Since his second official project, "Acid Rap," was released in April 2013, a work so impressive that it evoked Kanye West "College Dropout"-level promise, Chance has only exceeded expectations. He's headlined both Lollapalooza and Pitchfork, assumed the sideman role on Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment's marvelous "Surf," started an "Open Mike" event for creative high school students, raised $100,000 in coats for Chicago's homeless, released a mixtape with Lil B, became the first independent artist to play "Saturday Night Live" and then performed at the show again three months later with Kanye West. Oh, plus Chance also helped make five songs on his hero's new album, "The Life of Pablo," and all of them were standouts. While he's always been loved in Chicago, his career arc and his warm and humble personality have made him the easiest person to root for.