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Chance The Rapper and John Legend Have Another Connection Besides The Voice
After working together in 2017, John Legend called Chance the Rapper “one of the most exciting new artists” there was.
We love having immensely talented Coaches on The Voice, but it’s extra special when two can be connected separately from their red chairs. That's the case for Season 23 Coach Chance the Rapper and returning Coach John Legend, who have several successful songs between them.
Chance the Rapper and John Legend's History on The Voice
The three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Chance the Rapper joined The Voice in Season 23, serving the world some of his coolest outfits and stunning duets along the way. Before then, Chance dominated the rap scene without ever signing with a major music industry label, releasing mixtapes including 10 Day, Acid Rap, and Coloring Book.
Chance also helped write songs for big hitters like Justin Bieber, Brandy, and Kanye West.
But his time on The Voice — sitting alongside fellow Coaches Niall Horan, Kelly Clarkson, and Blake Shelton (for the latter’s final season) — didn’t come before John Legend took a seat in the red chair.
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The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning Legend served as a Coach on The Voice from Seasons 16 to 22 and is slated to return for Season 24. The “All of Me” singer and pianist gave some truly breathtaking performances during that time, including a duet with Carrie Underwood.
Chance The Rapper and John Legend's Songs Together
Chance and Legend have not one, not two, but three songs together. First was the funk and R&B song “Penthouse Floor” from Legend’s 2016 album, Darkness and Light. Sung by Legend, the lyrics and accompanying music video highlight social injustice and a country divided, featuring a pretty cool rap interlude by Chance.
Speaking about “Penthouse Floor” in a 2017 interview with Complex, Legend called the Chicago-born rapper “one of the most exciting new artists” there was.
“I love that he is so active, particularly in Chicago, and doing what he can to uplift his city,” Legend said of Chance. “I think he is a perfect illustration of someone who has reached rarified heights and hasn’t forgotten where he has come from and uses his platform to empower other people and shine a light on his community.”
The pair joined forces again in 2019 with “All Day Long,” the intro track from Chance’s album, The Big Day. This time, Chance took the lead in an upbeat hip-hop and rap song about living life to the fullest.
Music critics have suggested the song — like the album — was inspired by Chance marrying his wife that same year, with lyrics such as: “This is, this is the day. Took it the scenic route, but this is the day. That’s old news, baby, this is today. They gon’ miss us today, you a missus today.”
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Writing for Rap Reviews, Michael G. Barilleaux called it a “sharp and confident tune” featuring “a fast flow of joyous rhymes.”
“Alongside an uplifting beat that transitions from primarily drum hits and some flourishes under the verses to a lush and impactful chorus featuring John Legend’s splendid vocals, this track is certainly a strong opener,” wrote Barilleaux.
Chance and Legend teamed up two years later for the 2021 single “See Me Fly.” Consisting of an intro by Legend and backups by rap artist Symba, the Chance-led rap song was a track from the 2021 live-action and animated film Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring basketball legend LeBron James.
The soundtrack boasted a popular lineup of big-name artists, including Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi Vert, and the Jonas Brothers.
Morgan Rhodes co-supervised the album, telling Variety there were artists from “multiple levels of music” to help bring something “organic” to the soundtrack.
“We wanted songs that were fun as we ushered a new generation,” said Rhodes. “We wanted songs that would help move the excitement as the game moves, and we wanted to give a nod to what came before.”
The original Space Jam film in 1996 gave some of the biggest songs of the decade, including Monica's "For You I Will" and Seal’s remake of the Steve Miller Band's “Fly Like an Eagle.”
How to Watch The Voice
John Legend returns next season on The Voice, alongside returning Coach Gwen Stefani, sophomore Coach Horan, and former Mega Mentor Reba McEntire. Until then, catch up with Legend and Chance on The Voice, available on NBC and Peacock.
