Star Line (album)

Last updated

Star Line
Star Line (album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 15, 2025 (2025-08-15)
Genre Hip-hop
Length67:48
Label Self-released
Producer
  • 7000k.
  • 9three
  • Ambezza
  • Aneesa Strings
  • Ashton Sellars
  • August Vineberg
  • Catherine Clark
  • Chance the Rapper
  • Darkchild
  • Demibby
  • DexLvL
  • Dwayne Verner Jr.
  • Ephra
  • Garren
  • Groove
  • Jac
  • KCdaproducer
  • Kuji
  • Lil Man
  • Lucien Parker
  • Mario Luciano
  • Mykelonthebeat
  • Nate Fox
  • Nico Segal
  • Obed
  • Peter CottonTale
  • Rhyan Douglas
  • Sam Barsh
  • Shanks
  • Smoko Ono
  • Stix
  • Thea Gustaffson
  • Tommy Parker
  • Void Stryker
  • XYNothing
Chance the Rapper chronology
The Big Day
(2019)
Star Line
(2025)
Singles from Star Line
  1. "The Highs & the Lows"
    Released: June 17, 2022
  2. "Tree"
    Released: July 3, 2025 [1]

Star Line (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by the American rapper Chance the Rapper. It was independently released on August 15, 2025. [2] It follows his previous album, The Big Day (2019).

Contents

Background

For years, he had teased the release of his album Star Line. The album serves as his fourth collaboration with Brandon Breaux, the visual artist who also created the artwork for 10 Day, Acid Rap, and Coloring Book, but not for the rapper’s debut album, The Big Day . Earlier that month, he released the album’s lead single, “Tree,” and worked on the album with producer DexLvL. [3]

According to Chance when interviewed backstage at Lollapalooza by Rolling Stone , he said the album is "steeped in travel and personal change, incorporating different life lessons, experiences, and sounds he encountered over the past several years". [4] Inspirations for the album come from Chance's trips to Jamaica, Ghana and various art fairs around the world. [5] The album is also inspired by Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line. [6]

Artwork

The album's artwork, was designed by Brandon Breaux, which depicts Chance with an aurora behind him. [7]

Release and promotion

The album's title was revealed under the working title Star Line Gallery on June 17, 2022, in the credits for the "The Highs & the Lows" music video. [8]

Between 2022 and 2025, he released several promotional singles for the album, including:

On July 31, 2025, Star Line Gallery's release date was confirmed to be August 15, 2025. [19] On August 11, 2025, he announced his upcoming And We Back Tour in support of the album. [20] The tour is scheduled to begin on September 26, 2025 in Houston and conclude on October 20, 2025 in Los Angeles. [20]

Songs

"Tree" praises the virtues of smoking marijuana [1] and includes a sample from India Arie's single "Video". [21]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 72/100 [22]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 8/10 [23]
Exclaim! 6/10 [24]
Pitchfork 5.9/10 [25]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [26]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Star Line received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 from 4 critic scores. [22] Clash gave the album an 8/10, with critic Robin Murray writing that "STAR LINE is a feast from start to finish." [23] For the Win gave it a highly positive review, with critic Cory Woodroof saying that "Chance the Rapper's latest project is an extraordinary comeback from a generational force." [27]

In his review for Exclaim! , Wesley McLean highlights that at his best, Chance "is Lil Wayne's most earnest, wholesome son. His flow is malleable, his energy high, and his personality and charisma are undeniable," but notes that failed attempts to re-hash past highlights fall flat, and his attempts to go in new directions that "have a performative, theatre kid-esque quality to them that makes them impossible to connect with." [24]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Star Side Intro"
  • Chance the Rapper
  • DexLvL
  • Peter CottonTale
3:43
2."Ride" (featuring Do or Die)
  • Chance the Rapper
  • DexLvL
2:59
3."No More Old Men" (featuring Jamila Woods)
  • Bennett
  • Mykel "Mykelonthebeat" Brown
  • Rhyan Douglas
  • Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
  • Antonio "KCdaproducer" Kearney"
  • Jabari "Jack Red" Rayford
  • Rachel Robinson
  • Darkchild
  • Demibby
  • KCdaproducer
  • Mykelonthebeat
  • Rhyan Douglas
  • Shanks
  • XYNothing
4:53
4."The Negro Problem" (featuring BJ the Chicago Kid)
  • Aneesa Strings
  • Ashton Sellars
  • DexLvL
  • Smoko Ono
  • Tommy Parker
4:21
5."Drapetomania" (featuring BabyChiefDoit)DexLvL2:52
6."Back to the Go" (featuring Vic Mensa)
  • Ephra
  • Stix
4:20
7."The Highs & the Lows" (featuring Joey Badass)DexLvL4:15
8."Space & Time"
  • Bennett
  • Coleman
  • Jacques "Jac" Hatch
  • Greg "Stix" Landfair Jr.
  • Lucien Parker
  • Dwayne Verner Jr.
  • Wilkins
  • 9three
  • DexLvL
  • Dwayne Verner Jr.
  • Jac
  • Kuji
  • Peter CottonTale
  • Stix
3:52
9."Link Me in the Future"
  • Bennett
  • Sam Barsh
  • Coleman
  • Garcia
  • Garren Langford
  • DexLvL
  • Garren
  • Sam Barsh
  • Smoko Ono
4:05
10."Gun in Yo Purse" (featuring Young Thug and TiaCorine)
  • Ambezza
  • DexLvL
  • Tommy Parker
3:37
11."Tree" (featuring Lil Wayne and Smino)
  • DexLvL
  • Dwayne Verner Jr.
  • Groove
  • Peter CottonTale
4:27
12."Burn Ya Block"
  • Bennett
  • Coleman
  • Thea Gustafsson
  • August Vineberg
  • DexLvL
  • Thea Gustaffson
2:37
13."Letters"
  • Bennett
  • Coleman
  • Darryl "Lil Man" Howell
  • Robinson
  • Nico Segal
  • Verner Jr.
  • Wilkins
  • DexLvL
  • Dwayne Verner Jr.
  • Lil Man
  • Nico Segal
  • Peter CottonTale
4:11
14."Speed of Light" (featuring Lion Babe and BJ the Chicago Kid)
  • Bennett
  • Coleman
  • Nate Fox
  • Obed
  • Sledge
  • Wilkins
  • DexLvL
  • Nate Fox
  • Obed
  • Peter CottonTale
5:05
15."Pretty"
  • Bennett
  • Brandon "7000k." Johnson
7000k.3:19
16."Just a Drop" (featuring Jay Electronica)
  • Catherine Clark
  • Stix
  • Void Stryker
3:56
17."Speed of Love" (featuring Jazmine Sullivan)Jazmine Sullivan
  • DexLvL
  • Mario Luciano
  • Peter CottonTale
5:16
Total length:67:48

Charts

Chart performance for Star Line
Chart (2025)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [28] 22
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [29] 3
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [30] 5

Release history

RegionDateFormat
VariousAugust 15, 2025
  • Digital download
  • streaming
  • CD

References

  1. 1 2 Strauss, Matthew (July 3, 2025). "Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne, and Smino Link Up for New Song and Video "Tree"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  2. Strauss, Matthew (July 31, 2025). "Chance the Rapper to Release New Album Star Line in August". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  3. Strauss, Matthew (July 31, 2025). "Chance the Rapper to Release New Album Star Line in August". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  4. Blistein, Jon (August 4, 2025). "Chance the Rapper Digs Into the Life Changes and World Travels That Inspired His New Album" . Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  5. Saponara, Michael (July 31, 2025). "Chance The Rapper Looks to the 'Star Line' to Announce His First Album in Six Years". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  6. Lynch, Jessica (June 28, 2024). "Chance the Rapper Gives Update on New Project 'Star Line'". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  7. Powell, Jon. "Chance the Rapper Finally Confirms Release Date For Long-Awaited 'Star Line' Album". Rap-Up. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Bouza, Kat (August 2, 2022). "Chance the Rapper, Joey Bada$$ Deliver Artsy Performance of 'The Highs and the Lows' on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  9. Jones, Okla (March 30, 2022). "Chance the Rapper and Naïla Opiangah Find Common Ground Between Art And Music With "Child of God"". Essence. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  10. Rettig, James (May 11, 2022). "Vic Mensa & Chance The Rapper – "Wraith"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  11. Legaspi, Althea (May 27, 2022). "Chance the Rapper Tells a Short Tale in 'A Bar About a Bar'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  12. Dionne, Zach (November 18, 2022). "Chance the Rapper Shares New Song and Video "YAH Know" on the Road to 'Star Line Gallery'". Complex. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  13. Cole, Alexander (February 28, 2024). "Chance The Rapper Begins His Comeback With "Buried Alive"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  14. Inman, DeMicia (May 16, 2024). "Chance The Rapper Reflects On Life In "Together" Video Feat. DJ Premier". Vibe. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  15. Williams, Aaron (June 21, 2024). "Chance The Rapper Pulls The 'Stars Out' On His New 'Star Line' Song". Uproxx. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  16. Breihan, Tom (August 19, 2024). "Chance The Rapper Teams With Joey Purp On New Single "Bad Boys 2": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  17. Kearns, Sarah (August 31, 2024). "Chance the Rapper Embraces the Lows on New Single "3,333"". Hypebeast. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  18. Strauss, Matthew (July 3, 2025). "Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne, and Smino Link Up for New Song and Video "Tree"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  19. "Chance The Rapper's Long-Awaited Album 'Star Line' Has A Release Date". UPROXX. July 31, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Williams, Aaron (August 11, 2025). "Chance The Rapper's 'And We Back' Tour Dates Provide A 'Star Line' Map". UPROXX. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  21. Gee, Andre (July 31, 2025). "Chance The Rapper Sets Release Date For New Album 'Star Line'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Star Line by Chance the Rapper , retrieved August 20, 2025
  23. 1 2 Murray, Robin (August 15, 2025). "Chance The Rapper – STAR LINE | Reviews". Clash . Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  24. 1 2 McLean, Wesley. "Chance the Rapper's 'Star Line' Almost Aligns". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  25. Pierre, Alphonse. "Change The Rapper: Star Line Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  26. Reeves, Mosi (August 19, 2025). "Chance the Rapper Pulls Off a Remarkable Return to Form on 'Star Line'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  27. Woodroof, Cory. "Chance the Rapper makes a truly sensational comeback with 'Star Line'". For The Win. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  28. "Chance the Rapper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  29. "Chance the Rapper Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  30. "Chance the Rapper Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.