Chance the Rapper on 10 Years of 'Coloring Book': 'There's a Calm in Knowing That You Did Something That Was Awarded'

Chance the Rapper is celebrating a decade of his Grammy-winning album Coloring Book, a project that not only changed his life but also reshaped the independent music landscape. To mark the milestone, the 33-year-old artist, born Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, is hitting the road for the Coloring Book Tenth Anniversary Tour, which kicks off on Aug. 8 in his hometown of Chicago.

In a candid conversation with PEOPLE, Chance opened up about the album's lasting legacy, the emotional weight of revisiting its tracks, and the goals he's still determined to achieve.

A Historic Grammy Moment

In 2017, Chance made history as the first streaming-only artist to be nominated for and win a Grammy. He took home three awards: Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Album.

"I always used to watch the Grammys with my mom on Sundays every year and watch the performances," Chance tells PEOPLE. "So not even just to win a Grammy but to perform at the Grammys was a really big deal for me."

He adds: "There's a calm in knowing that you did something that was awarded. You know what I mean? We're rewarded in a bunch of ways b, but specific accolades and trophies and stuff like that they are cool. It's cool to be like, 'That s--- don't matter.' But it is also cool to get them... I don't want to not get nominated for a Grammy, but it was just a thing when I was younger that I wanted to prove for so long, that once I did it there's just this moment of, 'Okay. Well, what do I do next?'"

Revisiting 'Coloring Book' Through Rehearsal

Since Coloring Book, Chance has released The Big Day in 2019 and Star Line in 2025. Looking back on the 10-year-old project through rehearsal, he says he's able to see the music and its meaning in a new light.

"I was 23 when I made the project; I just had my first kid, so I was just finding out what fatherhood was," Chance, who shares daughters Kensli, 10, and Marli, 7, with ex-wife Kirsten Corley, says.

He reflects on the album's spiritual and personal themes: "I obviously grew up Christian but... it's not really the same when you're a kid as exploring faith on your own as a young adult. There's so many different themes in the project but I think one of the main ones is when I wrote [the song 'Same Drugs'] it was about linking up with somebody who was growing, who's maturing faster than me, seeing somebody who I used to be with and finding out that they don't live the same life that we lived."

"Now, things change consistently," he continues. "I'm not the same as I used to be and nothing especially relationships, but nothing really stays the same. It's deep doing that song. I love it. It's been fun the past couple of years. It's been a staple in my set forever, but just revisiting it in the context of listening to all the songs is kind of wild."

On Aug. 3, Chance performed "Same Drugs" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and discussed the anniversary. He also revealed that he finished Coloring Book mere minutes before its release.

The Anniversary Tour: Every Track, No Shortcuts

Chance says he doesn't plan to skip any of the album's 14 tracks on his upcoming tour and might even perform some new music. The nearly 40-date tour runs through Oct. 11.

"I would love to play the Super Bowl before I get up out of here," he says. "That's always been a goal since I was a kid. I would love to learn or to master an instrument. I'm just a novice at random things from high school, but I would love to expand my creativity and being able to actually play guitar, actually play piano."

"Oh, and doing a tour of Africa," he concludes, just a day after returning from a trip with his daughters to Kenya. "Those are my top three right there."

Giving Back to Chicago

Amid his busy schedule, Chance has spent much of his time giving back, specifically to his hometown of Chicago. The same year he released Coloring Book, he founded SocialWorks, a nonprofit that supports Chicago's youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement. To date, the organization has reached more than 50,000 students in the area and contributed $12 million.

His commitment to Chicago Public Schools has been particularly impactful, with SocialWorks moving $5.6 million to 56 CPS schools to renovate classrooms, purchase equipment, and fund arts education.

The Accomplishment He's Most Proud Of

Between all the accolades and trophies, the career accomplishment Chance is most proud of is the one he continues to live out each day.

"It's the ability to wake up and do it and to be uncomfortable and be myself consistently. That's what I'm proud of and that's what allows me to keep going. It's like I did make it another day, I did show up as myself, but I did also show up for people and I recognize my responsibility but also my humanity," he says. "And when I can move with that, then I feel proud."