Chance the Rapper spoke with the Houston Press ahead of his return to the city, where he will open his And We Back Tour at Bayou Music Center on Friday, September 26. The tour comes on the heels of Star Line, his first full studio album since 2019’s The Big Day, and Houston will be the first city to experience his newest body of work live.
“I’ve always considered myself more of a performance artist than a recording artist,” Chance said. “My favorite thing in the world is performing. When you get on stage, you can emphasize the parts that need to be emphasized, and you can dynamically shift. I feel like an orator when I’m up there.”
That sense of theatricality is what excites him most about performing new songs from Star Line. Tracks like “Letters” and “Drapetomania” have already taken shape in rehearsals, but the opener, Star Line Intro, carries extra weight. In our interview, Chance revealed something he hadn’t told anyone before: the track originally featured a Jackson 5 sample that had to be cut at the last minute. “We couldn’t clear it at the very last moment, like two weeks before the album came out,” he said. “I was worried at first, but now it’s one of my favorite hooks on the project. People really love it, and I can’t wait to feel those drums and hear those words reverberated back on stage.”
For Houston fans, this show is more than a debut. It’s also the first time Chance has performed in the city since his RodeoHouston appearance in March 2020, when he turned the cavernous NRG Stadium into something closer to a revival meeting. That night’s surprisingly emotional set, filled with both gospel energy and Chicago grit, left a lasting impression on the thousands in attendance.
Now, five years later, Chance is bringing his words, energy, and new vision back to Houston. “Houston is one of my favorite cities to perform,” he said. “Starting the tour here is going to make everything real. It’s almost been ten years since I took all new works and went out on the road, and this makes it all come full circle.”
The And We Back Tour will travel through 15 cities across the U.S. and Canada, but Houston gets the first look. Expect a set that blends the fresh material of Star Line with beloved tracks from Coloring Book and Acid Rap, all delivered with the fire of a performer eager to reconnect with his fans.
Tickets for the September 26 show at Bayou Music Center are available now through Live Nation.