Chance The Rapper to headline New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Chicago

Chance the Rapper will represent his city as the headliner for the Chicago debut Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrestwhich will sound live from the Windy City for the first time ever at midnight.

“I feel like there’s a huge responsibility when you show off a city,” he told ABC 7 Chicago. “And so we’ve had a number of production conversations to make sure that there are exactly the same moments for all parts of Chicago to shine, to introduce this global city to the world. And like I said, I also just want to have fun. I’m going to be lit. It’s going to be a great time.”

Chance the Rapper will be joined by a lineup of Chicago heavyweights, including DJ Mike Dunn, DJ Mike P, J. Ivy and Shemekia Copeland, performing on the main stage at the corner of West Wacker Drive and North Franklin Street in the Loop, starting at 9 p.m.

“I think our Chicago artists and our audiences will be excited there. It’s the world stage, all cameras on Chicago,” Chance said.

In addition to the music, Chicago will showcase its beauty and charm with a custom audiovisual display projected from ART on THE MART beginning at 7:00 PM CT (8:00 PM ET). Between performances and co-hosting alongside Seacrest, Chance the Rapper will stay busy all night long. Chance The Rapper’s performance is at 9:00 PM CT (10:00 PM ET)

“I’ll be wearing my host hat for most of the evening. I’ll be interacting with my other co-hosts and just showing the city to the world,” he said. “But at the end of the night I’m going to perform the song ‘No More Old Men’. I really think it’s probably the most important song I’ve written. I think it encapsulates childhood in a way that I haven’t really been able to convey, and also masculinity in a way that I don’t think is reflected much in music.”

Before Chicago hit, Times Square was the go-to spot for it Rockin’ night on New Year’s Eve since 1972.

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