Ten years ago today, Chance the Rapper released Coloring Book, the groundbreaking mixtape that made him the first independent artist to win three Grammy Awards.
Initially released exclusively through Apple Music on May 13, 2016, before arriving on other platforms the next day, Coloring Book helped redefine the possibilities of streaming-era success outside the traditional label system. Blending gospel, hip-hop, soul, and live instrumentation, the project featured appearances from Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Kirk Franklin, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, T-Pain, Saba, Kaytranada, and The Social Experiment, earning widespread critical acclaim and cementing its place as one of the defining releases of the 2010s.