There are not many rappers who would take the path that Chance The Rapper has chosen over the past few years. Analyzing the allure of Surf, the new free-on- iTunes album from Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, requires a bit of a refresher in order to understand how we’ve received this enchanting body of work. Chance The Rapper’s 2013 breakout project Acid Rap still stands as a critically acclaimed record and while most rappers would have used the universal praise to jump-start a promising solo career, the Chicago artist decided to pass on the label offers and officially joined on with his band The Social Experiment. This album is a product of brass virtuoso Donnie Trumpet taking the lead alongside a large group of talented creatives which includes a wide spectrum of certified emcees as well as an ensemble of instrumental experts. While fans who are expecting a standard rap album may listen to Surf and feel bewildered, the album is an exuberant, free-flowing experience which reflects an authentic level of uncompromised musicianship.
While the iTunes version of Surf does not list any features, there are a noteworthy number of all-encompassing guest appearances who dive head first into the genre-bending world of The Social Experiment. The team friendly mantra of the band proves to have an eclectically effective impact on the other artists who join in on the joyful vibes of the collection. Proof of these smile-inducing moments are widespread throughout the project as the listener is treated with rejuvenated performances from Busta Rhymes and B.O.B. on “Slip Side” as well as strikingly lyrical showcases from Noname Gypsy and one of the guest-spot kings in the game J Cole. These tracks set a quality standard early on, and the well-supervised unpredictability of Surf allows the project to shine as an organic creation birthed from a progressive state of mind. Whether it is the smooth crooning of buzzing Virginia rapper D.R.A.M. (“Caretaker”) or the ‘somehow these trap artists fit right in’ appearances from King Louie and Quavo of Migos on “Familiar”, the long list of personnel on Surf helps fuel its upbeat, soulful backbone.
Despite the endless grouping of both well-known and undiscovered artists on Surf, Chance The Rapper remains unmatched in his ability to bring forth a Broadway-esque type of energy. Chance may not want the entire spotlight hovered over his enthralling character, but he takes center stage numerous times with particularly memorable moments on the mesmerizing intro “Miracle” as well as the Erykah Badu-featured “Rememory”. From a lyrical perspective, Chance The Rapper is able to package important life messages within his infectious flows and attention-grabbing delivery. The ‘be comfortable with your-self’ anthem “Wanna Be Cool” (ft. Big Sean and Jeremih) is a prime example of this as well as the thought-provoking advice of “Windows”. There is no shortage of songs with similarly cheerful attributes, and the gospel/jazz fueled production of The Social Experiment is expertly composed in a manner which empowers the purity of Chance’s meaningful, clearly vocalized expressions.
Surf is an album which refuses to abide by the standards of traditional ‘hip-hop’ music, but Chance The Rapper continues to find a way to directly reach the heart of his ever-growing fan-base. Each track (whether it’s meant to be uplifting or gloomy) on this effort is a fun-filled sonic journey and the colorful elements of its arrangement/melodies/live instrumentation qualifies Surf as a robust body of work. A portion of the hip-hop population just does not have an affinity for Chance’s style, and this project won’t change the minds of the aforementioned group. Surf is not meant to be an album for one to easily pick out two or three catchy singles and call it a day. The accessibility of the project lies in the chemistry of The Social Experiment as a band who delivered a cohesive effort (thanks to Donnie Trumpet), which can be best be described as a groovy jam out session. Chance The Rapper and The Social Experiment have garnered much popularity for their innovative nature, and Surf is only further confirmation that the collective has an enjoyable appeal which transcends the boundaries of what a ‘hip-hop centric’ band is supposed to sound like.
Repeatable: “Warm Enough”, “Windows”, “Rememory”
Skippable: “Questions”
Purchase: Free download or stream here
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