Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, known professionally as Chance the Rapper, was born April 16, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois. He began rapping in the sixth grade and formed the hip-hop duo Instrumentality during his freshman year at Jones College Prep High School. Bennett released his debut mixtape, 10 Day, in 2012 during a school suspension, followed by his second mixtape, Acid Rap, in 2013, which brought him mainstream recognition. Chance gained further prominence by refusing to sign with a major record label, instead building a substantial audience through digital downloads and streaming services. In 2017, he made history by becoming the first artist to win Grammy Awards for a streaming-only mixtape, earning three awards including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. His work is characterized by poetic lyrics and cerebral production. Beyond music, Chance is known for social activism in Chicago through his nonprofit organization SocialWorks, which has contributed $10 million to the Chicagoland community since 2016.