Year In Review: 6 Ways 2017 Belonged To Chance The Rapper

CHICAGO, IL — One of the enduring Chicago moments of 2016 was when South Side hip-hop artist Chance the Rapper led fans at his free, get-out-the-vote concert in November of that year in a march from the event's Grant Park venue to a nearby downtown polling place. That celebration of music and democracy was a great capper to any year. But what no one knew then — including probably even Chance himself — was that it was the perfect prologue for the 2017 the Chicago native had in store.

This year, Chance the Rapper dominated headlines as both an artist and an activist, showing why he has arguably become Chicago's favorite son (sorry, MJ and Ditka). In fact, his 2017 highlights play like a list of lifetime achievements. But these past 12 months feel like the musical superstar — who's only 24 years old — was announcing to the world that he was just getting started, not calling it a career.

Here's a look at the five ways — in no particular order — the recording superstar made 2017 his year.

1. Big Win at the Grammys

Chance started the year by winning his first-ever Grammy awards in February. He won for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album for his online streaming-only mixtape "Coloring Book." His wins also made musical history: The Best New Artist honor was the first time a black hip-hop artist had received the award since Lauryn Hill won it in 1999, and "Coloring Book" was the first streaming-only album to be nominated for and win a Grammy after the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which runs the music awards, changed its rules because of the album's success.

And to celebrate his wins, Chance gave a rousing performance during the Grammy broadcast to boot.

THE STORY: Chance The Rapper Wins 3 Grammys, Including History-Making Best Rap Album

2. Doing It for the Kids

If there was a singular highlight to Chance the Rapper's 2017, it had to be his work helping the students in the financially struggling Chicago Public Schools system. He met with Gov. Bruce Rauner in early March to discuss what could be done to help fund the school district, which needed to make up a $215 million shortfall in state funding this year.

Chance, who describes himself as "a public school kid," was disappointed with that sit-down meeting, so he decided to take matters into his own hands a few days later. He donated $1 million to CPS, as well as $10,000 to the South Side's Westcott Elementary School and nine other schools as part of a new intiative he set up through SocialWorks — the nonprofit arts organization he co-founded — to contribute $10,000 toward after-school and art enrichment programs to a CPS elementary or high school for every $100,000 raised for CPS.

THE STORY: Chance The Rapper Frustrated Over Rauner Sit-Down: 'He Gave Me A Lot Of Vague Answers'

The rapper said his financial gifts were possible thanks to the sales generated from ticket sales of his then-upcoming tour. He characterized his donations as "a call to action," and he challenged major U.S. corporations and celebrities, including fellow South Side hip-hop artist and actor Common, to step up, as well.

"Our kids should not be held hostage because of political position," he said at the time.

THE STORY: Watch Chance The Rapper Donate $1M To Chicago Public Schools

3. Lollapalooza Headliner

Since transforming from a multi-date, traveling musical festival to a Chicago-based single weekend in 2005, Lollapalooza has become the city's premiere outdoor summer concert event. So it makes sense that organizers tapped Chance the Rapper to be one of this year's headliners. Although he's been performing at Lollapalooza for some years now, August's appearance marked the first time he did so as a major national musical act and not simply as a beloved hometown star.

THE STORY: Lollapalooza 2017: Chance The Rapper Headlines Chicago's Summer Music Festival

4. Holiday Music Maestro

Quick pop quiz, hot shot: What's your favorite Thanksgiving song? What's that? You can't name a Thanksgiving song, let alone pick a favorite? As of 2017, your long holiday nightmare is over thanks to Chance. He debuted his humorous Thanksigiving-themed song during his opening monologue as host on "Saturday Night Live" in November (an accomplishment in itself, given that he wasn't relegated to the musical guest spot like he was during his previous appearance in 2015).

THE STORY: Chance The Rapper Creates New Thanksgiving Anthem

He followed up that admittedly joke-y anthem with another holiday-releated music release in December: his second free Christmas album with Jeremih, "Merry Christmas Lil' Mama," which can be downloaded at Chance's website.

THE STORY: Chance The Rapper Releases Free Christmas Album

5. Filling Movie Theater Seats

Probably the most unique role Chance had in 2017 was that of movie cheerleader. In February, he was so blown away by "Get Out," Jordan Peele's directorial debut, that he bought out three showings at the Far South Side's Chatham 14 Theatre so that people could see the horror film for free.

THE STORY: Chance The Rapper Buys Out 3 Chicago Showings Of 'Get Out' So Fans Can See It For Free

Chance proved he's the consumate performer, too, by providing an encore of sorts in November. That's when he bought out multiple screenings at two Chicago theaters so fans could watch "Marshall" — the biopic about the legal career of Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court Justice — for free.

THE STORY: See Free Showings Of 'Marshall' Thanks To Chance The Rapper

6. Presidential Performance

Chance the Rapper began 2017 with his peers honoring his artistry at the Grammys. He ended the year with former President Barack Obama honoring his activism, as well as his creativity. The (sometimes) fellow Chicagoan and South Sider asked the hip-hop artist to participate in the Obama Foundation's inaugural two-day summit at McCormick Place that ran in late October and early November. The summit featured presentations by Prince Harry, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya and other global civic leaders.

Not only did Chance peform along with Gloria Estefan in a community concert connected with the summit, he also was selected to be the musical event's creative director.

"It's such an honor to be able to help creative direct this show," he said in announcing the concert. "That's because I am blessed to be part of a generation with an inherent sense of self. One that is inspired not just to talk about what needs to be changed — but get up and change it."

THE STORY: Prince Harry, Chance The Rapper Join Obama Foundation Summit

Chance the Rapper certainly took that message to heart in 2017. Here's hoping he doesn't let up in 2018.

Chance The Rapper performs at Lollapalooza in Grant Park in ;August. (Photo by Rob Grabowski | Invision | Associated Press)