Chance the Rapper has been in New York for about a week, touring through the usual press outlets and answering a lot of questions that fans have been speculating about. The most pressing of them was the rumor that Top Dawg Entertainment  was thinking about signing the Chicago emcee. Turns out it was more than a rumor, it actually happened, but Chance turned them down.

In an interview with MTV’s Rap Fix, he explained the whole situation. ”They didn’t almost sign me, they wanted to sign me” he clarified, after being asked about the rumor. ”Don’t say it like that, though. I turned down being signed… All of those guys are my good friends. That whole camp is great.”

Sticking strongly to his independent guns, he went into more detail on BET’s 106 & Park. ”I think it’s mad important for the American Dream to exist and work, and for people to believe in a homegrown and grassroots business,” he said. “I’m on tour now. I’ve only signed mixtapes, never signed to a label. Everything that I do is a part of my own business, and I think that in doing so, as an independent artist, it gives some stake back in the music industry.”

Chance  has joined the ranks of Nipsey Hussle, Dom Kennedy, and Macklemore  in cutting out the middleman. If he continues being successful, this could pay off dividend for the young star.

Jimi (@Nativejimi)

*Quotes via Hotnewhiphop.com