Chance The Rapper performs at Common’s AAHH! Fest in Chicago. (Johnny Fan | Okayplayer)
In a Twitter Q&A, Chance The Rapper revealed that black girls, a Christopher Nolan flick, and a gospel song that has repeatedly overwhelmed him with emotion were the inspirations behind his innovative new video for “How Great.”
The mobile-friendly video featured Chance’s cousin Nicole and a choir of other young girls singing before Chance and Jay Electronica performed of their verses from the song, a highlight from Chance’s magnum opus Coloring Book. The video was released on Chance’s Twitter account.
Using the hashtag #HowGreat, fans and publications submitted questions for Chance to reply to.
In one of the most touching tweets, Chance spoke about why he made the choir of women all black in the video.
“To give the best praise & worship possible,” he said in response to Buzzfeed writer Sylvia Obell. “I wanted to showcase strength and fragility. That’s how women who taught me how to pray look.”
He also spoke about this being the first video he directed without director Austin Veasley, and the idea to make users lock their screens and rotate their mobile devices while watching the video. He said that he originally planned to only make one rotation, to accompany Francis Starlite‘s effects on Nicole’s vocals.
“I shoulda been confident from the jump but this being the first video I directed without Austin I got scared,” he tweeted. “Francis is using Prismizer on Nicole’s vocal, originally my idea was just ONE rotation to visually match the change in vocal. But I liked it.”
Chance’s favorite part of the video, he said, was “shooting Jay Elec coming out the door performing Borden’s Transported Man,” a reference to the Christopher Nolan-directed The Prestige. He lists that film, God, Francis & The Lights’ music video for “Friends,” the iPhone and his cousin Nicole as the video’s inspiration.
Chance also revealed the meaning behind the song for him: Nicole performing the gospel song “How Great Is Our God” at pivotal moments of his life.
“My cousin Nicole performed it at my grandmother’s funeral, my uncle’s funeral and my daughter’s christening and each time I cried,” he said.
See the tweets and revisit the music video below.
The best I’ve felt in awhile. I shoulda been confident from the jump but this being the first video I directed without Austin I got a scared https://t.co/OdtImqzyJs
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 21, 2016
to give the best praise & worship possible. I wanted to showcase strength and fragility. Thats how women who taught me how to pray look https://t.co/UB1qtLKIBn
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 21, 2016
Francis is using Prismizer on Nicole’s vocal, originally my idea was just ONE rotation to visually match the change in vocal. But I liked it https://t.co/nsOEwQ6ogq
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 21, 2016
I hate lip syncing on video sets, I thought this was more genuine and true to the song. Plus I liked updating and recreating art. #HowGreat https://t.co/upvmU5a8Qi
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 21, 2016
Shooting Jay Elec come out the door performing Borden’s Transported Man. https://t.co/jDKenT76Dm
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 21, 2016
My cousin Nicole performed it at my grandmother’s funeral, my uncle’s funeral and my daughters christening and each time I cried. https://t.co/oB4TY0HyJ1
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 21, 2016
#HowGreat Official Video featuring my cousin Nicole. Shot on iPhone. Lock yo screen pic.twitter.com/KqDy5hqv68
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 20, 2016
The post Chance The Rapper Talks Black Women, Gospel In “How Great” Twitter Q&A appeared first on Okayplayer.
