Ten years ago, my partner and I walked into the Bell Centre as newcomers to Montreal, attending our very first concert in this city: Chance the Rapper on his Coloring Book tour. Returning to see him a decade later felt surreal, a reflective, full-circle moment marking just how much life, perspective, and time in this city have shifted since that first show. At the time, we had moved here originally for just five months. Everything felt new and unfamiliar. Now, a decade later, I walk into an extremely familiar MTELUS in a city where we’ve built a full life and call home.
Before Chance took the stage, La Reezy opened the show. He was one of my biggest discoveries at Jazz Fest last year, and I distinctly remember watching his set back then and thinking, “His style really reminds me of Chance.” In contrast to the trap-forward sound dominating modern rap, La Reezy brings an old-school flair reminiscent of acts like Nas or Gang Starr. There’s an underdog quality to his lyrics; seeing someone that young bring so much depth to his writing makes me excited to see where his career goes. Having him open for Chance felt fitting, as Chance was also an artist who started young and was never swayed by trends.
When Chance finally took the stage, he kicked things off with All We Got, the opening track of the album, and didn’t waste any time connecting with the crowd. He greeted the venue with a grin, declaring, “I feel so welcomed, Montreal. I haven’t been with you in a loooooong time,” before playfully introducing himself in French as “Chance Le Rappeur.” That immediate, warm banter instantly made the room feel close to him, reminding everyone of the effortless charisma that defined his rise. You could feel a shared sense of history in the room. I couldn’t help but think, “We were probably all doing the exact same thing 10 years ago: watching him play at the Bell Centre.”
Chance balanced the night by playing Coloring Book alongside hits like Sunday Candy. One of my favourite moments of the night was a track from his upcoming Star Line project. He played Link Me in the Future with the lyrics displayed across the back of the stage for a bit of crowd karaoke. Singing along to a song I was hearing for the first time was really cool, and it brought his writing prowess into focus. The track reflects on the passage of time, the things and people lost to it, and the inevitable weight that comes with that realization, a fitting theme for a night that had everyone in the venue looking back on a decade of change.
The performance balanced high-energy classics with moments of pure vulnerability and gratitude. Towards the end of the set, the energy shifted into something deeper and more grounded. Addressing the entire room, he left the audience with a sincere message: “I pray that you are all safe. Wherever you go after this, I pray for my crew and yours.” It brought a rare, solemn moment of reflection to the crowd, closing out the night on a remarkably personal note. I am not really a religious person, and those kinds of comments might often fall flat with people like me, but his words were full of warmth and so genuine that they were very touching.
Looking back on a decade of live music in Montreal, coming back to where it all started was a welcome reminder of why these milestones matter. Chance brought the nostalgic energy, the support hit all the right notes, and the night delivered a well-earned nod to ten years of history for the Chicago-based rapper.
Review & photos – Andres Amaya
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