Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
Chance the Rapper Weighs Dropping 'The Rapper' From His Stage Name
During an appearance on the Tea Time podcast, the Chicago artist said he may shorten his longtime moniker to something more definitive, despite years of suggestions that he drop the title.
Chance the Rapper may soon become just «The Rapper.» The Chicago-born artist said during an appearance on Raven-Symoné and Miranda Maday's Tea Time podcast that he is considering shortening his longtime stage name to something even more definitive, according to Consequence.
The Grammy-winning musician, whose legal name is Chancelor Jonathan Bennett, has built a career under the three-word moniker since releasing his debut mixtape 10 Day in 2012. The name has become inseparable from his public identity as an independent artist, philanthropist, and cultural figure in his hometown.
His comment on the podcast suggests a possible shift in how he wants to be known, though he did not offer a timeline or confirm that a change is imminent. The remark came in response to a conversation about his name, which has frequently prompted suggestions that he drop the «The Rapper» portion.
For years, fans and industry observers have floated the idea that the title limits him as he branches into acting, production, and activism. His response on the podcast indicated he has no interest in removing the word «Rapper» entirely. Instead, he floated a shorter version that keeps the term while making it more central to his brand.
Chance rose to prominence with the 2013 mixtape Acid Rap and reached a new level of mainstream success with the 2016 project Coloring Book, which made him the first streaming-only artist to win a Grammy Award. He took home three trophies that year, including Best Rap Album. His follow-up albums, The Big Day in 2019 and Star Line in 2022, continued his run as an independent artist releasing music without a traditional label deal.
Beyond music, he has been a visible presence in Chicago civic life, using his platform to support public schools and community organizations. He has also appeared in films and television projects, and his name recognition extends well beyond hip-hop audiences.
The Tea Time podcast, hosted by Raven-Symoné and her wife Miranda Maday, has become a venue for entertainers to discuss personal and professional topics in a casual setting. Chance's appearance added his name to a growing list of artists who have used podcast interviews to tease career changes or reflect on their public image.
Whether the name change happens remains uncertain. For now, the artist appears to be weighing a smaller adjustment rather than a full rebrand. If he follows through, it would mark one of the more unusual name shifts in recent rap history, trading a familiar phrase for a version that doubles down on the word he has no intention of losing.
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