2016 has been a tough year all around. We would all like to leave tragedies like the Orlando Nightclub shooting, the shooting of 5 police officers at a Dallas Black Lives Matter rally, and the unjust shooting of Philando Castile by Minnesota police in the past. Even as we try to cope with these losses in the holiday season, it seems that 2016 refuses to go quietly. In the past few months, we have endured the “'unpresidented” actions of president-elect Donald Trump, the terrorist attack on the Berlin Christmas Market, and the slaughtering of Filipino drug users/dealers approved by their newly elected President, Rodrigo Duterte. With many of us still grieving over what was at certain points a heartbreaking year, it has been understandably difficult to get into the holiday spirit. Despite all this, Chance the Rapper and Jeremih haven’t forgotten why the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year.

Chance and Jeremih released their top secret project, in which they affectionately entitled “Marry Christmas Lil Momma” on the morning of December 23^rd. This nine-track surprise mixtape features comedian Hannibal Buress, who performed at Chance the Rapper’s historic Magnificent Coloring Day music festival, and Chicago native MC, Noname, who has been featured on previous Chance the Rapper songs such as “Lost”. These artists collaborated in harmony to make what is by far the most festive compilation of Christmas rap I’ve heard to date, blowing Gucci Mane’s “The Return of East Atlanta Santa” out of the water. The 8^th song on the Mixtape called “Chi Town Christmas” plays off of customary holiday music like The Sound of Music’s song, My Favorite Things, and touches base with popular Chi-Town traditions through chances outstanding lyrics like “Mild sauce my wings/ Nights at the rink/ These are a few of my favorite things”. Chance earned several Grammy nominations for his work in “Coloring Book” such as the award for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album, and these awards aren’t won by taking vacations. I can assure you that Chance was working hard this holiday to remind us the joys of Christmas regardless of the world's negativity, and if you enjoyed the spiritual message behind Chance the Rapper’s “Coloring book” then “Merry Christmas Lil Momma” is a must-add to your holiday playlist.

The whole mixtape can be listened to for free on SoundCloud

Merry Christmas Lil Mama Tracklist:

01. All the Way (feat. Hannibal Buress)

02. Snowed In

03. Stranger At the Table

04. Joy

05. I’m Your Santa

06. I Shoulda Left You (feat. Lud Foe)

07. The Tragedy (feat. Noname)

08. Chi Town Christmas

09. Merry Christmas Lil Mama