Live Review: Chance the Rapper at Hollywood Palladium

Hip-hop singer-songwriter Chance the Rapper delivered an introspective hip-hop performance at Hollywood Palladium on October 20, 2025. The Los Angeles show was Chance’s final stop for And We Back Tour 2025, celebrating the latest release of his second studio album, Star Line.

Surprisingly, Chance the Rapper’s show didn’t necessarily lean into hardcore hip-hop performance. But rather, more of an intimate, reflective and conversational hip-hop performance for the fans. The venue choice of Hollywood Palladium, with its mezzanine dance floor theater, was a perfect location to showcase his extremely confessional, emotional and lo-fi hip hop album for the audience. With a whopping 17 tracks in the album, the theme of the night was a reflection, if not pride, of Chance’s upbringing in Chicago, appreciating life and the people around him despite harsh political situations, and ultimately giving his fans the courage to dream big.

Contrary to the lo-fi hip-hop aesthetic of Chance the Rapper’s tone of the night, opening performances by rappers Adamn Killa, LaRussell and DJ Oreo all sensationally delivered hardcore hip-hop music to energize the fans. The entire opening performances, which lasted 2 hours without any pauses between the sets, were all impressively immersive. Especially with Adamn Killa running around the entire theater while rapping (along with one of the back dancers doing a backflip every 5 minutes of the show), LaRussell soulfully rapping with his talented live band members, as well as DJ Oreo mixing between popular hip-hop songs of recent years.

Then came the main act of Chance the Rapper’s first set, which mostly consisted of the songs from his latest album. With gospel-infused jazzy tracks, as well as his signature singing-rapping style vocals, Chance performatively illustrated his thought processes over the course of 6 years since his first album back in 2019, The Big Day. Some of the highlights of his latest album included the opener song with a bold hip-hop track “Star Side Intro,” a dreamy jazz track, “The Highs & The Lows” (featuring Joey BadA$$ in the song) and an alternative lo-fi hip-hop track “Tree” (featuring Lil Wayne and Smino in the song).

The second half of Chance’s show included some of the highlights from early parts of his career – including his feature work for DJ Khaled’s “I’m the One,” selections from his infamous mixtape Acid Rap, including “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” as well as selections from his Grammy-winning mixtape Coloring Book, including “Same Drugs.”

To say the least, Chance the Rapper’s finale performance at Hollywood Palladium was extremely invigorating for the fans with the cleverly witty lyricism of his latest album. Throughout the show, the screen behind Chance showcased clips from The Black Panther Movement and The Civil Rights Movement – all the while showcasing the lyrics reflecting Chance’s years of resilience and perseverance while growing up in Chicago. If Chance’s show were to be performed again in an even more intimate venue, perhaps in a sit-down theater or a classy jazz club, the show’s invigorating energy would resonate even deeper with aspiring artists, especially for ambitious dreamers.

Setlist:

1. Star Side Intro
2. Ride
3. Tree
4. Pretty
5. All Night
6. Burn Ya Block
7. Drapetomania
8. Summer Friends
9. I Might Need Security
10. Gun In Yo Purse
11. Back to the Go
12. Link Me in the Future
13. No More Old Men
14. No Problem
15. Blessings
16. Juke Jam
17. I’m the One (DJ Khaled cover)
18. Ultralight Beam (Ye cover)
19. Letters
20. Just a Drop
21. Speed of Light
22. The N—- Problem
23. Sunday Candy
24. Same Drugs
25. Cocoa Butter Kisses
26. Speed of Love