Happy Birthday, Chance the Rapper!

The thing about 2015 is that even though there's been a solid number of great releases, there's still more to come. One is coming from Chance the Rapper and the Social Experiment. Their album doesn't have a release date yet, but today (April 16), we can wish Chance a happy 22nd birthday.

The emergence of Chance the Rapper as one of hip-hop's most talented acts in 2013 was a crucial moment for the Chicago scene. Drill broke out the year before, and Chief Keef, the city's most visible act, was being viewed as both a cause and consequence of the violent streets of Chicago's Southside. With his critically acclaimed Acid Rap, Chance made critics and fans once again see Chicago as an artistic hub.

This is because of his talent. Chance's delivery has an immediate likable musicality, while the underlying manic tension within his verses makes them distinctive. However, being a step away from the drill scene never meant his music wasn't acutely aware of the turmoil surrounding it.

"They'll be shooting whether it's dark or not, I mean," Chance raps on "Pusha Man/Paranoia," an Acid Rap standout. "The days is pretty dark a lot down here, it's easier to find a gun than it is to find a fucking parking spot."

Chance hasn't released a project since Acid Rap, but he's been making some strong guest appearances (his surprise guest spot on Lil Wayne's "You Song" was a huge look in 2013). Chance should still be delivering the goods when Surf with the Social Experiment finally drops.

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