Coloring Book [Mixtape]
by Chance the Rapper
  • Record Label: N/A
  • Release Date: May 13, 2016
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 609 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 533 out of 609
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 609
  3. Negative: 40 out of 609

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  1. Uncle_Oinker
    May 16, 2016
    6
    Chance releases a relatively formulaic album with more singing than rapping. The gospel theme gets played out and you get left with a decent mix-tape with some great songs, and some real stinkers. Definitely worth a listen, but there's not much here that wasn't done better in Ultralight Beams, and that's a real shame considering that is one of my favorite songs of the year thus far.
    6/10
  2. BasedLao
    May 19, 2016
    6
    Chance played with the Jazz scene a little bit in Surf and that was good at best. Now he's going for this gospel sound that worked well in Ultralight Beams but its not even executed well on this tape.

    There are very few moments of great music here, but overall this is a mediocre effort especially after waiting 3 years. When you listen to TLOP it wasn't perfect but at least the    Chance played with the Jazz scene a little bit in Surf and that was good at best. Now he's going for this gospel sound that worked well in Ultralight Beams but its not even executed well on this tape.

    There are very few moments of great music here, but overall this is a mediocre effort especially after waiting 3 years. When you listen to TLOP it wasn't perfect but at least the production was good, the features were good, the hooks were good and there were moments of greatness. A couple gospel themed songs interspersed here and there, but it was never overdone. The fact that no song on this 14 track Mixtape is as good as Ultralight Beams even though its almost completely gospel inspired is sad. People obviously can't see pass the hype. Chance has this name and he can drop anything and people will love it.

    I miss the old Chance.

    Acidrap is a classic and he needs to go back to his original style that made him Chance The Rapper, not Chance the Preacher.

    65/100    … Expand
  3. tommy1607
    Apr 16, 2017
    6
    This album is Chance's first album to really break through into the mainstream, which is unsurprising as it is his most accessible project as of yet. There are certainly some good tracks on this album, Lil Yachty delivers a great verse on 'Mixtape' and Future is a surprisingly good accomplice for Chance on 'Smoke Break'. The highlight of the album is the sunny, jovial 'Angels'. PromisingThis album is Chance's first album to really break through into the mainstream, which is unsurprising as it is his most accessible project as of yet. There are certainly some good tracks on this album, Lil Yachty delivers a great verse on 'Mixtape' and Future is a surprisingly good accomplice for Chance on 'Smoke Break'. The highlight of the album is the sunny, jovial 'Angels'. Promising Chicago rapper Saba gives a great hook and Chance has great chemistry with him on the verses. However, this album has its drawbacks. To be blunt Chance's delivery is often annoying and his lyrics are rarely particularly thought provoking. There is also a significant lack of solo tracks on this project, and the features don't always deliver well enough to hold up the tracks. The opening track is one of many that is poorly mixed which really harms the experience of listening to this album. I also feel that Chance tries way to hard to cram gospel influence into this project to the point where the religious theme seems forced and unnecessary. Overall, this project is terribly mixed and too feature heavy, but there are some good tracks and a lot of mainstream crossover appeal.… Expand
  4. Jensen67
    May 23, 2017
    6
    I listened through this multiple times trying to like it but I just couldn't. It's just too gospel-ly and some of the features on here are questionable to say the least such as Lil Yachty, Young Thug, and Justin Bieber.

    Best songs: Angels / No Problem
  5. AV-
    Apr 28, 2022
    4
    i review albums like so: i count the songs i like and divide them by the total songs on the album.

    there are some songs in coloring book that i really love. smoke break is a song i listened to throughout high school. however, i didnt like most of the album. 5/14 = 36%

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Album of 2016
24
#24 Most Discussed Album of 2016
23
#23 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. RapReviews.com
    Apr 24, 2017
    65
    Several aspects of the sonic structure on otherwise well-made beats and well-laid vocals sound blurred and mashed together. It is not a pretty listen by any means unless the listener is willing to bear the pain of a weak recording process.
    Read full review
  2. NOW Magazine
    May 25, 2016
    80
    It has the bigness and accessibility of a major hip-hop album thanks in part to zeitgeisty guests like Justin Bieber, Future and Young Thug.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    May 25, 2016
    80
    Coloring Book is another exceptional release from a vital artist only now coming into his own.
    Read full review
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