Pastor Chancellor J. Bennett: Part 2

When Chance the Rapper performs, it is as if he is opening up his scrapbook and saying, “Look how God has blessed me! Here’s proof!” as he flips through. The crowd watches and listens intently like a dutiful congregation as The Social Experiment plays gospel music.

As proof of how blessed he his, he performs “Ultralight Beam,” which he co-wrote with West. As he sings, “We on an ultralight beam/We on an ultralight beam,” it is as if the golden stage lights shine down from heaven itself. Every hand is in the air, and every voice sings along. This is it. Chance has not just taken 20,000 rowdy drunks to church; he has turned them into the world’s biggest gospel choir. Individuals went wild for the other rappers, but now, the crowd is at peace as one.

Hi, he says, like the boy next door. The stage lights go dark except for a spotlight on him, and the music has stopped. His name is Chance the Rapper, and he is from Chicago. Thank you so much to everyone for being here. Performing with him today is The Social Experiment and the incredible Nico Segal (whose former stage name was Donnie Trumpet). Around this point in their performances, the other rappers were ripping their shirts off, shooting fire out of cannons, and encouraging the crowd to throw away any remaining desire to be decent and just go wild.

Instead, Chance performs “Sunday Candy,” which is a tribute to his grandmother. She took him and his brother to church as he grew up, and the only people she loves as much as him are “Jesus Christ and Taylor [his brother],” he sings. He says he truly appreciates London for having him here. He recalls that his music has not always been the best, and getting here has been a long journey (even though he is only 24). He thanks the crowd for loving him anyway.

He performs a few more songs, including DJ Khaled’s “I’m the One” and “May I Have This Dance” with Francis and the Lights, during which the two dance in sync. The choreography is carefree and playful—the exact opposite of the crotch-grabbing and suggestive moves rappers performed earlier in the day.

And just in case anyone in the crowd is hearing-impaired, a sign language translator stands on the left side of the stage. Except for her fire red mohawk, she looks just like similar translators at large churches. Throughout, Chance yells out “ooh-woo,” and the crowd echoes as naturally as if it were a “hallelujah.”

After “Summer Friends,” he politely asks the audience if they are ready to start the show. Once again, 40,000 hands reach up to heaven as he performs “All We Got.” Nico Segal does what he does best as Chance cries out, “Jesus is all I got,” and the crowd echoes, “We know, we know, we got it.”

Then, it is time for the sermon. There are a lot of strong people in the audience tonight, he says. The only thing stronger than a strong person is a fearless person. He asks all the fearless people to dance. Then, he performs two of his most popular songs as if his life relies on it. The energy peaks as he builds from “No Problem” to “All Night.” Confetti flies down as voices rise up.

And as soon as it started, it is over. There is nothing but a spotlight on him. He says that he hopes everyone had a good time. As a closing prayer, he performs “Same Drugs.” “Don’t forget the happy thoughts/All you need is happy thoughts,” he sings. Then, as a final benediction, he sings “Blessings” once again.

“When the praises go up, the blessings come down,” he reminds the audience. Unlike after the other rap performances, the audience seems filled with hope. They entered as individuals, but they leave united in the experience they have just shared.