Chicago magazine named Chance the Rapper "Chicagoan of the Year" for his work to encourage positive change in the Windy City, particularly in the lives of young people.

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The 22-year-old rapper, who recently became a father, credits his baby daughter making him more mature. “Anywhere past age 13 — 10 if you live in Chicago — you have a relationship with death as you’ve seen it depicted in media, or around you, if you’ve watched somebody die,” he explained. “Until you have your own seed — and this is just me being religious — come from God and come to you...it’s a new understanding of life and of love.”

Chance, born Chancellor Bennett, is the son of a former aide to Barack Obama and well-known political figure in the city. Earlier in the year, Chance, along with his father and brother, championed the #SaveChicago social media movement to help bring an end to the city’s gun violence. In addition, Chance surprised Chicago students with a field trip and threw a free concert for local teens over the summer.

Having come from a long line of activists, it’s no wonder Chance wants to leave a mark. “Being from the family I’m from — my great-grandmother marched with [Dr. Martin Luther] King — I have things that I have to do.”  

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(Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for vitaminwater)