Time has spoken. The respected magazine has dropped the annual 100 Most Influential issue, and some of the selections are involved in the hip-hop community. Chicago's own Chance The Rapper was chosen in the "pioneers" category, with Common penning a blurb in celebration of the young emcee, as shared on Time's website:
“Chance upends expectations about what artists, especially hip-hop artists, can do. He streams his albums instead of selling them. He makes music from an apologetically inspiring and Christian perspective — music that transcends age, race and gender. He gives back to the Chicago community. … I’m glad Chance followed his dreams. I hope he always does.”
Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, aka Young Lando Calrissian was also named on the list, with comedic legend Tiny Fey penning his co-sign:
"Now Donald is serving you best-case-scenario millennial realness. He embodies his generation’s belief that people can be whatever they want and change what it is they want, at any time. When you’re tired of starring in a network comedy, take a break to pursue your rap career for a Grammy nomination. When you’ve learned all you can from acting in other people’s movies, sit down and create your own piece of art."
Other notable names include Colin Kaepernick, who represented the Black Lives Matter movement by kneeling during the National Anthem. John Legend, Viola Davis & Jordan Peele were also included, and A$AP Rocky penned an introduction for fashion icon Raf Simons.
Check the full list here.
