Chance the Rapper punctuated his historic night at the Grammys Sunday with a spirited medley of "How Great" and "All We Got," off his Grammy-winning "Coloring Book"project.
The 23-year-old Chicago rapper won three Grammy awards — his first ever — for best new artist, rap album and rap performance. Though Chance is certainly not a new artist, especially not in Chicago, he garnered seven Grammy nominations after the Recording Academy relaxed its eligibility rules last year to allow works released via streaming platforms.
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"Glory be to God. I claim this victory in the name of the Lord," Chance said in accepting his award for best new artist. "I want to thank God for my mother and my father, who supported me since I was young, for Kirsten, for Kensli, for all of Chicago, and I want to thank God for putting amazing people in my life."
He thanked his brother, rapper Taylor Bennett, and gave a shoutout to independent artists in his subsequent acceptance speech for best rap album for "Coloring Book," which was released in May. He managed to beat out his mentor, Kanye West, who was nominated for "The Life of Pablo."
Chance, who was born Chancelor Bennett and raised on the South Side, seemed surprised and flustered by that win and his first Grammy win, for best rap performance for "No Problem" with 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne.
It was a bit of a surprise that Chance gave a nod to his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kirsten Corley on the Grammys stage since Chance’s attorneys filed paperwork in Cook County court last week seeking to work out a parenting schedule and child support with Corley, the mother of Kensli, who turns 17 months old Thursday.
Attorneys for both sides, who are in the "process of establishing separate residences," met in court Friday for a brief hearing and are scheduled to return to court next month.
Chance seemed to acknowledge the legal tussle in an Instagram post last week that featured a picture of his daughter. "I wouldn’t have her without her mother, so thank you for creating and raising the greatest gift I’ve ever received," he wrote in the caption.
Chance’s wins come after a stellar year, which included hosting a one-day festival on the South Side, performing on "Saturday Night Live" and multiple visits to the White House.
Chance was also nominated for rap/sung performance (for his work on West’s "Ultralight Beam"); and rap song for "No Problem," "Ultralight Beam" and West’s "Famous." Drake won the rap/sung performance category for "Hotline Bling," which also won for best rap song.
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