Photo Credit: Mauricio Alvarado

While adult “coloring books” seem to be all of the rage these days, Chance The Rapper‘s 2016 album Coloring Book seems to leave more controversy in it’s wake than the stress-free ease now associated with the former. Although last year’s hip-hop album, by the artist also known as Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, celebrated critical acclaim,  recent ponderings question the legitimacy of Chance’s self-proclaimed title as an “independent artist”.

According to Spin Magazine, Fans seem to be suspicious of all of this marketed independence— especially since news of the rapper’s $500,000 contract with Apple Music came to head. The recording artist, previous to his last record, shared his mix-tapes on Soundcloud for free. However, 2016’s Coloring Book entered into public consumption via an exclusive two-week stint on Apple’s music-streaming service. But, then it went back onto Chance The Rapper’s Soundcloud page, following, subsequently, in suit of all of his previous works.

The hip-hop artist’s signature on Apple’s dotted line, and the resulting appearance on an Apple commercial leaves listeners and advocates of independent artists with a sour taste in their mouth. Apparently, snuggling up with one of the largest companies in the world isn’t as kosher as Chance The Rapper might have thought.

Questions of transparency have come up, and in lieu of this “grey area” currently hovering over the artist’s album and his career, past deals with Kit Kat, a Nestlé-owned company, and his wide-eyed desire for a Grammy, further this cloudy debacle.

The Rapper has recently taken to his twitter account, after keeping quiet on the issue, to explain himself and his contract with Apple. Chance maintains his beliefs that he is still an indie rapper, and that he is transparent as ever.