Chance the Rapper

Despite his evasion of stylistic pigeonholing and no label affiliation -- not even a major-bankrolled vanity imprint -- Chance the Rapper became one of the most significant artists to infiltrate the mainstream during the 2010s. Through several mixtapes, his output underwent a rapid evolution as he celebrated life and faith, mourned personal loss, and hit upon lighter everyday experiences with high-aptitude wordplay served with a variety of mostly genial styles. All the while, the productions that supported the verses and hooks included various regional contemporary rap production styles, and among other genres synthesized elements of gospel, jazz, and soul. Previously unthinkable achievements, such as winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album with 2016's Coloring Book -- a mixtape available only on streaming platforms -- prompted headlines, yet they didn't overshadow the creative accomplishments that vaulted him onto the top tier.

A native of Chicago's West Chatham neighborhood, Chancelor Bennett made his mixtape debut in April 2012 with 10 Day, a wide-ranging effort recorded during -- and partly inspired by -- a high-school suspension of the same duration