“And we back.”
Chance the Rapper’s casual delivery of that seemingly innocuous lyric early in his show Friday at a near-capacity Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island disguised its urgent symbolism and intent. Namely, his return and reboot, and an attempt to reclaim a career that went sideways nearly as quickly as it skyrocketed.
The Chicago native mostly succeeded despite enduring awkward bumps and disjointed pacing. He emphasized introspection over celebration and action over passivity. Not that he didn’t uncork fun and surprises. Fellow locals and Chance collaborators BabyChiefDoit, Vic Mensa, Jamila Woods and Do or Die joined the rapper to deliver parts of songs they originally recorded with him in the studio.
Their presence underlined principal themes that coursed throughout