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Grammy-winning artist and independent cultural innovator Chance the Rappersparked up late-night television with a solo performance of his newest single “TREE” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, guest hosted by Anthony Anderson. Chance also sat down with Anderson for an interview, where the two discussed the inspiration behind “Tree” and his forthcoming Star Line. Bringing his magnetic stage presence to the forefront—and his signature typed lyrics across the screen—Chance elevated the song’s hypnotic groove and deeply resonant message into a spirited, unforgettable moment. Marking the song’s live debut, he performed and introduced a brand-new verse written just hours before taping—an emotional, poetic tribute to his mother and the legacy of Black women.
“My momma sang love songs in NC in sundown towns,” Chance rapped during the performance. “She said ya mama did agriculture / You know she planted like half the soldiers.”
Watch the performance HERE
Watch the interview HERE
Released July 3, “Tree” is a soulful, subversive meditation on power, policy, and protection, with a meaning expanding far beyond just a weed anthem. Flipping India. Arie’s classic “Video” into a hypnotic groove, Chance uses the “TREE” as both healing symbol and metaphor for generational resilience—especially the labor, strength, and grace of Black women like his mother, who is prominently referenced throughout the song.
In a recent feature from Neon Music, “Tree” is described as a “laid-back but loaded reset,” a return to Chance’s indie-soul roots and mixtape spirit. Critics have praised its lyricism as both deeply personal and politically aware: reframing weed not as product, but as part of a working-class family’s quiet survival; flipping verses into a form of protest, prayer, and love letter.
Chance also directed the song’s visual, filmed inside a Black woman-owned dispensary outside of Los Angeles. The music video eschews flashy visuals for something more grounded and symbolic: silhouette choreography, a glowing grow room, typography that dances across smoke and skin. “Tree” is a celebration of Black joy and ownership, carried by a hazy, sun-warmed groove that echoes Chance’s indie-soul roots.
“Tree” provides a compelling preview of Chance’s forthcoming project, Star Line, inspired by Marcus Garvey’s historic Black Star Line. The project is a genre-blurring exploration of Black identity, liberation, and cultural expression—interweaving music, art, and community.
To mark the release of “Tree,” Chance returned to his hometown on July 4 to host community events at Black-owned Chicago institutions, including Village Bucktown (a local dispensary) and The Rink (a historic Black skating center), proving once again that for Chance, the music is just one branch of something much bigger.
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