Jess Nelson On October 12, 2025, Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium came alive with an electric night of hip-hop and heart, as Chance the Rapper brought his infectious energy and introspective storytelling to the stage. The evening opened with an inspiring set from LaRussell, setting the tone for a show that blended gratitude, joy, and community in true Chance fashion.
LaRussell
LaRussell (born LaRussell Thomas on October 6, 1994, in Vallejo, California) emerged from the vibrant Bay Area hip-hop scene with a mission to build music on his own terms. Raised amid the cultural traditions of Northern California’s North Bay region, he began writing rhymes at a young age and gravitated toward the DIY ethos of his hometown. He attended People’s Continuation High School and later completed studies at Grand Canyon University, all while maintaining a clear focus on music and community.
LaRussell launched his professional music career around 2018 and quickly distinguished himself through prolific output and entrepreneurial innovation. He founded his independent label and creative collective, Good Compenny, which empowers artists to retain ownership of their work and engages fans through unconventional models like sliding-scale ticket pricing and royalty sharing. His commitment to independence and integrity earned him recognition both locally and nationally. Media outlets highlighted his 1.6 million-plus followers, his ability to sell out intimate backyard shows, and his refusal to compromise creative freedom for major-label deals.
In recent years LaRussell has continued to expand his impact beyond traditional release cycles and venues. He hosted “Backyard Residency” concerts at his childhood home in Vallejo, converting the space into a performance venue dubbed “The Pergola,” where fans purchase tickets through flexible payment models, and he gives direct access and interaction with his audience. His 2024-2025 projects include multiple albums and live-recorded performances, and his entrepreneurial activities extend into publishing, merchandising and community investment. With his unabashedly independent mindset and a rapidly growing base of supporters, LaRussell continues redefining the artist-fan ecosystem while staying firmly rooted in his hometown of Vallejo.
Photos by Jess Nelson Media, LLC. All images © 2025 Copyright Jess Nelson Media, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper, born Chancelor Johnathan Bennett on April 16, 1993 in Chicago, Illinois, emerged from the city’s South Side to become one of hip-hop’s most compelling independent voices. Raised in a politically engaged household—his father worked for city officials and his great-grandmother marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr.—he grew up surrounded by soul, jazz and gospel sounds. During his time at Jones College Prep High School, he recorded his first solo mixtape while suspended for ten days and released it as 10 Day in 2012, quickly drawing notice for his unique flow and introspective lyrics.
By 2016, Chance the Rapper captured the music world’s attention with his mixtape Coloring Book, becoming the first streaming-only album to win a Grammy Award (for Best Rap Album) and cementing his reputation as a genre-blending pioneer. He followed that with his debut studio album The Big Day in 2019, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and featured an eclectic roster of collaborators including John Legend and Shawn Mendes. Alongside his artistry, Chance the Rapper has invested in his hometown: through his nonprofit SocialWorks he pledged $1 million toward Chicago public-school arts programs and has actively addressed violence and education reform.
Recently, Chance returned from a creative hiatus with his second studio album Star Line, released August 15, 2025. The album spans genres from hip-hop to soul and features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Smino, Jazmine Sullivan and Jay Electronica, showing his continued ambition to push boundaries. Through his milestones and independent mindset, Chance the Rapper remains a creative force whose music celebrates community, faith and self-expression.
Photos by Jess Nelson Media, LLC. All images © 2025 Copyright Jess Nelson Media, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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