts within the tracks, which I think are also credited to the acid trip concept, are pretty much void in his follow up project Coloring Book. I think you would probably enjoy that one much more, it’s a bit more refined and filled with soul.
The added 3 minutes on the tape come from Juice as the sample wasn't cleared at first. Also you may not remember but Chance was on Ultra Lightbeam by Kanye. Acid Rap was one of the first no skip tapes I heard since I first seriously got into rap. Glad to see you're covering it. The way you're reacting to the adlibs is killing me lmao bro gets a shockwave sent through his body with every "Igh"
What you described about not knowing to take him seriously or not makes the album perfect for me. He was in a stage in life where he was trying to be mature and had been through a lot, but at the same time he was addicted to drugs and was trying to make it as a performer. One of the greatest albums ever, it’s just so raw and genuine.
There is a lot of importance to that, the duality of trying to 'grow up' and be serious while also still be so young that it's a challenging thing to do consistently. I've seen a couple comments about that element, and I think it's an important note on the album
Bobcat, it’s Acid Rap, ACID RAP. That’s all haha. My fav mixtape of all-time. Listen to this riding with the windows down and don’t overthink, just enjoy it! IGH!
It was a groundbreaking sound of its time. Honestly can listen to the whole album from start to finish to this day. Wish you were there to experience the same way that i did in high school. And EVEN THOUGH you hated the IGH! sound effect, You smiled and laughed EVERY DANG TIME! :)
Never really listened to Chance very much after Acid rap, but this album was super unique at the time and was definitely on rotation in high school. a lot of memories listening to this. I even met Chance somewhat recently and it was kinda trippy talking to the dude years later after being affected by his music as a teenager
Paranoia is prob the best thing Chance has ever done. I remember hating this shit when it came out then slowly falling in love with it. Junior year was wild.
Fun fact: Good Ass Intro is a revamped and extended version of Intro/Im Good by Kanye West and John Legend from his Freshman Adjustment mixtape. It’s kind of a deep cut Kanye song lol like you gotta be a real fan to know bout that one
The only difference with the anniversary edition is that “Juice” is now on streaming. Before, it was just a 30 sec clip of Chance explaining that it wasn’t on streaming and that the proceeds from the song would go to social works
I’ve been refreshing all day waiting for this!! Can’t wait to get into it and it’s 1.30 am here in the UK. Bob, us brits need you to react to some more UK artists! Especially since you love Lil Simz so much would be cool to see you explore more of what the UK scene has to offer. Dave - Psychodrama would be the best place to start
hes speaking on growing up in intercity Chicago where the murder rates spike in the warmer months where as they call winter "chiberia" when the rates drop (paranoia)
I love that you did this!! You encountered Vic Mensa in this project and I have a feeling you’d love his debut album The Autobiography. It’s beyond incredible
@@bobthepoppop It's a to each their own situation. I'm in the same boat. I love Danny, but I don't vibe with Chance. I respect that he is unique. He has some funny bars. His verse on Action Bronson's Baby Blue is amazing. I like that he made his own lane too, but I've tried over and over and I don't vibe with his sound.
I think one thing to realize when you’re listening to this album is that chance was still basically a kid when he made this. So your struggle with taking him seriously is almost the point of the album. He grew up in a city where there was so much shit going on around him in terms of violence and wrongdoings that yes a lot of the themes of this album are very dark and serious but at the end of the day he was just a kid and channeling a lot of that negative shit into creating this with his goofy personality.
This dropped my last week of high school, first project I heard from Chance and it instantly became my summer soundtrack. So much nostalgia attached to this for me, it will always have a special place in my heart. Great reaction per usual my man!
i discovered this album the same year i discovered xxx by danny brown - i did my art final which was painting the xxx cover with the acid rap purple/yellow/pink background for the eyes which was a nod to dannys lyric 'bullseye my eyes tie died' in die like a rockstar i still have a playlist with just those 2 tapes
With Paranoia the adlibs fall off IMO bc the song begins light and playful but the lyrics gets gradually more traumatic & dark from POV of the teens & kids who go throught this . thats kind of what i think. lol "what is cocoa butter kisses" in Black culture its like a super nastolgic scent either our older family members wore it or lotioned us up in it as kids
I like Mf doom and chance. You said something like chance was being clever for the sake of being clever when that's literally all MF doom does. Though there's nothing wrong with that because that is what you're supposed to do. And Chance is way more introspective through this album and his discography as a whole. Totally understand how Chance can not be for you or anyone but he has some of the most amazing songs imo
When this dropped, it hit EVERY corner of hip hop lol I laugh when people say his ad lib is annoying because I can't defend it. I understand, even if it doesn't bother me. I will say NaNa is a song I would skip even as a teenager lol I do believe Chance kind of hit his ceiling by this album, maybe Coloring Book, but I do enjoy his older music Not liking the people saying "Don't take it serious." Whether Chance was serious or joking, people can like it or not. Even calling it goofy can be a legit opinion.
saw chance in concert back in 2014, set list was mostly Acid Rap and he had Donny and the band there as well, it was one of the best concerts ive been to
I think he has a whole complex series where he breaks down each song 1 by 1. It would be interesting to see bob listen to those interviews post listen and give his thoughts on Wednesday
Basically the song "Juice" couldn't get sample clearance when he initially put acid rap on streaming services bc it was only on SoundCloud for the longest time. The track juice on the non 10th anniversary edition is just chance talking for 30 seconds explaining he couldn't get the sample clearance so that's where the time difference comes from
Going through the comments and seeing everyone’s experience with this was refreshing. Throughout the video I was slowly realizing how much I’ve listened to acid rap; I also really enjoyed your reaction to favorite song 😂
I think when you listen to this you have to think about things like you’re having an acid trip. Paranoia, reminiscing, weird tracks like Nana that really bug you, emotions, feel good, it’s just a whirlwind of experiences that aren’t always comforting and feeling good.
As a huge Chance fan, who tried to put people on for years. Not liking his voice and the adlibs is a common reason I found why people don’t necessarily like Chance’s music. I get it, it’s very different and just not for some people! I do think he might like Coloring Book more
Great mixtape. I remember listening to this a lot when I was in highschool. I think a big part of what made this so unique was the sound of it. He has a unique voice and style that you don't see anywhere else. I liked the nana adlibs he did throughout the songs, but I could see how it might throw some people off. I also liked the jazz undertones he had with his lyricism as well.
If nobody has explained the time difference. Juice wasn't approved for distribution on certain platforms so instead of just skipping the song Chance recorded a message explaining why and every time that message plays the proceeds go to charity.
Was 17 when this came out. And MANNNNNNNN this was the quintessential tape in my car. That summer went crazy. Still makes me nostalgic. It's immature but I love it despite its flaws
I think when you hear him being silly, especially on the more serious songs, it's him actually showing that he lets out a joking personnality to shy away from the pain. I love this so much, and it makes him a more multi-faceted artist to me, therefore making it feel more relatable. And I think the silly stuff is generally all warranted, it makes him combine style with substance to be the most amplified version of himself, and it's just so refreshing to hear him go all out to me, with all the weird flows and voices keeping me hooked on the song, using it like an instrument. I feel the same way about the elctro dance beats and high-pitched voices you can hear on the intro and the end of outro, which come from a musical style called juke, which Chance made me love. I feel like the juxtapositation of them with the otherwise soulful instrumental is such a bold musical idea, and it feels like pure joy in the best way. IGH is also my favourite adlib of alltime, just the most hype and original thing ever
The three minutes comes from the song "Juice". He initially couldn't get the sample cleared, but released a short snippet of him talking about how every time the 30sec played, proceeds would go to a certain charity. Can't remember which one, forgive me.
This came out the right before my high school graduation, and it was my jam that entire summer!! It takes me back every time I listen to it! (According to Chance, that long silence between Pusha Man and Paranoia makes sense if you listen to the album on acid. I've never done it, so I can't speak on that.)
This album defined my high school days but even going back now….i kinda agree with a lot of the adlibs being extra. And NaNa is just unlistenable. Paranoia, lost and acid rain are all incredible tracks
Having a preconceived hatred for Chance's signature adlib is just an unfortunate coincidence.
It really is, and it purely is coincidental. I had no idea about the adlibs going into the album
Acidrap is a coming of age mixtape, which is displayed by the mix of maturity and immaturity by Chance. He uses his adlib in the "high" moments and doesn't in the more "sober" introspective moments. This is why this album became a cult classic because of how it resonated with so many people going through the same coming of age experience. In many people's opinion, the true brilliance of this project is how Chance collides the two sides with his writing, voice inflections, and the instrumentals. Igh!
Fantastic write up. One thing I think you missed is his flow/ rhyme schemes during this era were so unbelievably good and for the most part, never heard before. The lyrics weren’t great overall, but the rhyme schemes and flow combined with the amazing production made for a instant classic
I fucking love the "Ahh" adlib personally 😂
It’s “igh”. Pretty famously.
I do like it , it's just the fact that he put the adlib in this like 300+ times 😅
@@Ollieisskaxxx yeah i agree, but I mean that typa shit becomes a trope
Holy shit. I remember when this first dropped. I was in high school and had it on repeat. One of my favorite albums that I still revisit. There was nothing quite like the early Chance era
Ik I respect him doing diffrent sounds but I kinda wish he would go back to more acid rap an ten day type vibes this project or ten day are easily his best work
too right!
I understand that This album definitely isn’t the easiest to settle into and not to be that guy, but it’s kinda something you had to be there for. Most of us (including myself) were like 14 years old when this album came out and there was nothing quite like listening to this on your way to class your freshman year of high school. This album kinda kicked off and really defines the SoundCloud era which came and went before you could even blink. It was super influential in the sense that it wasn’t normal and sort of paved a lane for Rappers who wanted to stray away from the commercial sound. I can’t wait to see your thoughts after a few more additional listens and I’d suggest maybe even trying to listen to some of the other SoundCloud era artists / albums to help you settle into the sound
couldn’t agree more with all you said
I was 19 years tripping on acid and shrooms listening to this and a bunch of other tapes. Definitely an era you had to be there for
I was 19 when this came out in my second year of college. I used to skate to this album on my way to class and in between classes. On the bus to and from college. Man I miss those days.
Yup 👍🏽
I was a 24 year old in college. So many memories.
This tape did so much for the rap community. An absolute masterpiece in my eyes and although its a pretty challenging listen, it does a lot in terms of reinventing a sound in the Chicago hip-hop scene.
There are a lot of elements in this album that are brilliant, I absolutely agree. I can see why so many people holding it so high
@@bobthepoppop sometimes I think in hip hop, we listen to the music with all the context of what’s going on behind the musical elements. But I think your experience is a unique one because the context that most of the avid listeners and hip hop fans that were around in that era had is a bit different from what you have access to in these forms of reactions.
I think that you hearing this is great because you have less bias and your honestly trying to dissect/ understand the music. When this came out, it was a stark contrast to the Chicago scene, headed by chief keef’s drill sound and this mixtape birthed a wave of independent Chicago musicians like vic mensa, noname, saba and others who brought their own renditions to this new era of Chicago music which followed in the footsteps of kanye, common and twista.
In my opinion, this album hasn’t aged the best and chance the rappers style is pretty much a “love it or hate it” thing but when he gets serious and crafts a song, his talent for writing and ability to arranging unique and creative songs shines through very prominently. Please take the time to watch some interviews on him as well, he is a really intelligent guy with a very interesting background
No it didn't lol. And it didn't reinvent the Chicago sound either, drill did that. Just cause he's from Chicago doesn't mean this is the Chicago "sound."
@@odu2014 dang, I mean if you say so
@@bobthepoppopFor me personally Chances silly fucking around not taking it seriously sound gives off youthful Childlike vibes , it gives me the feeling of being a kid again . As for the adlibs I totally understand the hate , I do like them it's just the fact that chance put it like 300+ times throughout . If it was added a couple of times each some then it would be bearable , you just kinda somehow gotta block it out 😅
You also gotta remember it's called "ACID rap". Just gotta take it for what it is. It's a huge jumbled ball of emotions splattered across an album.
Ya will never forget taking two tabs and blasting off to this mixtape lol
100% - You really have to understand that he is on psychedelics writing this whole album to get why it is so chaotic
Or maybe it's just proof doing acid doesn't always make you a better musician.
@@WaspGenocide but this is Chance best mixtape so what does that say lol
I asked my wife if I could take some acid and listen to it again... she said no.
Being from Chicago, the murder rate goes way up in the summer because everyone is outside interacting and unfortunately, it’s easier for opposing gangs to see eachother when everyone is out of the houses. Also, the hottest weekends seem to be the deadliest so that is what he is talking about on paranoia. And if you dig in, he is basically saying rainy days are a blessing because peoples lives are saved which is basically backwards from what people not living in that situation think about a “nice day”.
This tape is what got me into the SoundCloud scene and it’s weird to think that that’s been a decade but this is still one of my favorite projects of all time
00:00 - Opening Thoughts
04:45 - Good Ass Intro
10:35 - Pusha Man
13:55 - Paranoia
21:40 - Cocoa Butter Kisses
28:15 - Juice
33:55 - Lost
40:20 - Everybody's Something
47:00 - Interlude (That's Love)
50:45 - Favorite Song
56:40 - NaNa
1:02:20 - Smoke Again
1:07:30 - Acid Rain
1:15:50 - Chain Smoker
1:22:15 - Everything's Good (Good Ass Outro)
1:27:50 - Closing Thoughts
thanks bro
So quick! Haven't even seen the vid. but it's great to see the breakdown on relisten!!!
Forgot to say Thank you!
Bros the real mvp 😭
Acid Rap is my favorite project ever. I hated it on first listen, but it grew on me like crazy as time went on. It literally feels like a good ass acid trip with your closest friends. It goes through every state of consciousness you'll feel in the duration of the trip: egoless expression of self, sillyness, random bits of philosophical clarity, the blissful love of humanity, and deep understanding/appreciation of connection.
I could probably write a book about how much this project means to me, the life events around this album bring so much nostalgia, and the comfort I feel in the colorful production are better than any therapy. I can't lie bro, typing this comment got me kinda choked up lmao.
I appreciate that you gave it a listen man. I hope it grows on you like it did for me. I think Coloring Book would also be a great reaction so you can see how Chance has grown artistically since Acid Rap.
From what I'm seeing in comments, it does seem like Coloring Book will be much more my jam
Facts me too!
@@bobthepoppopexcept for the beginning of Angels, I think so too 😂😂 iykyk
@@jalenfischer6119 iykyk🤣🤣🤣🤣
someone should play a drinking game and take a shot where everytime bob got triggered by chance's adlibs lmao
rofl
WE PRAYED FOR TIMES LIKE THIS🎉😭🥳
LETS HOGOOGOGOG
BOB DID
@@TechdeckshawtyBOB DIIIIDDDDD
When Bob realizes Chance was on acid in the making of most of this album….
I think this is an album that came out at exactly the right time. It caught the certain vibe of the time perfectly and really landed with its "senior in highschool" audience. Just looking through the comments you can see how many ppl got pulled toward hip hop by this and why they have such love for it. I still think its a great/fun album, but i can also see how if you didnt have the nostalgia factor and it didnt hit at a very relatable time in your life, it could feel a bit "hit or miss".
It is cool seeing so many people say "This got me into hip-hop back then"
Gotta love albums that do something special like that :)
The second you said you didnt like the adlibs i knew it was over lmao
The NaNa reaction has me in absolute tears Bob did not hold back 😭😭
Same🤣🤣
So fucking funny
he’s not wrong at all in hindsight tho 😭
Funny enough it was a grower for me. I wasn't big on it as a teen, but as an adult more willing to like songs because the vibe. Love it
Song is hilarious Action Bronson was the perfect choice for a feature
His album coloring book is a different feel altogether. Even if you don’t get to it, listen to “Same Drugs”, one of my top 10 songs of all time. Also, his verse on Kanye’s “Ultralight Beam” is outstanding.
Agreed
I think one thing i'm surpirsed you aren't bringing up while listening, is how much he's referencing and taking, acid. This whole tape is like, a bunch of different acid trips, good and bad, happy and sad, outrageous and silly. I think it makes ALOT of the weirdness and things make some more sense. You'll probably like his next mixtape better, as it strays away from most of the silly stuff, for more traditional sounds.
The long gap between Pusha Man & Paranoia, and Paranoia being called Paranoia, is a reference to how you would feel with that long silence while listening to it on a trip. (Paranoia was a hidden song when this 1st came out, there was just a 7 min long Pusha Man on the track list, Pusha Man ends, and then like 10 seconds of silence until Paranoia started)
I have no frame of reference when it comes to taking acid, so it's a concept that doesn't even enter my brain (even though it's plastered all over the album). First listens can be rough sometimes lol
@bobthepoppop Definitely! Love the reviews man!
I think the biggest thing you may have to understand about this tape is that this was essentially the soundtrack for a lot of kid’s HIGHSCHOOL YEARS. So it definitely makes sense why you wouldn’t fully be in love or get the silliness of some of the tracks because Chance raps from a very youthful, zany place that appeals to younger people. Another thing that I think is important to think about is the fact that Chance was blowing up at the same time as the Chicago drill scene which was very violent and hardcore. Chance on the other hand made very happy and wholesome type of music which provided like an alternative option to the gritty, street music of Chicago drill
Acid Rap for me is a tape that makes me feel like a kid again and serves as an escape from the dull dreary world we live in. It’s very colorful, wholesome, and catchy, but also has some more emotional songs that connect in a big way.
Edit: also I hope my point about the tape connecting to younger people didn’t come off as me calling you out of touch or anything like that. It’s just the tape was written from a very young, drugged out perspective. It’s not like illmatic where you hear it and see how smart and advanced nas sounds for his young age. Chance most definitely sounds like a drug addicted high school/college kid and that’s kinda the appeal of it for some people
Yeah, age definitely feeds into mindset and enjoyment of things. Plus, it seems like it's usually a drawback that I'm sitting in my living in the AM when recording rather than somewhere that would be more aligned with the setting of each album.
Good write up, I appreciate it 👍
Interesting note about the intro track, Good Ass Job was actually the code name for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy so the intro draws inspiration for the name from that. Chance the Rapper's first rap album was College Dropout, before he had stated that he mostly listened to classical musical. You should watch the Ultra Light Beams performance that him and Kanye did on the Late Show, Kanye looked like a proud dad watching him spit that verse on stage.
good ass job was a scrapped project that was supposed to be the finale of Kanye's bear era where in the end the bear gets a "good ass job".
@@jboy1761 You're right! It was also the going to be the name for the collab album that never happened.
I can’t believe I’m listening to someone react to this for the first time. I repped Chance heavy for years. Through the ups and downs. He was the foundation that introduced me to rap. It’s sad that people have to defend him so hard. But we all know what he did to his own career.. enjoy the listen!
When he said he doesn't like the adlib but he's only 3 tracks in and Chance uses the adlib for the rest of the album 😭😭😭😭
chance's bars on this album plus unique style of writing and two different styles just makes it so special
sooo many great memories associated with this tape! glad you gave it a listen
Paranoia was a semi hidden track at the end of Pushaman the original mixtape release. That's why some places have it as one song. With the rerelease they wanted to make sure people didn't skip over it so they separated them instead of an entire minute of silence.
this album was the high school anthem. the perfect “coming of age” music which is displayed in his lyrics and silliness. instant classic. timeless. i’m sad u didn’t love it as much as some of us but hopefully it grows on u more Bob🖤
Paranoia and Acid Rain are the stand out’s for me on this album still listening to them to this day.
facts
Acid Rain is amazing
You have to realize that he does this mix of deep thought & funny shit, because that’s what he was feeling. That’s an acid trip, he was on acid for most of this, so it reflects an acid trip. Which can be funny or deeply profound.
The 10th anniversary adds Juice. In the other version Chance says he couldn't get it cleared so the song isn't actually on there.
Ironically I’ve been listening to this album all week. This album came out the summer I graduated. A lot of fun. Nana is my favorite song
Damn you bold sayin Nana your favorite lmao
I don’t get why people be hating on Nana lol
@@mr.bigweld8138 It’s all a matter of opinion.
This album is really fun for me and is one of a kind, certainly a specific mood. It’s melodic and poppy but has so much character.
Dude I love how indecisive you are about this😂 you singing the chorus on favorite song is so funny
My jam my jam my jam!
Bob I gotta say this is probably another one of those "you had to be there" kinda albums. This came out at a time when most of us were in middle/highschool and this is very much an album of those times. It's a classic and means so much to a lot of us but I can see why you may not be a fan of it especially as someone who isn't familiar with chance's style and cadence. Acid rap is very zany and clearly lives up to the name which is why it has that sound/style. I feel like you would love coloring book however it's more cohesive and you'd probably like it more
I loved this tape such summer energy, this and coloring book are fantastic
ALSO if you read this bob the album is longer on the 10th anni version because on the original release, juice couldnt get cleared for the sample so it was 1 minute long and he explained that and he gave the proceeds from every time someone streamed the song to charity and its his 3rd most played on youtube music
Agreed, he's gotta check out coloring book as well.
Chance got me into rap when I was in middle school/early high school, so I was very excited when I saw this today. The reactions to the ad-libs had me dying laughing.
Acid Rain is my favorite song by him. Such a beautiful one, honest and “lucid”.
The beat also was one of those ones that made me think “oh I should write to this”. Luckily I didn’t 😅
HIGHLY recommend his “10 Day” album. He made it during a 10 day suspension in his senior year of high school and it’s phenomenal
Chances roots are in poetry and open mic style writing because that’s what he used to do. Glad you reminded me about this album because it was the soundtrack of my early college years. I’m bumping this all day tomorrow!
Kind of disappointed you didn’t enjoy this, one of my absolute favorites from this era of rap. This was an extremely influential project in the SoundCloud and general “cloud rap” scene that was bubbling up during the early 2010s. I love the lackadaisical and bombastic style. Chance feels like he’s almost stumbling through the tracks as if he just finished a bender before recording his verses, which I think perfectly fits the dynamic and quirky production style and is meant to be intentional - hence “Acid Rap”. It’s definitely one of those love it or hate it albums. Glad you could appreciate some of the nuance and novelty of it at the very least! Great, and supremely funny vid Bob.
Also side bar, given your criticisms regarding the tonal shifts within the tracks, which I think are also credited to the acid trip concept, are pretty much void in his follow up project Coloring Book. I think you would probably enjoy that one much more, it’s a bit more refined and filled with soul.
The added 3 minutes on the tape come from Juice as the sample wasn't cleared at first. Also you may not remember but Chance was on Ultra Lightbeam by Kanye.
Acid Rap was one of the first no skip tapes I heard since I first seriously got into rap. Glad to see you're covering it.
The way you're reacting to the adlibs is killing me lmao bro gets a shockwave sent through his body with every "Igh"
the 3 minutes difference is Juice.. the initial release has him explaining his couldnt clear the sample in time
@@NigerianToastCrunch oooh yeah right, he did have that lil interlude at first lol lemme edit that
What you described about not knowing to take him seriously or not makes the album perfect for me. He was in a stage in life where he was trying to be mature and had been through a lot, but at the same time he was addicted to drugs and was trying to make it as a performer. One of the greatest albums ever, it’s just so raw and genuine.
There is a lot of importance to that, the duality of trying to 'grow up' and be serious while also still be so young that it's a challenging thing to do consistently. I've seen a couple comments about that element, and I think it's an important note on the album
Acid rain is one of the best songs coming out of the 2010's mixtape era. Chilling genius poetic writing
Bobcat, it’s Acid Rap, ACID RAP. That’s all haha.
My fav mixtape of all-time. Listen to this riding with the windows down and don’t overthink, just enjoy it! IGH!
It was a groundbreaking sound of its time. Honestly can listen to the whole album from start to finish to this day. Wish you were there to experience the same way that i did in high school. And EVEN THOUGH you hated the IGH! sound effect, You smiled and laughed EVERY DANG TIME! :)
Never really listened to Chance very much after Acid rap, but this album was super unique at the time and was definitely on rotation in high school. a lot of memories listening to this. I even met Chance somewhat recently and it was kinda trippy talking to the dude years later after being affected by his music as a teenager
Paranoia is prob the best thing Chance has ever done. I remember hating this shit when it came out then slowly falling in love with it. Junior year was wild.
Fun fact: Good Ass Intro is a revamped and extended version of Intro/Im Good by Kanye West and John Legend from his Freshman Adjustment mixtape. It’s kind of a deep cut Kanye song lol like you gotta be a real fan to know bout that one
The “AHH” adlib is just his signature. He has a line on “Angels” he literally uses it as a lyric and says “AH AH AH for my real fans”
This project is so important to me. Pulled me out of a depression and sparked a new love for music that I’ve been on since. Love Chance no matter what
Really enjoy that you don’t read the annotations and try to comprehend lyrics yourself. Those annotations are wrong more often than not anyway.
The only difference with the anniversary edition is that “Juice” is now on streaming. Before, it was just a 30 sec clip of Chance explaining that it wasn’t on streaming and that the proceeds from the song would go to social works
The things you don’t like about chance the rapper is what makes him so good and unique
never ever believed you would react to this tape! this one is just special and wakes up memories from the youth times
I’ve been refreshing all day waiting for this!! Can’t wait to get into it and it’s 1.30 am here in the UK. Bob, us brits need you to react to some more UK artists! Especially since you love Lil Simz so much would be cool to see you explore more of what the UK scene has to offer. Dave - Psychodrama would be the best place to start
hes speaking on growing up in intercity Chicago where the murder rates spike in the warmer months where as they call winter "chiberia" when the rates drop (paranoia)
chiberia versus chiraq (based on the time of the year)
BOB! CARE FOR ME SABA! NEXT!
These two artists flow well after one another! you’re already settled in, just do it!
I love that you did this!!
You encountered Vic Mensa in this project and I have a feeling you’d love his debut album The Autobiography. It’s beyond incredible
Bob if you can handle Danny browns voice surely this isn’t too crazy lmao
I plan on mentioning this Wednesday. It does seem odd I'm totally fine with Danny Brown but Chance's adlibs can get under my skin so easily.
@@bobthepoppop It's a to each their own situation. I'm in the same boat. I love Danny, but I don't vibe with Chance. I respect that he is unique. He has some funny bars. His verse on Action Bronson's Baby Blue is amazing. I like that he made his own lane too, but I've tried over and over and I don't vibe with his sound.
I think one thing to realize when you’re listening to this album is that chance was still basically a kid when he made this. So your struggle with taking him seriously is almost the point of the album. He grew up in a city where there was so much shit going on around him in terms of violence and wrongdoings that yes a lot of the themes of this album are very dark and serious but at the end of the day he was just a kid and channeling a lot of that negative shit into creating this with his goofy personality.
This dropped my last week of high school, first project I heard from Chance and it instantly became my summer soundtrack. So much nostalgia attached to this for me, it will always have a special place in my heart. Great reaction per usual my man!
I think you'll like his progression on Coloring Book. Acid Rap had to grow on me after my initial playthrough. Keep up the great vids
Wow that Blind Melon comparison is actually pretty accurate! Completely forgot about them
This is his first project hes improved so much. This project is beloved because its the start of his career and exemplifies his potential
i discovered this album the same year i discovered xxx by danny brown - i did my art final which was painting the xxx cover with the acid rap purple/yellow/pink background for the eyes
which was a nod to dannys lyric 'bullseye my eyes tie died' in die like a rockstar
i still have a playlist with just those 2 tapes
NEED TO DO BARTER 6, The most influential trap album ever
With Paranoia the adlibs fall off IMO bc the song begins light and playful but the lyrics gets gradually more traumatic & dark from POV of the teens & kids who go throught this . thats kind of what i think. lol "what is cocoa butter kisses" in Black culture its like a super nastolgic scent either our older family members wore it or lotioned us up in it as kids
I like Mf doom and chance. You said something like chance was being clever for the sake of being clever when that's literally all MF doom does. Though there's nothing wrong with that because that is what you're supposed to do. And Chance is way more introspective through this album and his discography as a whole. Totally understand how Chance can not be for you or anyone but he has some of the most amazing songs imo
Chance said in an interview that over 60% of the recordings used he was under the influence of Acid/LSD
When this dropped, it hit EVERY corner of hip hop lol I laugh when people say his ad lib is annoying because I can't defend it. I understand, even if it doesn't bother me. I will say NaNa is a song I would skip even as a teenager lol I do believe Chance kind of hit his ceiling by this album, maybe Coloring Book, but I do enjoy his older music
Not liking the people saying "Don't take it serious." Whether Chance was serious or joking, people can like it or not. Even calling it goofy can be a legit opinion.
saw chance in concert back in 2014, set list was mostly Acid Rap and he had Donny and the band there as well, it was one of the best concerts ive been to
The ad-lib is the best part of paranoia! All are free to have their opinion but Chance makes a serious song catchy and light-hearted with the Ah.
This is literally my favorite album of all time
I think he has a whole complex series where he breaks down each song 1 by 1. It would be interesting to see bob listen to those interviews post listen and give his thoughts on Wednesday
acid rain is one if the greatest songs all time!!
Hilarious how everytime he says he loves it, Chance immediately jinxes it with an ad-lib
Basically the song "Juice" couldn't get sample clearance when he initially put acid rap on streaming services bc it was only on SoundCloud for the longest time. The track juice on the non 10th anniversary edition is just chance talking for 30 seconds explaining he couldn't get the sample clearance so that's where the time difference comes from
😂😂OMG bruh 47:43 I’m crying lmao. I’m way too used to those noises he makes, I didn’t hear you when you were talking about earlier in this video
Going through the comments and seeing everyone’s experience with this was refreshing. Throughout the video I was slowly realizing how much I’ve listened to acid rap; I also really enjoyed your reaction to favorite song 😂
You heard chance on Ultralight Beam from The Life of Pablo
Been looking forward to this one! Excited to see if it's your cup of tea, it is definitely a defining album for my high school years.
I think when you listen to this you have to think about things like you’re having an acid trip. Paranoia, reminiscing, weird tracks like Nana that really bug you, emotions, feel good, it’s just a whirlwind of experiences that aren’t always comforting and feeling good.
If ur having trouble with the light nature of this album bob he makes more mature and developed songs on his follow up project "Coloring book"
As a huge Chance fan, who tried to put people on for years. Not liking his voice and the adlibs is a common reason I found why people don’t necessarily like Chance’s music. I get it, it’s very different and just not for some people! I do think he might like Coloring Book more
NaNa is literally my favorite song on the mixtape. Legendary
Great mixtape. I remember listening to this a lot when I was in highschool. I think a big part of what made this so unique was the sound of it. He has a unique voice and style that you don't see anywhere else. I liked the nana adlibs he did throughout the songs, but I could see how it might throw some people off. I also liked the jazz undertones he had with his lyricism as well.
Bob: Loved the production! 😃
Chance: IGH!
37:34
If nobody has explained the time difference. Juice wasn't approved for distribution on certain platforms so instead of just skipping the song Chance recorded a message explaining why and every time that message plays the proceeds go to charity.
Was 17 when this came out. And MANNNNNNNN this was the quintessential tape in my car. That summer went crazy. Still makes me nostalgic. It's immature but I love it despite its flaws
I think when you hear him being silly, especially on the more serious songs, it's him actually showing that he lets out a joking personnality to shy away from the pain. I love this so much, and it makes him a more multi-faceted artist to me, therefore making it feel more relatable. And I think the silly stuff is generally all warranted, it makes him combine style with substance to be the most amplified version of himself, and it's just so refreshing to hear him go all out to me, with all the weird flows and voices keeping me hooked on the song, using it like an instrument.
I feel the same way about the elctro dance beats and high-pitched voices you can hear on the intro and the end of outro, which come from a musical style called juke, which Chance made me love. I feel like the juxtapositation of them with the otherwise soulful instrumental is such a bold musical idea, and it feels like pure joy in the best way.
IGH is also my favourite adlib of alltime, just the most hype and original thing ever
The three minutes comes from the song "Juice". He initially couldn't get the sample cleared, but released a short snippet of him talking about how every time the 30sec played, proceeds would go to a certain charity. Can't remember which one, forgive me.
This made me remember how much I miss this era from Chance. I know this wasn’t the best space in his life but the music was perfection❤
If I ever run into you on the street. I’m saying “ IGH! “ 😂 love the reaction
This came out the right before my high school graduation, and it was my jam that entire summer!!
It takes me back every time I listen to it!
(According to Chance, that long silence between Pusha Man and Paranoia makes sense if you listen to the album on acid. I've never done it, so I can't speak on that.)
Acid Rain and Paranoia are on a DIFFERENT LEVEL
About the weather deterring crime- it actually does. Summertime significantly increases violent crime. Love this album as someone from Chicago
This album was my anthem for a couple years in uni
My favorite Bob reaction to the adlibs here:
21:49
37:36
48:33
1:26:54
Coloring Book is more serious with less "igh". And it won grammy album of the year. You might really like it.
This album defined my high school days but even going back now….i kinda agree with a lot of the adlibs being extra. And NaNa is just unlistenable. Paranoia, lost and acid rain are all incredible tracks