Chance’s story dispels the myth that signing a label deal is the end goal. “Every artist from birth is an independent artist. People think about it as they’re waiting to be signed, but that’s not something you want to wait for,” says Chance. Instead, he frames record deals as tools — not necessities — for artists trying to reach their goals. He goes a step further, rejecting music industry conventions that strip IP creators of ownership and highlighting how exploitative contracts are often built to benefit others more than the artists themselves.

His career embodies this philosophy. Despite early temptations to sign with a major, he chose independence, seeing label requirements — such as mandatory manufacturing budgets for CDs or vinyl — as outdated paywalls that limited access to his core audience, especially those who found his music online for free.