Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025. Starr Lee/STAFF.
SAN FRANCISCO — Chicago son Chancelor Johnathan Bennett—Chance the Rapper—stepped onto Masonic Auditorium’s stage on Thursday to fill a vacuum created by his years-long absence with magnetic pull.
His stage presence, a blend of humility and celebration, made the concert, part of his And We Back Tour, feel like a vital moment.
He went nearly six years without a true album. The Big Day, his most acclaimed record, dropped in 2019. Chance was on fire and had nearly sold out an arena tour. Then he scrapped it to focus on family, and the world moved on. He’s only performed in a limited capacity since, including appearing at Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa. He staged a festival in Ghana. Now he appears fully back. Chance’s Masonic show felt both nostalgic and fiercely renewed.
From the jump, Chance performed with infectious gratitude. He smiled between verses, shouted out the Bay, and turned familiar anthems like “All Night” and “I’m the One” into powerful communal rituals. The crowd didn’t just rap along; attendees testified, shouting lyrics back to the stage. Every hook hit harder and spiritually.
Visually, the stage glowed like cathedral stained glass (warm golds, deep purples and soft white beams) that framed Chance the Rapper like a silhouette of virtue. He carried that raw, gospel-meets-hip-hop heartbeat, and when he paused, he did so in order for attendees to take something in, such as for two words on a screen behind him to seep in: “FUCK ICE.” He stood silently with those words behind him.
LaRussell.
Taylor Bennett.
By the time he closed with “Speed of Love,” it felt less like the end of a set and more like the last, powerful line of a prayer. Chance reminded people that joy is loud, that healing takes rhythm, and that sometimes the most powerful, necessary thing you can do is dance through it.
Earlier int he evening, Bay Area native LaRussell (LaRussell Thomas) took the stage to deliver a masterclass in independent hip-hop, setting a potent, community-focused tone. His performance represented his Good Compenny philosophy—building a powerful career on his own terms from the ground up, starting with his famous “Backyard Residency” shows in Vallejo.
LaRussell’s set was a rapid-fire celebration of Bay Area pride and lyrical agility. Excited to demonstrate how hyphy the Bay can be, he hopped offstage to perform on the Masonic floor, in the crowd. Set highlights included classic Bay Area cuts like Too Short’s “Blow the Whistle” and Tupac’s “That’s Just the Way It Is,” as well as “We Outside,” his newer song with Ave.
Chance’s brother, Taylor Bennett, delivered a concise and energetic opening set, expertly supported by the crowd-rousing mixes of DJ Oreo. The younger Bennett highlighted his distinct style, which mixes hip-hop with rock while delivering personal affirmations through his set.
The songs he performed embodied his core philosophy. “Favorite Color” carried a central theme of self-acceptance, featuring mantra “always remember to be yourself.” Another song reflected on his grandmother, grounding the performance in family. “Running for Your Attention” and “Better Than You Ever Been” spoke directly to his journey as an independent artist unafraid to challenge industry norms.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Chance the Rapper performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
LaRussell performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
LaRussell performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
LaRussell performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
LaRussell performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
LaRussell performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
LaRussell performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Taylor Bennett performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Taylor Bennett performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Taylor Bennett performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
Taylor Bennett performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025.
About The Author
Starr Lee made the jump into concert photography to combine a longtime love of live music and the joy of doing her best to give people FOMO through an image. Originally from the Midwest, she didn’t grow up around concerts, but that changed after moving to the Bay, where the music scene pulled her in. She’s focused on R&B, hip-hop, and pop music, always chasing the emotion that makes a moment stick. When she’s not editing or at a show, she’s probably curating a playlist or people-watching through her lens.
Starr Lee made the jump into concert photography to combine a longtime love of live music and the joy of doing her best to give people FOMO through an image. Originally from the Midwest, she didn’t grow up around concerts, but that changed after moving to the Bay, where the music scene pulled her in. She’s focused on R&B, hip-hop, and pop music, always chasing the emotion that makes a moment stick. When she’s not editing or at a show, she’s probably curating a playlist or people-watching through her lens.