Chance the Rapper Opens Up About His Distance From Kanye West
Chance the Rapper recently revealed that it has been a long time since he was close with Kanye West. On the New Rory & Mal Podcast, he spoke candidly about their relationship and the impact West has had on his career.
Chance described West as one of the most influential figures in his music. “He was at my wedding, our kids have hung out together. I’ll always love Kanye, but just being honest, I haven’t talked to him in a while. I feel like I’ve been hella busy. I’m working on stuff. He’s obviously been busy,” Chance said. He added that he tries to avoid adding drama or dissing others publicly.
When asked about reconnecting with West, Chance avoided committing to repairing the friendship. He explained that he focuses on his immediate priorities. “The way that I think about my world is, I be thinking about my day. So, what I gotta do that day and what I’m working on for the next two weeks, maybe six months,” he said.
Chance also outlined how he evaluates friendships. He said his approach is simple: consider whether he has loved someone and whether they have intentionally betrayed him. He admitted that he has friends he hasn’t spoken to in five to seven years without feeling the need to force reconciliation.
The rapper reflected on the generational and experiential gap between himself and West. “I’m also a lot younger than them. There are different ways people can even have friendships because we’re not necessarily peers. My first album that I consciously wanted to have was The College Dropout. I have a different reverence for him and understanding of how my life went and how it influenced what I do. Most rappers got a rapper from their city who was their first album influence. Imagine if yours was Kanye West and you worked with them—that’s the kind of perspective I have,” he explained.
Chance’s comments highlight the lasting respect he has for West while acknowledging that time, priorities, and life experience have created distance between the two Chicago artists.
