On "Sunday Candy," Chance the Rapper compares love to a Sunday morning rooted in gospel spirit and church tradition. At Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, he turned that sentiment into reality, transforming the Mother Church of country music into a sanctuary of celebration, sing-alongs and soul.
It was a fitting backdrop for an artist celebrating 10 years of growth, success and independence.
On Sunday night, the Grammy Award-winning rapper commemorated the 10th anniversary of "Coloring Book," the project that cemented his place in hip-hop history. Released in 2016, the mixtape became the first streaming-exclusive and independent project to win a Grammy, proving that an artist could achieve mainstream success without a traditional label.
During his visit
to Nashville, Chance revisited tracks from across his catalog, weaving "Coloring Book" favorites together with songs from projects such as "Acid Rap" and "Star Line."
The night opened with an electrifying set from New Orleans rapper La Reezy. The 21-year-old artist, who recently earned a co-sign from Kendrick Lamar. Blending vivid storytelling with nods to his New Orleans roots, La Reezy quickly won over the crowd with songs like "Melanate It" and "Curly Head Boy." Within minutes, audience members were on their feet.
With infectious energy and the confidence of a seasoned performer, he commanded the stage from start to finish. By the time he closed with "We Live," the crowd rewarded the opening act with a standing ovation.
When Chance emerged onstage, fans of all ages jumped back up to welcome the headliner back to Nashville.
"Y'all want to have a good show tonight?" Chance asked as the audience roared in approval.
"This was a journey, and I appreciate y'all being here to celebrate 'Coloring Book,'” he added.
Fans were transported back to 2016 with songs like "Summer Friends," "Juke Jam" and "Smoke Break," reliving the soundtrack of a defining era in Chance's career.
Without the aid of a backing track, Chance carried the performance on sheer charisma, breath control and stage presence. His enthusiasm never wavered, even as he moved through a lengthy set packed with fan favorites.
One of the evening's most memorable moments came during the gospel-infused song "Blessings." The lyric "it seems like blessings keep falling in my lap" echoed throughout the Ryman. Audience members instinctively broke into separate harmonies, transforming the crowd into a massive choir. The performance elevated the song beyond a concert staple and into something closer to a communal worship experience.
"Y'all have been blessing me for over 10 years," Chance told the crowd near the end of the show. "We'll be back soon."
Judging by the reaction inside the Ryman, Nashville will be ready when he does.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Chance the Rapper’s Ryman show felt like a Sunday service
