Sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady, also known as CocoRosie, have collaborated with Chance the Rapper on “Roo”, off his debut studio album The Big Day. Chance released the album today by surprise, after initially saying that the album will be released at some point in July without giving an exact date.
“Roo” explores the relationship between Chance and his brother/fellow hip-hop artist, Taylor Bennett, who also features on the song. For the entirety of the song, the focus is on Chance and Bennett’s lyrics, while the production remains ethereal and minimalist (aside from some additional varied trap production on the verses); simply a backdrop for the pair’s flows and ruminations on their upbringing and permanent bond as brothers. CocoRosie’s contribution comes in a single line, “Heard the stage calling in the distance”, that both introduces the song and separates Chance and Bennett’s verses. It also represents the forward thinking nature of the two artists. As they rap about the environment that they grew up in and what made them the men they are today, CocoRosie’s single line represents a reminder that the pair knew they were destined to be on the stage, pouring their hearts into their art and performance, just as they have on this track.
Despite Chance’s strong contribution, Bennett dominates the track lyrically, with highlights like, “When I was 11, heard my homie dad died / This shit deeper than music, I got PTS for life / So if you do production just make sure the drums right / The independent Bennetts will never need your advice / Our image won’t diminish ’cause Charlie and Marley right / Me and Chano like Peschi and Robin’s life”.
CocoRosie have been active since the early 2000s, and released their debut album, La maison de mon rêve, in 2004. While the sisters were both born and raised in America, they started the group after meeting in Paris for the first time in years. Their most recent album, Heartache City, was released in 2015 to positive reviews. They have been heralded as innovators for the vast majority of their career due to their willingness to explore and combine a variety of genres, like hip-hop, folk, electronic, and more.
While The Big Day is Chance’s first studio album, he had attained a level of superstardom most artists only dream of much before this release through the independent release of mixtapes. His career began in 2012 with the release of his first mixtape, 10 Day. The mixtape received critical acclaim, and got him on the radar of many major music publications and fans. His next project, Acid Rap, garnered even more critical accolades, and was regarded by many as one of the best full-length projects of 2013. His third mixtape, Coloring Book, saw Chance ascend to a new level, embarking on a worldwide tour and receiving a Grammy award for Best Rap Album in 2017.
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